Wednesday, February 15, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Elena Gaona, 202-907-9717
elena@catholicclimatecovenant.org
Washington, D.C. – Catholic Climate Covenant announced today the launch of its Youth Mobilization Program with the Catholic Youth Climate Summit on Feb 26th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL. The program lifts the voices, actions and leadership of Catholic high school students seeking to care for creation and act on climate change through the lens of the Catholic faith. The summit will gather high school students from Catholic schools in the Chicago-land area and is held in partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
“Our youth mobilization effort is working with a growing number of high school students who want to live out Laudato Si’ and are eager to do something to address the climate and ecological crisis,” said Kayla Jacobs, Catholic Climate Covenant’s Youth Mobilization Program Manager. “Our Catholic youth are naturally invested in becoming leaders and evangelizers on climate action and care for common home and future. We want to support and bolster their faith-filled and passionate voice in their parishes, schools, families, and communities.”
The program builds on Kayla’s previous work in the Diocese of Joliet, IL, and plans to develop partnerships and leaders in other dioceses across the U.S. The youth program will also coordinate with the Covenant’s young adult program.
Youth who have worked with Kayla stated:
“I always had climate anxiety. I really wanted to spread the message with other young people that this is a problem happening in the world and that we can do something about it. We don’t just have to sit by and let the adults take hold of the situation because someday we’re going to be the adults and we have to do something about it.” – Becca
“I love getting to connect and learn about environmental justice with other like-minded people of faith.” – Mary
The Feb 26th summit will feature a day of sessions, conversations, and action plans focused on Care for Our Common Home. Students will be offered mentoring, training, and skills building to develop creation care action plans in their communities, and leadership training. Registration for participants is open until the day of the event on February 26th.
Media interested in covering the event are asked to email Elena Gaona at elena@catholicclimatecovenant.org
The Covenant’s Youth Mobilization Program builds on and expand existing Covenant programs, including the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform in the U.S. effort, www.godsplanet.us, as well as advocacy campaigns, creation care teams in parishes, educational programs such as an annual Earth Day prayer and action program, and regular trainings, teachings, and free resources all based on Catholic faith.
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About Catholic Climate Covenant
Catholic Climate Covenant is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. that partners with 20 U.S. Catholic institutions to help guide the U.S. Church’s call to care for creation, our vulnerable neighbors, and our common home.
