What is Laudato Si' and what does it say?

Laudato Si' is an encyclical letter written by Pope Francis and published on 18 June 2015. An encyclical is an open letter written by the Pope to the whole Church and, in this case, to every person living on our planet.

In it, Pope Francis calls on everyone to make urgent changes to the way we live and consume energy in order to protect the earth. The letter addresses key environmental concerns such as pollution, climate change, the scarcity of clean water, the loss of biodiversity, and the decline in the quality of human life for the world's poorest communities.

Pope Francis asks us to work together to build a better world for future generations, and to care for, respect and value our common home. At St Joseph's, Laudato Si' shapes how our pupils live out Catholic Social Teaching in everyday, practical ways.

In his letter Pope Francis implores us to work together to create a better world for future generations and asks us to make the necessary changes in our lives in order to take care of, respect and value our ‘common home’.

At the start of the Year pupils write a letter to apply to be St. Joseph’s Eco Warriors. Within school the represent the the children in regular meetings about sustainability and how the school community can work together to protect the environment. This gives pupils a genuine voice and a real sense of responsibility for the school's mission, both within school and at home.

Our Eco Warriors are currently focusing on six areas:

• Energy
• Water
• Waste
• Litter
• School grounds
• Transport

Pupils are encouraged to lead by example inside and outside school, showing others how small, consistent actions add up to real care for creation.

Eco Warriors take on a range of ongoing responsibilities throughout the year, including:

• Monitoring recycling stations and carrying out weekly energy checks
• Leading water-saving campaigns and maintaining wildlife areas
• Running eco noticeboards and newsletters, and helping with the school garden and allotment
• Leading assemblies and prayer, and working with parish and community groups
• Reporting to governors and the School Council, and engaging families through home challenges and St. Joseph's Eco Passports.

The children carry out their roles on inside and outside of school and plan to lead by example.

Our Eco Warrior Calendar of Events

To make sure pupils lead this work all year round, Eco Warriors follow a planned calendar of campaigns and events, each one linked explicitly to Laudato Si' and our Catholic life:

By taking on this planned, year-round programme, our Eco Warriors show what pupils can say for themselves about their role, for example that caring for God's creation is something they notice, plan for and act on, at school, at home and in the wider community.

Month	Campaign / Event	Eco Warrior Leadership	Link to Laudato Si' / Catholic Life
September	Launch Eco Warrior Team; whole-school Eco Audit	Applications, interviews and badges; launch assembly; audits of waste, energy, biodiversity and pupil voice	Stewardship — everyone has a role in God's creation
October	Season of Creation (1 Sept–4 Oct); Walk to School Month	Lead collective worship, litter picks, prayers and displays; promote active travel	Care for Creation; respect for health and environment
November	Waste Week; COP Climate Awareness	Recycling workshops, packed-lunch audits, 'Waste-Free Wednesday'; child-friendly assemblies on global responsibility	Simplicity and gratitude; the Common Good
December	Eco Advent Challenge; Christmas Jumper Swap	Reverse Advent calendar, energy-saving tips, charity collections; encouraging reuse of clothing	Solidarity and generosity; living simply
January	RSPB Big Schools' Birdwatch; Switch Off Fortnight	Organise bird counts and data collection; monitor lights and technology use	Wonder at God's creation; responsible stewardship
February	Love Your Planet Month; Fairtrade Fortnight	Poster competitions and eco pledges; lead assemblies, Fairtrade tuck shop and tasting sessions	Human dignity and responsibility; global justice
March	Great Big School Clean; World Water Day (22 March)	Community litter picks with families and parish; campaign on water conservation	Service to others; human dignity
April	Earth Day (22 April); Gardening Club relaunch	Whole-school eco projects and community planting; growing vegetables and pollinator plants	Caring for our Common Home; hope and growth
May	National Walking Month; Outdoor Learning Week	Walk-to-school challenges and sponsored walks; Eco Warriors organise nature activities	Healthy living; awe and wonder
June	World Environment Day (5 June); Biodiversity Week	Eco Fair, exhibitions and community partners; bug hotels, wildflower planting, minibeast surveys	Stewardship in action; respect for life
July	Eco Celebration and Awards; transition projects	Present impact report to governors and celebrate achievements; train next year's Eco Warriors	Recognising gifts and service; leadership and vocation

By taking on this planned, year-round programme, our Eco Warriors show what pupils can say for themselves about their role, for example that caring for God's creation is something they notice, plan for and act on, at school, at home and in the wider community

Pupils who take on Eco Warrior responsibilities are formally recognised for their leadership and service, reinforcing that caring for creation is valued as part of our Catholic life, not an optional extra.

The Eco Warrior certificate awarded to pupils in recognition of their leadership and stewardship

St Joseph's has a one-year Climate Action Plan (2025–2026), setting out the actions the school is taking, who leads them, and how progress is tracked. It is structured around four themes used nationally by schools working towards net zero, and is reviewed regularly by leaders and governors.

Throughout the year, pupils help design and display posters and calendars around school to keep our Laudato Si' commitments visible to the whole community:

Our Eco Warriors' calendar of events, displayed around school.

An Eco Warriors poster promoting care for our common home

The Diocese of Lancaster has produced a Charter on the Care of Creation in direct response to Laudato Si', and the school also links its work to the Laudato Si' Action Platform, a global initiative encouraging communities to care for their common home.

Bishop Paul Swarbrick, Bishop of Lancaster, welcomed the Charter as a statement of the diocese's commitment to the environment. He reflected that how we live reveals what we believe, and described creation as entrusted to us and to be cared for. He described the diocese's vocation as being a sign of hope, and offered his blessing and encouragement to all who take the Charter to heart.

Link to Lancaster diocese Charter on the care of Creation

• CAFOD — Laudato Si' for Children: cafod.org.uk/Education/Primary-teaching-resources/Laudato-Si-for-children
• Laudato Si' Action Platform: laudatosiactionplatform.org
• CAFOD Laudato Si' Liturgical Prayer (downloadable resource)
• The Nature Park (National Education Nature Park): educationnaturepark.org.uk

Alongside our Climate Action Plan and Eco Warrior calendar, the school gathers evidence of the difference this work makes to pupils, including:

 

 

Litter picking

'E are E are wondering if they can borrow some little picker grabbers for the weekend x' Parent - caring for the Earth in their own time

'A looking after our plants for her eco warrior passport' 

Saving  energy and recycling

 Recycling at home

Food pantry

Travel

Each year we take part in Active Cumbria Feet FirstChallenge.

It is Active Cumbria's flagship termly 5-day Active Travel Challenge, encouraging school communities to get active on the school run during a specific week each term. Which helps to promote sustainable active travel approaches that reduce traffic congestion and support the environment, as well as the health of the whole school community.

 

 

 

 

Forest schools

 

Rivers trust

 

 

 

REACT Engineering - designing a school for the future

 

 

 

The Diocese of Lancaster has produced the attached Charter on the Care of Creation as a direct response to Pope Francis' Laudato Si encyclical.

(https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/) Laudato Si Action Platform towards taking greater care of our common home.

Paul Swarbrick (The Bishop of Lancaster) wrote to us all :

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

I welcome this Charter on the Care of Creation, presented here as a statement of where we stand in the Diocese of Lancaster with regards to the environment.
Ours must be the most beautiful diocese in England. As Christians we recognise in creation the work of the Creator, and so for many, creation becomes a beginning, the first steps towards knowing the Lord.

How we live matters. How we live expresses what we believe. How we live reveals something of the God we follow and worship. Creation is entrusted to us as a foretaste of heaven, to be respected and cared for.

Our vocation as the People of God is to be a sign of hope to others, and hope is something very much needed in these times. I commend this Charter on the Care of Creation to you, hoping you find it an encouragement and something of a challenge to how you live your faith in these days, wherever the Lord has placed you and whatever your stage and status in life.

I express my gratitude to those who composed it, and extend my blessing to all who actively take it to heart. Christ is within it.

+ Paul Swarbrick
Bishop of Lancaster

Charter on The Care of Creation (see below)

Further Information & Useful Links:

• CAFOD - Laudato Si ' for Children

• CAFOD Laudato Si' liturgical prayer.pptx