On April 7, 2024, the Laudato Si’ Oasis was inaugurated as an environmental and community hub in Florence, Italy, designed to unite local associations and organizations under the guiding principles of Pope Francis’ Encyclicals, Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. This collaborative project was spearheaded by the Laudato Si’ Movement of Tuscany, the St. Ignatius Association affiliated with the Jesuits, the Agesci 7 Scout Group of Florence, and the Comboni Missionaries.
A Space for Community and Ecological Action
The Oasis was envisioned as a free and welcoming space, promoting peace, spirituality, and conviviality. It serves as a center for planning and collective action, infusing creativity, cooperation, and resilience into every initiative, akin to spokes on a wheel driving forward the urgent need for ecological transformation.
Symbol of Progress: The Turtle
The turtle, chosen as the symbol of the Oasis, represents steady, purposeful progress. This imagery underscores the center’s mission: taking deliberate steps to advance integral ecology and universal fraternity.
Inauguration and Key Initiatives
The inauguration included a special Mass celebrating unity with Creation, a shared meal, and the development of a foundational manifesto, which highlights five key commitments:
- Integral Ecology: The Oasis is dedicated to addressing both environmental and social concerns by fostering educational programs and initiatives that respond to the interconnected cries of the earth and the marginalized.
- Sustainable Lifestyles: It advocates for practices that minimize food and energy consumption, bolster the local economy, and encourage participation in solidarity-based purchasing groups and renewable energy communities in cooperation with ecclesial and social organizations.
- Urban Reimagining: The Oasis seeks to foster dialogue with local communities and collaborate with other neighborhoods in Florence to protect green spaces, create communal learning and recreational areas, and enhance city planning to include natural trails.
- Engagement of Future Generations: By leveraging digital platforms and social media, the Oasis aims to involve young people in the ongoing work of ecological and social development, ensuring a continuous influx of fresh ideas and participants.
- Ecological Spirituality: With a focus on Biblical teachings, the Oasis supports a shift toward ecological awareness through liturgical celebrations, retreats, and community events. It promotes contemplation days where families and youth can learn to appreciate the world around them through the lens of Gospel parables that encourage seeing the signs of the times.
Initial Activities and Collaborations
The Laudato Si’ Oasis is in its formative phase, marked by meaningful early initiatives such as the missionary rosary for ecological conversion in May 2024 and the celebration of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. These events emphasized collective responsibility for creation, stretching from local green spaces to global ecosystems. They drew participation from numerous partners, including:
- The Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment
- Italia Nostra, dedicated to fostering cooperation between grassroots movements and major institutions
- Restarters Firenze, promoting repair culture and sustainability
- Flo Concept, a social cooperative
- The Olivoterapia group, which supports the circular economy
- Chemin Neuf, a community fostering unity and service
- The San Martino in Montughi family community
- The local Laudato Si’ Circles
- The European Movement for Non-Violent Action
- Agesci Scout groups
Looking Ahead
The Laudato Si’ Oasis embarks on its journey with small but meaningful steps, with plans for expanded activities and deeper collaboration with its partners. This long path, rooted in collective responsibility and a shared commitment to ecological and social betterment, promises steady growth as the community navigates the evolving landscape of Florence.
A Comboni Missionaries’ Commitment to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform
By Bro. Alberto Parise MCCJ
Embracing Integral Ecology as a Core Mission
The XIX General Chapter of the Comboni Missionaries (2022) adopted Integral Ecology as a cornerstone of its mission, bridging pastoral, liturgical, educational, social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions. This commitment moves beyond rhetoric, aligning with concrete actions through the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP), a global initiative by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Steps to Engage with the LSAP
To operationalize this commitment, Comboni communities have been called to actively participate in the LSAP during the Season of Creation 2024 (September 1 – October 4). This involves three clear steps:
- Enroll in the LSAP through its official platform.
- Submit a community reflection detailing their dedication to integral ecology.
- Upload an annual action plan outlining strategic ecological initiatives.
Strategic Implementation of Chapter Resolutions
The General Chapter’s endorsement of the LSAP is not an isolated mandate but an integral part of a broader, cohesive mission strategy. This initiative supports the Chapter’s vision of a missionary approach that deeply engages with local communities and responds to the “cry of the Earth and the poor,” echoing the first two Laudato Si’ Goals (LSGs).
The Missionary Dream: “We envision a missionary style embedded within the realities of those we serve, responsive to the cry of the Earth and the impoverished. This style advocates for simplicity in lifestyle and communal structures, embodying fraternity, social friendship, and dedicated service.”
Aligning with Pope Francis’ Teachings
The Comboni Missionaries are inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis, particularly through his encyclicals Evangelii Gaudium, Laudato Si’, Fratelli Tutti, and Querida Amazonia. These references emphasize a commitment to ecological education and spirituality (LSGs 5 and 6). The integration of ecological conversion with the Institute’s charism reflects this focus:
“We are called to renew our charism, attuned to the signs of the times, answering the cry of both the Earth and the marginalized (LS 49), inspired by Pope Francis’ teachings.”
Concrete Guidelines for Just Action
The Chapter outlined specific actions that reinforce its pledge to integral ecology:
- Engage with local and global injustices by researching, analyzing, and reflecting on these in the light of the Church’s social teachings and Scriptures.
- Embed the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) dimension across ministries, fostering a bold, prophetic presence that challenges societal injustices.
- Promote sustainable economic practices by adopting ecological criteria and supporting community-level initiatives. This includes:
- Embracing a simple, ecologically mindful lifestyle adapted to local contexts.
- Investing in collaborative community work to build an inclusive and transformative economy.
- Organize ongoing formation focused on biblical and theological foundations, an economy of communion, and the vow of poverty to sustain motivation toward ecological and economic integrity.
- Implement accountability practices to demonstrate and report sustainable economic approaches, fostering transparency and responsibility.
Building Community Resilience and Empowerment
The Chapter’s vision extends to fostering community resilience (LSG 7). This involves engaging in authentic partnerships that uplift local communities, nurturing their capacities and fostering active participation without paternalism. Missionaries are called to:
- Observe and respond attentively to the needs of those around them, avoiding complacency.
- Mobilize local communities, ensuring that structures align with social contexts to improve collective well-being.
Collaborative Ministry and Active Solidarity
The commitment to the LSAP reinforces a collaborative ministry ethos that acknowledges limitations while seeking active engagement with local movements for justice, peace, and creation care. The Comboni Missionaries aspire to contribute meaningfully within a network of like-minded advocates united in the mission for a sustainable and just world.
