Ecological Spirituality and Culture
Create and enhance ecological spirituality, foster a culture that values nature and cares for those most vulnerable to environmental harm, and enhance our collective capacity to cope constructively with eco-anxiety
As a community, we relate to faith in many ways and engage ecological spirituality from many lived experiences. Laudato si’ provides a common language through which everyone in USF’s diverse community can deepen their ecological spirituality and commitment to justice.
This priority expands on ongoing work spearheaded by USF’s Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought and the Ignatian Tradition and by University Ministry. Inspired by our Jesuit mission and Catholic social thought, this priority expresses our commitment to personal and communal transformation, to empowering the marginalized, to enacting multi-generational solidarity, and to serving a global common good that includes our shared climate. This priority will expand current offerings to the entire USF community, fostering cultural and spiritual resources to cope with climate anxiety and walk with students toward a hope-filled future.
This priority and its associated outcomes embody USF’s commitment to the following Laudato Si’ goals:
Short-term actions:
- Create a webpage / guide to promote spiritual practices (mindfulness, prayer, etc) that encourage the virtue of moderation (less consumerism, less consumption and waste, practices like Lent and Ramadan) and foster resilience and solidarity – (University Ministry)
- Work with dining services to promote sustainable food choices including meatless Mondays and prioritizing plant-based options for on-campus catering (Events Management, Bon Appetit).
- Identify current outdoor study, work, and meditation spaces and add these to USF’s website (linked to campus map) (HR, Student Life, OMC )
- Create more awareness through digital presence and strategic communication around UM / Lane Center programs that involve ecological retreat, nature outings, and engagement with Laudato si, and community engagement (OMC, University Ministry, Lane Center)
- Offer events such as film, art shows, nature immersions, and discussions to students, faculty, librarians, staff, alumni, and the community to address climate trauma, eco-anxiety, and integral ecology as well as foster solidarity and resilience (CAPS and CASA, Office of Student Life, Sustainability Office, Human Resources - Health and Wellness Program)
- Partner with the Indigenous Engagement and Native Student Success Working group to promote respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities and, from these relationships, seek ways for faculty, students, and staff to collaborate on the care for the earth.
- Build upon existing relationships and establish new relationships with local and international communities that have been directly impacted by pollution and climate change, including those experiencing immediate impacts and those experiencing derivative impacts, like poverty and migration (McCarthy Center, Lane Center, faculty, with potential coordination by initial OEI hub (see Goal #4))
Long-term actions
- Create a hub for Native students at USF (Cultural Centers)
- Provide training / resources to faculty, administrators, and staff on how to help students cope with eco-anxiety (HR, Provost’s Office, Office of Student Life; see action related to repository of teaching resources)
- Develop reciprocal partnerships between USF and neighborhood advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, and local government to build collaboration and transformative learning around nature and environmental and social justice.
- Coordinate and uplift events, programs, and partnerships through a center / hub (see Goal #4)
Short-term actions
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Host an annual event related to Laudato Si’ as part of the University’s Earth Day programs (Lane Center, University Ministry, Office of Sustainability)
- Create a community-based Laudato Si’ study and prayer guide (Lane Center, University Ministry)
- Create a Laudato si essay contest for students (Lane Center, University Ministry, Student Life)
- Fall 2023: Launch the Laudato Si Research Collaborative to foster cross-disciplinary engagement with Laudato si, build community among faculty through nature immersion and dialogues, and prepare for a conference marking the 10-year anniversary of the encyclical (Lane Center)
Long-term actions
- Spring 2025: host a conference marking the 10-year anniversary of Laudato si featuring USF faculty, community partners, and renowned keynote speakers
Lane Center
2130 Fulton St.
Kalmanovitz Hall, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94117-1045