Each year, Laudato Si’ Week (17–24 May) invites us to reflect on Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home and, more importantly, to act. This year’s theme, “From Hope to Action,” reminds us that hope is not passive. It is something we live out in our choices, our communities, and our commitment to justice.
But what does that action really look like in practice? And whose voices are shaping it?
Listening first: the call at the heart of Laudato Si’
At its core, Laudato Si’ calls us to listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, and to recognise that these are deeply interconnected.
Across Caritas Australia’s work, that listening begins with communities themselves. At a recent Women in Aid & Development event, Caritas Australia’s Country Representative for Fiji, Sainiana Rokovucago, shared what she is hearing from communities across the Pacific:
“What I hear most is that sea level rise is not an abstract concept. I hear that people cannot grow taro anymore because the soil is salty, and that the quality of the plantain and the bananas that they used to provide on the table or sell for livelihoods is not the same. They tell me their grandmother can't find the medicinal plants she relies on because the forest has changed. I hear about the quiet grief of watching a reef die which ancestors named and fished for generations.”
This is the lived reality behind climate change. Not just environmental degradation but loss of food security, livelihoods, culture, and identity.
As Sainiana explained, the global narrative often misses what matters most:
“The headlines talk about sinking islands, climate change, and refugees. And yes, that is real and urgent. But communities are also worried about right now, about food on the table this week… What often gets missed internationally is that for Pacific people, it's not just an environmental crisis, it's a cultural and spiritual one.”
This is exactly what Laudato Si’ teaches us, that everything is connected.
Faith, community and leadership
One of the strongest themes emerging from the discussion was the role of faith.
“Faith isn't separate from life in the Pacific. It's woven through everything. When a cyclone hits, people don't just go to government shelter. They go to church… Caritas works with their trust rather than trying to work around it.”
This insight speaks directly to the mission of Catholic Earthcare, Caritas Australia’s program supporting parishes, schools and communities to live out Laudato Si’ in practical ways connected to their faith. This year, Laudato Si’ resources have been produced in partnership with the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, which is representative of a Church-wide effort to support community-level ecological justice.
Through engaging with Catholic Earthcare and Laudato Si’ resources, communities across Australia are taking meaningful steps to improve their impact on our common home, including reducing waste, restoring ecosystems, building community resilience, and deepening ecological spirituality. These actions may seem small, but they reflect something much bigger: a shared commitment to care for creation and one another.
As Pope Francis reminds us, even simple, everyday actions can be powerful expressions of love and dignity.
From hope to action
Laudato Si’ Week is an opportunity not only to act, but to reflect on how we act and whether we are truly listening to those most affected.
So where do we begin?
The invitation from this year’s Laudato Si’ Week is intentionally simple:
Take one action. Make it count.
Across Australia, parishes are stepping up in creative and practical ways such as planting trees, reducing single-use plastics, supporting vulnerable communities, and gathering in prayer.
When combined, these actions become a powerful global witness, and see hope translated into action.
This Laudato Si’ Week, we are invited to see our role differently. Not as saviours, but as companions. Not as distant supporters, but as part of a global community working together for justice.
Because caring for our common home is not just about the environment. It is about people, dignity, faith, and the future we are building together.
Learn more, access resources, and act by visiting Catholic Earthcare: https://www.caritas.org.au/catholic-earthcare/
