Creation Care/Cuidado de la Creación Conference and Climate Reality Film Festival

CIW-Centro IW, Mexico City; Universidad IW Campus Bajio; University of Monterrey, University of the Incarnate Word, Texas; Incarnate Word ministries in the US, Mexico, and Peru, and Laudato Youth Initiative (LYI) - Laudato Si Club Mountains of the Moon University in Uganda, the Little Angels of Mary in Guatemala, Tanzania LYI, with San Antonio Climate Reality invite you

Creation Care/Cuidado de la Creación

A conference, a film festival, the "Art of Nature" Exhibit by Children

Sept. 25, 26, 27, 2024, both on campuses in the various countries and online.

University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, Texas, Broadway Campus):

Conference sessions Wednesday 9/25 and Thursday 9/26 in Student Engagement Center (SEC) room 2050 and online
Environmental Film Festival: Thursday 9/26 and Friday 9/27, Mabee Library Auditorium

Registration was on GivePulse https://uiw.givepulse.com/event/464891-Creation-CareCuidado-de-la-Creaci%C3%B3n-Conference-and-Climate-Reality-Film-Festival-UIW-and-Holy-Cross-in-US-Mexico-Uganda-Guatemala-Peru

The University of the Incarnate Word received a grant for solar panels to be put on the library at the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine. A special program that is both educational and prayerful will be held and the date will be announced here.

We are grateful to these partners:

We are also grateful to Sustainability Studies at UIW, the UIW Lewis Center of the Americas, the UIW Ettling Center For Civic Leadership and Sustainability,

and especially to Sister MaryLou Rodriguez, CCVI, who edited the recordings of the conference and posted them on Sisters of Chartiy of the Incarnate Word Justice, Peace, Creation YouTube Channel.

In the 2024 Season of Creation as we reflect on Laudato Si, we learn from each other. Learn more of the Season in many faith traditions Season of Creation

Sept. 25, Wednesday

Times are U.S. Central Standard Times

SPOKEN IN ENGLISH, CAPTIONS IN SPANISH

9 am Welcome in behalf of Ugandan presenters. Br. Adolf Mugume, C.S.C., Director of Communications for the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Rome, will talk about the Popes’ enyclical Laudato Si and also present a short film documentary featuring Sarah Kirkumwino the Laudato Youth Initiative Clubs’ President, focusing on youth climate action and Sustainability work on media by the Laudato Youth Initiative response to the Catholic Social Teachings on the environment, SDG 16 and 13 Call to Action Message. A video that was filmed in response to the Popes film documentary the Letter explaining what is happening to our common home and as justification of the climate change problem prevailing in Uganda. The findings from this film documentation informed his Capstone Reasearch “Use of digital Media to communicate Laudato Si” that gave birth to the Laudato Youth Initiative to mitigate the challenge and build a community of young people who are environmental responsive castodians of on our common home.

Please watch the video Climate Change Impact in Uganda: What's happening to our common home.

Mr. Augustine Bahumuka (Uganda), a research editor with Laudato Youth Initiative will share about LYI’s role in promoting the Catholic Social Teachings of the Church and Miss Immaculate Kisembo the Laudato Youth Initiative Publications Editor joining us from Tanzania will share about Laudato Youth and SDG 16 and 13 Call to action thus the two will also moderate the presentations by the Laudato Youth Initiative Club at Mountains of the Moon University (Ugandan Team: Tukamusaba Doreen, ⁠Ayebale Fred, ⁠Arinaitwe Innocent, Murungi Arnnest, Peace Scovia and Masereka Rodgers) will share about Season of Creation activities in institutions.

Read more about the Ugandan and Tazanian presentations bit.ly/3ziGA4i

10:30 - 11 am. Dr. Ben Miele, Chair of the UIW Sustainability Concentration, who leads Bokashi composting and other efforts in the UIW Community Garden

11 – 11:45 am Water Quality Class led by Dr. John Hooker, UIW San Antonio

12 noon - Visiting Scholar Vladimer Narsia sharing on Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew’s teachings on sustainability in dialogue with Dr. Chris Edelman sharing on the teachings of Pope Francis in Laudato Si. See the resources from many denominations around the world including the Orthodox, Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, and many more. https://seasonofcreation.org/resources/

SPOKEN IN SPANISH, CAPTIONS IN ENGLISH

1:15 - 1:45 pm "Creation Care with Older Adults in the Diocese of Chimbote, Peru" presentation in Spanish with English subtitles. Dony Avilos who serves on the Incarnate Word Sisters International Justice, Peace, and Creation Committee will present. See the recording www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX8tnHw2gVM

All are encouraged to read the JPIC blog with ongoing writing in Spanish and in English saccvi.blogspot.com/search/label/Castellano This is an article about the Martyrs of Chimbote, the city in which Dony Avilos serves.

2:00 - 2:45 pm Presentations from CIW in Mexico City shared by the General Academic Director, Abraham García and the participants: Francisco Torres, Jessica Andrade, Marian Galvez, Maria Cadena, and also the head of Campus Ministry CIW César Monroy. 1. A Team of Ecoshell entrepreneurs, who developed a food supplement to combat dietary deficiencies in the consumption of calcium and other minerals that affects a part of the world's population from the recycling of eggshells. See the recording www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM6PyMdH0e4 2. Francisco Javier Torres, responsible for the University Social Responsibility program and the CIW Incubator, will share programs that have been developed at the university institutionally for more than 8 years. 3. Team leaders accepted into the UN Millennium Fellowship program. A global program that aims to create young leaders who generate solutions to sustainability needs. One of the leaders is currently on an exchange in San Antonio.

SPOKEN IN ENGLISH, CAPTIONS IN SPANISH

3 pm "Lessening Ecological Footprints of Daily Life" by Thomas Marchetti, (Texas A&M University Alumni, UIW Student), Oblate Pre-Novice. A discussion of how in our daily lives we should consume water, energy, and food resources being attentive to how these resources are connected. We will also discuss a few ways that one might make changes to reduce these footprints.

Sep 26, Thursday

SPOKEN IN SPANISH, CAPTIONS IN ENGLISH

8 am - 9:30 am "Universities Leading the Way" See the recording www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXQM0ywpxxI Welcome to the second day and introduction by Adriana León, Director for Academics of UIW Campus Bajío.

Dr. Raymundo González from Bajío will share on creation care strategies used with students. He was awarded for the University by the Mayor of Irapuato due to the work he's been doing for sustainable projects.

Growing Sustainability Activities and Goals at UDEM, the University of Monterrey, shared by Alfredo Nanni, Director of the UDEM Sustainability Office

Dr. Alejandro Flores, UIW San Antonio Environmental Science teacher describes the Sustainability grants from the City of San Antonio one for solar panels, the other for community gardens. He will lead discussion among the preseenters on how “Universities Can Lead the Way.” What does that mean? How can we continue and grow? Why is that especially important for Catholics?

SPOKEN IN ENGLISH, CAPTIONS IN SPANISH

9:45 - 10:30 am Sister Mary Lou Rodriguez, U.S. leader of the Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation Committee of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, sharing on Socio Ecological Justice and Laudato Si. See the recording www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W490RMPB6A

FILMS IN BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH

10:30 am - 11:30 am A Little Film Festival shared by the Little Angels of Mary, a non-profit in Guatemala where 69% of the children have been malnourished. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0NgYDySF0tCSeYbNIG9wTw

Sep 26, Thursday, continued

SPOKEN IN ENGLISH, CAPTIONS IN SPANISH

3 – 3:45 pm. Dr. Alejandro Flores has been leading the Human Dominated Ecosystems Class. See the recording www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmE6Ihn7bvk The students are studying sustainability aspects of the UIW Campus on Broadway in San Antonio. They will share their findings so far: Juliana Symons- Sustainable water use & Landscaping. Jessica Solomon- Levels of Common Air Pollutants. Elisa Moran-Sustainability in Print Design. Sarai Luciano-Solar Panels. Kaylee Howel- Water Conservation. Cassandra Hankins-Green House Gases from Buildings. Maria Barron- Reduction of Electricity Consumption

3:45 to 4:15 pm “Gardening in Guatemala” In the face of severe malnutrition, Edwin Mendoza and Darlene Jasso of the Little Angels of Mary are leading nutrition efforts and helping indigenous families grow food and learn.

UIW and Climate Reality San Antonio: 2024 Environmental Film Festival Mabee Library Auditorium (not online)

Limited seating! Please RSVP at: https://forms.gle/29wP6tJ7hFA48mfh6

Film Festival Thursday Schedule (4 - 7:45 pm)

The Letter: A Message from Our Earth
Toxic Art
Plastic Wars
Kings of the Kenai
Mr. Trash Wheel
City on the Water

Sept. 27 Friday

Film Festival Friday Schedule (12 - 6 pm) Mabee Library Auditorium (not online)

Limited seating! Please RSVP at: https://forms.gle/29wP6tJ7hFA48mfh6

Common Ground
Study Aboard
A Plastic Tide
Mr. Trash Wheel
Cooked: Survival By ZIP Code
Keepers of the North

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The young people have not finished their "Art of Creation" so it is not posted yet BUT here is the invitation. https://read.bookcreator.com/ofySMERKNNTs3PmgScuKVYf4GiU2/y3unhaxCTTSXGhae63tXgg The 3 pictures in that book were done by daughters of three men presenting in the conference. The fathers better be as good as the little artists.

Perhaps YOU CAN GET YOUNG PEOPLE 4 TO 18 TO DO ART WORK. We have two classes of UIW students who can help with the posting. Write Dr. Hather Barton-Weston <bartonwe@uiwtx.edu> if you want help. This was done by the children in Guatemala https://read.bookcreator.com/z7tL9gDfnYhRG9lDgIUxECxgddj2/yPcGn7CKRYuGAnFvAGf8aQ

War is one of the biggest threats to sustainability, See the children's art from Ukraine and from Palestine. https://read.bookcreator.com/library/-NptjAFjhCUTfN6WbxOq Let's help young people all over the world to know each other and to build respect for other people and for all of creation. https://charterforcompassion.org/what-we-do/support-kids/artistic-bridges/

Some UIW students and faculty were at the World Summit of Nobel Laureates for Peace (charterforcompassion.org) They emphasized that the earth can no longer afford war. The children are starving because the wars have wasted too much. PREVENT THEM. STOP THEM.

The University of the Incarnate Word, the Incarnate Word Sisters, and now the Archdiocese of San Antonio have signed on to the Laudato Si Action plan calling us to be leaders in sustainability. https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/ What does that mean to us as individuals?

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word invite you to use these resources:

Ritual-LSAP_Prayer.pdf - Google Drive

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation [1st September 2024] (27 June 2024) | Francis (vatican.va)

Season of Creation

Ecological Examen – Ignatian Reflection on Care for Our Common Home

Sept 10 FFE Eco-Film “Food, Inc. 2” via Zoom - Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (franciscansisters-olph.org)

We are grateful for the many presenters, assistants, and all those who have helped to publicize and host the conference, especially the administrators of the Mexico UIW branches, the Holy Cross Brothers, the Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation Committee, SA Climate Reality, Lorena Cestou, Adela Gott, Evelyn Villarreal, Sr. Mary Lou Rodriguez, and Dr. Rafael Hoyle. Questions: Sr. Martha Ann kirk@uiwtx.edu 210-883-5934.