EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz will celebrate a special bilingual Mass Sunday, May 25 and will sign and inaugurate the Diocese’s environmental action plan.
The Mass will be at 11 a.m. May 25 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 930 E. Redd Road.
The Mass will mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on care for “our common home,” and the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Creatures,” the Diocese said.
As part of this diocesan celebration, Seitz will officially sign and inaugurate the Laudato Si’ Action Plan for the Diocese of El Paso.
“This new plan will guide the local Church’s commitment to the values of Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, deepening efforts toward environmental stewardship and solidarity with the poor across all ministries and institutions,” the Diocese said.
The Mass will bring together representatives from local parishes, Catholic organizations, and environmental advocacy groups, including the Care for Creation Ministry at St. Luke, the Texas Chapter of the Laudato Si’ Movement, and New Mexico–El Paso Power and Light, the Diocese said.
“Pope Francis reminds us that care for the Earth is inseparable from care for the most vulnerable,” Seitz said. “This plan invites every person, parish, and diocesan structure to reflect on our impact and take real steps to live more sustainably and faithfully.”
Released on May 24, 2015, Laudato Si’ called for an “integral ecology” that recognizes the deep connections between the environmental crisis and global inequality, the Diocese said.
In 2023, Pope Francis continued this message with Laudate Deum, which addressed the growing climate emergency and the moral urgency of collective action.
The Diocese’s new action plan will provide tools and guidance for all Catholics to engage in concrete steps, the Diocese said.
These actions can include creating special ministries, evaluating use of resources and adopting sustainable practices, the Diocese said.
The Laudato Si’ Diocesan Action Commission is available to assist parishes and organizations looking to implement or expand environmental initiatives, the Diocese said.
For more information, contact laudatosicommissiondep@elpasodiocese.org.
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