Laudato Si’ in a Hurry

A three-hour introduction to integral ecology

“In by 9:00, out by noon.”

This half-day program offers a focused and accessible introduction to Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on care for our common home. Led by Fr. Dirk Dunfee, SJ, the session is designed for parishes, classrooms, and community groups looking for a clear entry point into the document and its broader vision.

Over the course of three hours, participants are guided through the core ideas of Laudato Si’ and the foundations of integral ecology. The session begins with an overview of the encyclical itself—what it is, why it matters, and how it speaks not only to Catholics, but to all people concerned about the state of the world.

From there, the program explores the realities of the ecological crisis, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of water and land, while also examining the deeper cultural and economic forces shaping these conditions. Participants are invited to consider how worldviews rooted in extraction, individualism, and unchecked growth contribute to both environmental and social breakdown.

Central to the session is an introduction to integral ecology: a way of understanding the world that emphasizes relationship, interdependence, and responsibility. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and lived experience, the program explores themes such as stewardship, the common good, the idea of creation as gift, and the call to ecological conversion.

The session also makes space to reframe often polarized conversations, offering language and concepts that can be engaged across different backgrounds and belief systems. Participants leave with a clearer understanding of Laudato Si’, along with practical ways to begin—or continue—the work of ecological care in their own contexts.

No prior background is required. Every step counts, and this is a place to begin.