Global Green Lung Initiative
One Mission. Many Roots. One Living Future.
The Global Green Lung Initiative calls us to deepen our ecological conversion by changing how we understand, value and care for creation. It invites us to learn together and turn our concern for the Earth into concrete and visible action.
We are not beginning from zero. Across the Congregation, sisters, partners-in-mission, program participants, communities, and ministries are already planting trees, cultivating gardens, reducing waste, using renewable energy, protecting land and water, educating others and advocating for climate justice.
The initiative will bring these actions together, encourage new ones, and connect people who can share land, knowledge, time, and resources. Tree planting is our first shared action and the beginning of a seven-year journey linked to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
Rooted in Our Commitments
Position Paper
Our Position Paper on Integral Ecology reminds us that people and the planet are deeply connected. Environmental destruction increases poverty and inequality and often affects girls, women, children and other communities experiencing injustice most severely. Caring for creation is therefore an essential part of our mission of justice and reconciliation.
Laudato Si’ Action Platform
In 2021, the former Congregational Leadership Team committed the Congregation to participate in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. This marked our willingness to bring its seven goals into the life and mission of the Congregation.
Call to Action
The 31st Congregational Chapter renewed this commitment through its Call to Action to a Universal Culture of Justice. It asks us to respond courageously to the destruction of our planet and to the injustice, greed and apathy that allow it to continue.
Global Green Lung Initiative
The Congregational Leadership Team invites the global Good Shepherd family to join the Global Green Lung Initiative: a shared response to Laudato Si’ and a growing commitment to care for our common home.
Read the CLT's launch letter
Inspired by Blessed Aguchita
We launch the initiative on the Feast of Blessed Aguchita, a Good Shepherd sister who is remembered as a martyr of mercy.
Aguchita longed to serve in the Peruvian Amazon. In La Florida, she remained close to people experiencing poverty and violence and supported local women, children and Indigenous communities. Her life expressed courage, peace and care for people and creation.
Launching the initiative on her feast invites us to follow her example by choosing life, nurturing hope and standing with those most affected by injustice and environmental destruction.
How You Can Take Part
Sisters, partners-in-mission, program participants, families, collaborators, volunteers and friends are all invited to participate.
Choose the response that is most appropriate for your local situation:
Plant, Care and Restore
Plant trees that your local circumstances can responsibly support, or care for existing trees, gardens and farms. You can also restore damaged land, protect a local ecosystem and invite others to join you.
- Planting with care
Share Your Resources
Offer suitable land, seedlings, tools, ecological knowledge or volunteer time. By sharing what you have, you can help communities with the people, resources and commitment needed to take action.
Gather, Pray and Learn
Use the Global Green Lung prayer blessings, reflect on Laudato Si’ and learn about your local environment. Organize prayer, education, or advocacy activities that encourage others to care for creation.
- Prayer blessings
Support Planting Elsewhere
If you cannot plant locally, you can donate to help a community that has suitable land and people ready to plant but lacks the necessary resources. Your donation can help communities obtain locally appropriate seedlings, prepare the land, provide water and protection, and care for trees over time.
Your support can help a seedling become a tree that provides food, shade, shelter, and life for future generations.
Watch the Global Green Lung Grow
Selected commitments, photographs, videos, and stories will be added to this page so that we can recognize what is already growing, learn from one another, and follow the initiative’s progress.
Global Green Lung Resources
More resources will be added as the initiative grows.
Share Your Commitment
Use the form below to tell us how you, your community, or your project will participate. Your response will help us understand how the Global Green Lung is growing across the world and allow us to share examples that may inspire others.