On Saturday, January 17, the Spirit gathered us across languages, cultures, and time zones into one sacred global moment of prayer and action during the Online Global Gathering: A Celebration of Gratitude, Passion, and Hope, marking the 11th Anniversary of the Laudato Si’ Movement. More than 600 participants joined as one global family, renewing their commitment to care for our common home.
The gathering opened with a spirit of welcome and inclusion led by Rita Read, Laudato Si’ Animator and Communications Coordinator for the New Jersey Chapter. Joining from North America, Rita warmly greeted participants with an invitation that set the tone for the entire celebration: to be fully present, grateful, and connected. Participants were invited to share their names and countries in the chat, instantly revealing the vibrant, global heartbeat of the Movement.
A Message of Gratitude and Welcome
The celebration continued with a message from Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, who offered words of gratitude and welcome to the global community. Her message echoed the spirit of unity and hope that emerged from the Raising Hope Conference in October 2025, an extraordinary moment of encounter and renewal for the Movement.
Looking ahead, Lorna reflected on the continuation of the journey of integral ecology under the leadership of Pope Leo, who has embraced his role with clarity and conviction, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to care for creation. Her message invited participants to pause, reflect, and carry this shared hope forward.
Looking to the Past with Gratitude
The celebration unfolded through three symbolic moments—Past, Present, and Future—mirroring the rhythm of reflection and discernment at the heart of Laudato Si’.
In the first moment, Rita guided the community into a reflection on gratitude. The past year carried both sorrow and joy. Participants remembered the passing of Pope Francis, whose prophetic voice ignited the global call to care for our common home, while also celebrating new signs of hope: the leadership of Pope Leo, the gift of the Mass for the Care of Creation, and the continued growth of the Movement worldwide.
Rita shared personal gratitude for the Animator Training, which brought together nearly 2,000 participants globally, empowering local action through faith, dialogue, and seed projects. New chapters were formed around the world, including her own statewide chapter in New Jersey—a long-held dream now realized. The year culminated in the Raising Hope Conference, a joyful milestone that reminded the community that we do not walk this journey alone.
Voices of Gratitude from Around the World
A highlight of the Past moment was hearing testimonies from three Laudato Si’ leaders:
- Augustine Muema, Franciscan youth and Laudato Si’ Animator from Kenya, working with Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in Africa
- Mari-An C. Santos, writer, photographer, and environmental advocate from the Philippines
- Raquel Piedade, environmental engineer and Laudato Si’ Animator from Brazil
Each testimony reflected a unique local reality, yet all echoed a shared gratitude for community, formation, and the courage to act.
Embracing the Present with Passion
The second moment, moderated by Veronica Coraddu, Italy Programs Coordinator, invited participants to reflect on the present—a time marked by urgency, beauty, and responsibility. Veronica shared a poignant reflection on witnessing landscapes wounded by exploitation and how grief can be transformed into passion and commitment for change when lived in community.
This moment of reflection was followed by a guided prayer led by Daniel Castellanos, Eco-Conversion Programs Manager, inviting participants to pray with a living being and to reconnect spiritually with Creation.
Turning to the Future with Hope
The final moment, led by Argentina Saavedra, Laudato Si’ Animator and Peru Chapter Coordinator, focused on hope—not as passive optimism, but as an active choice rooted in faith and action. Drawing from Laudato Si’, Argentina reminded participants that hope calls us to ecological conversion, renewed relationships, and collective action.
With this spirit, she introduced Christina Leaño, Associate Director of LSM, who shared key highlights and priorities for 2026, inviting the Movement to move forward with courage, clarity, and vision.
Participants then listened to testimonies on how ecological conversion has transformed despair into action, before taking part in a powerful interactive moment. As the song “Touch the Earth” played, participants shared—through a live word cloud—what gives them hope. The result was a vibrant mosaic of faith, community, courage, youth, and love.
Continuing the Journey Together
The gathering concluded with an invitation to join small, language-based sharing sessions, creating space for deeper connection, mutual listening, and the sharing of hopes and plans for 2026. What began as an online celebration became something far more profound: a living experience of community and shared mission.
The voices of volunteers captured this spirit beautifully.
One Laudato Si’ Animator described the experience as “having joy in the heart”—a simple phrase that echoed the deep sense of purpose and belonging felt throughout the gathering.
Another participant shared:
“It is so energizing to gather together across the continents. A huge thank you to the organizers. The way they led the meeting and the testimonies were so inspiring.”
These reflections remind us that the strength of the Laudato Si’ Movement lies not only in its global reach, but in the hearts of those who show up—with faith, generosity, and hope.
Eleven years on, the Laudato Si’ Movement continues to grow—not only in numbers, but in depth, conviction, and commitment. As this global gathering affirmed once again, when gratitude grounds us, passion sustains us, and hope leads us forward, another world is not only possible—it is already being born.
Laudato Si’, mi Signore. 🌍✨