Approximately 45 Sisters of Christ from various parts of the world, including France, Madagascar, Cameroon, and Chile, recently gathered in a retreat at the Priory of Saint Thomas in Epernon, France. The theme of the retreat was “Safeguarding Our Common Home and Living Our Charism: Inaugurating the New Creation”.
The retreat was facilitated by Alonso de Llanes, the Program Manager of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, and was built around prayer, reflection, community engagement and action. It responded to the Sisters’ call to integrate ecological conversion into the heart of their charism: “to inaugurate the new creation in Christ”.
A Journey Through Integral Ecology
Each day followed a rhythm of three sessions, interspersed with times of rest and fraternal sharing. Themes explored included:
- The history and evolution of the concept of ecological conversion in the Church
- The connection between the Resurrection and the transformation of creation
- The wounds of the Earth and the cry of the poor
- Practical pathways for ecological action in religious communities
- Ecospirituality as a daily way of living religious life
Testimonies, artwork, silence, laughter and prayer filled the space. In one memorable activity, the sisters created visual “eco-commitment maps” and spiritual “eco-squares” linking wounds, Scripture, charism and small actions of healing.
Seeds of Prayer: A Global Fruit
One of the most powerful moments was the creation of original prayers for creation by each group of sisters. These prayers reflect their charism, their cultures, and their personal commitment to care for our common home. They will soon be translated into Malagasy, Spanish, English, and Italian, and made available as a downloadable PDF on the Laudato Si’ Action Platform resources section.
Sisters shared that the retreat moved them deeply:
” I felt that Laudato Si’ was not just a text, but a spiritual path I could walk every day in community.”
– Sister Mireille Lantrade, participant
“This retreat helped me reconnect my daily life to the great hope of the Gospel: that all things can be made new.”
– Sister Linah Ravonjiarisoa, participant
A Joyful Sending Forth
The retreat concluded with a moving circle of gratitude in the garden, where each sister shared what she was taking home in her heart. The final prayer and song resonated with the spirit of unity, joy and mission that marked the entire journey.
This retreat is a beautiful example of how the Laudato Si’ Goals are alive within religious congregations, and how the charism of a community can blossom through the lens of integral ecology. Stay tuned for the publication of the sisters’ prayers, and may their witness inspire us all to walk with hope.
