Laudato Si Festival 2024
2026-07-18

Creation Care/Cuidado de la Creación Conference & Creation Care Film Festival
2026-09-25 08:00 - 2026-09-27 17:00 UTC
Join us for an inspiring and global event, the Creation Care/Cuidado de la Creación Conference, which will take place both in-person and online from September 25-27, 2024. This multi-day event is a celebration of sustainability, environmental justice, and artistic expression across different countries and institutions.
Special Guests
Event Highlights:

Conference Sessions:

Dates: Wednesday, September 25 and Thursday, September 26
Location: University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas, Broadway Campus) – Student Engagement Center (SEC) Room 2050-2052. Available online.
Topics: Sustainability, Laudato Si, global climate action, community gardening, and more.

Environmental Film Festival:

Dates: Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27
Location: Mabee Library Auditorium
Film screenings include The Letter: A Message from Our Earth, Plastic Wars, Mr. Trash Wheel, Cooked: Survival by ZIP Code, and more. (Limited seating, RSVP required)

“Art of Creation” Exhibit:

Featuring artworks by young people (ages 4-18) highlighting the beauty of nature and our role in its care. The exhibit will be showcased online, fostering creativity and compassion across the globe.

Global Presenters:

Rome: Br. Adolf Mugume, C.S.C., Director of Communications for the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Rome, will talk about the Popes’ enyclical Laudato Si and also present a short film documentary featuring Sarah Kirkumwino the Laudato Youth Initiative Clubs’ President, focusing on youth climate action and Sustainability work on media by the Laudato Youth Initiative response to the Catholic Social Teachings on the environment, SDG 16 and 13 Call to Action Message. A video that was filmed in response to the Popes film documentary the Letter explaining what is happening to our common home and as justification of the climate change problem prevailing in Uganda. The findings from this film documentation informed his Capstone Reasearch “Use of digital Media to communicate Laudato Si” that gave birth to the Laudato Youth Initiative to mitigate the challenge and build a community of young people who are wnvironmental responsive castodians of on our common home.
Mr. Augustine Bahumuka (Uganda), a research editor with Laudato Youth Initiative will share about LYI’s role in promoting the Catholic Social Teachings of the Church and Miss Immaculate Kisembo the Laudato Youth Initiative Publications Editor joining us from Tanzania will share about Laudato Youth and SDG 16 and 13 Call to action thus the two will also moderate the presentations by the Laudato Youth Initiative Club at Mountains of the Moon University (Ugandan Team: Tukamusaba Doreen, ⁠Ayebale Fred, ⁠Arinaitwe Innocent, Murungi Arnnest, Peace Scovia and Masereka Rodgers) will about Season of Creation activities in institutions.
Peru: Dony Avilos from the Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation Committee will discuss efforts in Chimbote to engage older adults in sustainability.
Mexico: Presentations on food sustainability projects, including the innovative use of eggshells for nutritional supplements, led by Ecoshell entrepreneurs.

Special Sessions:

Gardening in Guatemala: Learn about initiatives combating malnutrition through community gardening led by Edwin Mendoza and Darlene Jasso of the Little Angels of Mary.
Sustainability in Chimbote, Peru: Dony Avilos will explore the intersection of faith and creation care within marginalized communities.
Solar Energy Projects: Discover how UIW is leading with sustainability grants for solar energy and community gardening.

Register for the Event:
To receive access links and updates, please register here.
Event Partners: Special thanks to the University of the Incarnate Word Lewis Center of the Americas, the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability, and other global partners for making this event possible.
For more information, please contact
Uganda, Rome, Kenya, and Tanzania
Mr. Bahemuka Augustine – Laudato Youth Initiative Research Editor or Miss Sarah Kirikumwino – Laudato Youth Initiative Clubs’ President at Laudatoyouthinitiative@gmail.com or info@laudato-youthinitiative.org
United States of America
Sr. Martha Ann Kirk at marthaann.kirk@uiwtx.edu or 210-883-5934.

Second Interfaith Conference on Climate and Environment
2026-10-03 09:00 - 2026-11-03 15:00
“Creation and Peace: A Sacred Call to Heal Our Common Home” “Peace, justice and the preservation of creation are three absolutely interconnected themes.” — Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, 92
Theme: Aligning Creation with Peace: Faiths United for Climate Justice
Overview: This call to peace is especially urgent today, as the world grapples not only with ecological crises but also with devastating conflicts in the Middle East, Libya, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These wars leave behind shattered communities, displaced families, and ecological devastation—revealing the inseparable link between peace, justice, and the environment. In the face of such suffering, people of faith must rise to the prophetic task of healing both people and planet.
In a year marked by record-breaking global heat and escalating ecological breakdown, people of faith are called more urgently than ever to respond with compassion, courage, and unity. The 2025 Interfaith Conference on Climate and Environment seeks to deepen the spiritual and moral response to the climate crisis by aligning the care for creation with the work of peace building.
This year’s conference takes on special significance as we commemorate:
– The 10th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’, a ground breaking call for ecological conversion and climate justice.
– The 800th Anniversary of The Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi, a poetic celebration of creation as our common brotherhood. Together, let us honour these milestones by renewing our shared mission to protect the earth and promote peace among peoples and ecosystems.
Objectives:
To explore the deep connections between creation care and peacemaking in the sacred texts and traditions of various faiths.
To reflect on the spiritual and ethical implications of record-breaking global heat and worsening ecological injustice.
To honour Pope Francis and St. Francis of Assisi by drawing inspiration from Laudato Si’ and The Canticle of Creatures.
To develop actionable commitments for interfaith collaboration in promoting environmental sustainability and peaceful coexistence.
Format:
The conference will feature a combination of keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with experts, community leaders, and fellow practitioners from different faith backgrounds.
Target Audience:
The conference is open to representatives from all religious communities, including clergy, scholars, activists, youth leaders, peacemakers, educators, environmental practitioners and all concerned citizens. Registration: Attendance at the conference is free of charge, but registration is required due to limited space. Interested participants can register or confirm participation with the organizing committee.
Conclusion:
This Interfaith Conference is more than a gathering—it is a movement of hope and action. As we face the climate emergency and the fragility of peace in our world, let us unite across our differences to sow seeds of peace, harmony, care, and resilience.
Our Response to Laudato Si is in sink with educating ourselves about “My” Faith and its response to peace and climate justice inspired by Laudato Si and our our holy father call to unite in dilaigue and prayer for world peace. How then do we learn from each other whether through Inter faith eco theology; educations and cooperation which are key to building the spirituality of interfaith collaboration seen as tools to open our hearts to reflect on cultural religious practices that promote peace and intergal ecology in view of the communitarian spirit that leads us to a dialogue for action, that can transend into conversion.
Program
MORNING SESSION (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM): 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Welcome and Opening Remarks 9:30 am – 10:00 am
Keynote Address “Integral Ecology and Global Peace” 10:00 am – 11:20 am
Panel Discussion: “Faith Voices on Conflict, War and the Climate Crisis” 11:20 am – 11:40 am
Break 11:40 am – 12:35pm
Presentation: “The Laudato si Letter’s reflection on Peace and environmental issues” 12:35 am – 01:00pm
Review: Q & A 01:00 pm – 02:00 pm
Lunch Break AFTERNOON SESSION (02:00 PM – 3:00 PM): 2:00 pm – 2:20 pm
Presentation: Youth, Hope, and the Future: “Empowering the next generation of climate and peace building leaders” 2:20 pm – 3:00pm
Interactive Session: Interfaith Collaboration for Climate Action

Break into smaller groups to brainstorm and discuss joint initiatives.
Share ideas for advocacy, community projects, and collaborative efforts.
Presentation of Commitments by Faith Communities o Closing Ritual and Sending Forth

Our previous Conference
