It's not easy to be hopeful all the time, but as Catholics and Christians we are called to create hope through our lives and our actions. Br. Benedict Ayodi, GCCM Programs Manager for Africa, talks about why we should be hopeful and how we all can create hope in our lives during 2021 and beyond.

Read Br. Benedict's moving essay on maintaining hope during the COVID-19 pandemic that has been read by tens of thousands of people: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/a-message-of-hope-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Watch Br. Benedict's Advent retreat reflection: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=392658521981414&ref=watch_permalink

Listen to an earlier podcast episode about Br. Benedict's faith journey: https://catholicclimatemovement.podbean.com/e/running-from-lions-with-gccm-africas-benedict-ayodi/

Suzi Moreira of Brazil was studying theology as an undergraduate student when Pope Francis helped clarify her career path by releasing Laudato Si'. On the podcast, Moreira talks about growing up with a Franciscan spirituality, how Laudato Si' affected her, and why the body is the backbone of theology in Latin America.

Bishop Allwyn D'Silva is sometimes referred to as the "green bishop" by his friends and colleagues. But his ecological conversion took years and largely happened because of his friends and peers.

In 2017, Pope Francis appointed Bishop D'Silva to become the Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Bombay, India (now called Mumbai). Bishop D'Silva is the former Executive Secretary of the Climate Change desk at the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).

Ariana Díaz Acuña, a Costa Rican theologian and former deputy director of the Laudato Si' Observatory at the Catholic University of Costa Rica, shares the story of her faith journey, including the many times she has worked in the Amazon and how those experiences have had a lasting effect on her.

“They were always praying for water. I was like, ‘Why are they praying for water? I can’t understand this.’ Then I began to realize that they really need water to live and for the fruits of the Earth to come."

GCCM Associate Director Christina Leaño leads this guided meditation to help you more deeply connect with God and creation. The November 2020 Team Retreat Day guide can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pb0O_3NoOEByt25fs06NAGQ8ARdFmFkikWUKiNBpPLo/edit

More and more Catholic and faith institutions are choosing to divest from fossil fuels to live out their values. Why are they divesting, and what does that mean exactly? Daniela Finamore, GCCM Divest-Invest & European Programs Coordinator, talks about the growing movement. More information about this week's divestment announcement: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/catholic-institutions-lead-the-way-in-largest-joint-divestment-from-fossil-fuels-en-news/

Facing long odds of success, how do you keep yourself spiritually full and hopeful? Sr. Mary John Mananzan, 83, has spent her life advocating for women and standing in solidarity with workers in the Philippines. In 2011, Women Deliver, a global advocacy group, named her one of the top 100 inspiring persons in the world.

Sr. Mary John shared what has helped her 60-year career of activism, imparting countless lessons for Catholics and all people working against the climate crisis.

"Your spiritual nourishment is the one that feeds you, gives you the strength, and even the courage to dare things you wouldn’t dare if you had no conviction that God is with you.”

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More on Sr. Mary John Mananzan

CNN Phillipines: Profiles: Sr. Mary John Mananzan

CIDSE: The Place of Women Is... In The Struggle

Global Sisters Report: The hospital that miracles built

Global Catholic Climate Movement Advocacy Campaign: StandWithPopeFrancis.org

What does it mean to "vote Catholic"? How can Catholics vote for the care of creation? What does it mean to vote "pro-life"? In a special election-themed podcast, Father Jacek Orzechowski of the Franciscan Action Network and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (USA), and Roxana Bendezú of PAX Christi USA talk about voting Catholic.

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PAX Christi USA Statement of Principles: Election 2020: https://paxchristiusa.org/2020/09/16/statement-of-principles-elections-2020/

Franciscan Action Network's "Vote Franciscan Values": https://franciscanaction.org/

For more information about Global Catholic Climate Movement: CatholicClimateMovement.Global

Ahead of the seventh anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, A.G. Saño of the Philippines talks about surviving the strongest storm to ever make landfall, why he works for climate justice, and why he still has hope.

To learn more about A.G.'s story, go to catholicclimatemovement.global/blog.

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Durante el reciente Tiempo de Creación, el Capítulo del MCMC Colombia realizó una lectura de la Laudato Si' en español. ¡Muchas gracias al capítulo de Colombia! Compartimos su lectura, como un recurso al que pueden utilizar las veces que sea necesario.