Being creative is an invitation to all of us as we think about this whole issue of Climate Change. “Let Our Actions Speak is a message I am picking from “Laudate Deum,” the announced title of Pope Francis’ new Apostolic Exhortation on Climate, to be released on October 4th.”

The exhortation that follows the “letter” film documentary in just a year calls for profound awareness of what is happening around us and emphasizes action response to the message. According to the Vatican news release of September 26th, The Holy Father addressed the Rectors of Public and Private Universities in the Vatican on September 20th and 21st. He reflected with them deeply on the three justice and peace issues raised in the meeting, including Climate Change, the issue of migrants, and the throwaway culture.

As a youth mentor, I care about the youth because the future of our world and our hope is in them. If only we can support, encourage, and work with and for them, we shall then have hope for the future. Pope Francis told the same educators, ” You must train boys and girls in the three human languages: that of the head, that of the heart, and that of the hands.” In my Congregation of Holy Cross, where I belong, our founder, Fr. Basil Moreau, believed in the young and wholistic education. He encouraged us to educate “The Mind, Heart, and Body”. Pope Francis has spelled it out very clearly.

Friends, our world today has many catastrophes, human and natural. The tendency to rationalize issues is delaying action response in all these catastrophes. We spend more time discussing issues and covering stories than paying attention to the critical issues, that is why it is easy to see visual images and videos of people in an accident than those rushing to save the victims because the ones supposed to save the victims are the ones busy covering the story. In the same manner, a lot is being said about Climate Change, but more needs to be done to combat Climate Change directly.

Look at what is happening around you. Do the little necessary good to be an agent of Change. During this season of Creation, my thoughts were deeply about inspiring a culture of encounter through uniting people to encounter others, Nature, and God say, “United for Climate Action.” Let us unite as a human family to praise God, our creator, and Love and care for our neighbor and God’s Creation. I was recently inspired by a chant from Laudato youth leaders who were out in the community planting trees and saying: Support Laudato Si, Love Laudato Si, let us all plant Trees, Let us all care for the environment.

Message by Br. Adolf, C.S.C Mentor Laudato Youth Initiative