A message from Tomás Insua about his new role in LSM

Our Executive Director for the last nine years, Tomás Insua, is now moving on to a new role in LSM. In this letter he tells us about this new mission that he will begin in 2024.

Dear friends, Advent greetings from Rome!

Since the announcement of the appointment of Susana Réfega as LSM’s new executive director, I’ve been grateful to receive lots of warm messages from across the Movement. I’m deeply grateful.

Many have asked: “What’s next for you?” So here’s a quick update, in line with what I shared last Febraury.

For starters, it’s worth repeating that while I’m leaving the int’l Secretariat, I’m definitely not leaving the movement. It’s worth stressing the obvious: there are countless places from where to serve the Movement, as so many of you know well from your service in national chapters, local LS Circles, and beyond. As St. Paul put it: “One body, many parts”.  

So, the new projects are the following two. First and foremost, there’s the longstanding dream of a new LSM project in Assisi. We’ll set up a new LS Center to share and live out this message, integrated into a larger circuit called “Assisi: Terra Laudato Si’”, connecting iconic Franciscan sites to serve as a “come and see” experience to learn about LS. 

We’ll pursue this together with the Franciscans, the diocese and other local partners, and any volunteers who might be interested to join this dream. We’ll start on Earth Day 2024, while aiming for a bigger opening in time for the “LS Double Anniversary” of 2025 (10 years of the encyclical and 800 years of the Canticle of the Creatures). 

In parallel, I’ll also keep contributing to the Season of Creation. But this project is quite different, of a more academic nature, so I’ll pursue it as part of my new role affiliated with LSRI at Oxford University.

Lastly, I’ll also be working for a few months with Susana in the transition. In fact, we have already begun this process, so stay tuned for a joint Christmas message with her.

Thank you for these years of journeying together. And thank you for what still lies ahead.

See you in Assisi if you’re able. Otherwise, or on top of it, we remain united in prayer and action. Laudato Si’!