In his 2023 Papal Exhortation Laudate Deum, Pope Francis notes that although eight years have passed since he published his landmark Encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home, “our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point.” (LD §2)
My name is Phil Sakimoto. As an astrophysicist and the Director of the Minor in Sustainability at the University of Notre Dame, I am acutely aware of just how close we are to that breaking point. But it’s not too late to fix it. We have the knowledge and technologies needed to halt climate change, but we do not have the societal support needed to deploy these tools.
That’s where Catholic Climate Covenant comes in. I have the privilege of working as a volunteer with the Covenant to support their programs. I also have the privilege of being a sustaining donor to the Covenant, because I know that providing guaranteed monthly contributions is what allows the Covenant to plan and act on behalf of all of us.
GIVE TODAY, CHANGE TOMORROW
The Covenant plays a major role in gathering and focusing societal support, acting as the U.S. representative for the Vatican’s global Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Covenant creates and supports Creation Care Teams in parishes across America, provides the Catholic Energies program to assist Catholic organizations in de-carbonizing their facilities, and much, much more.
Supporting the Covenant is indeed a privilege. Committing to recurring monthly donations is a simple and effective way to join the fight against climate change — which is needed now more than ever. Becoming involved in the Covenant’s programs is even better. If you haven’t done so already, please join in.
Yours sincerely,
Phil Sakimoto
