The Beatrice & Sidney Albert Interfaith Lecture Series Board, the Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology, and the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center are pleased to announce an evening discussion regarding the role of religion in promoting ecological awareness and engagement for the common good. A Muslim and a Christian scholar will discuss spiritual and ethical understandings from their respective traditions viewed through the lens of two documents: Al-Mizan (2024), and Laudato Si' (2015). The discussion will explore a perceived disconnect between the call to care for the environment (creation) present in the sacred texts, and an apparent failure by many religious believers to embrace this call.

On February 5th, we co-sponsored this year's Earth's Cry, Humanity's Call Symposium Reimagining Economy: For People and Planet.

See the full details, recordings of the day, and details on upcoming symposiums on our symposium webpage. 

Peter Reuben, NYSDEC Director of Indian Nation Affairs will be presenting on what people can learn from indigenous traditions to effectively take action on behalf of our common home, Mother Earth.

Watch the recording HERE!

This event was co-sponsored with the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center.

The Laudato Si' Center attended the 2025 Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities Symposium, "The Canticle of the Creatures." Br. Michael delivered an opening keynote address to provide insight into the Canticle of the Creatures, and Br. Jimmy presented, "St. Francis the Scientist: The Song, the Science, and a Call to Responsibility." Br. Jimmy also moderated the panel from St. Bonaventure University discussing their work on sustainability. The event included participants from several Franciscan institutions from across the United States.

Br. Jimmy presented on the Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology to a group of people for all over the world who work in justice, peace, and integrity for creation. The week-long course focused on St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Creatures and working toward an integral ecology. Other presenters included Leonardo Boff, a major contributor to the thought behind integral ecology, and others from the Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome. 

Br. Jacek and Br. Jimmy, along with members of the Siena facilities team, toured the County Waste Recycling Plant. The staff at the plant explained the process of the recycling coming into the facility, the sorting and organizing, and then reloading as it gets sent off to manufacturers who will use the recycled materials. We learned more about the processes there and what we can do as a Siena community to be better about recycling on campus.

Place all paper, metal, and plastics in the labeled recycling dumpsters. Make sure containers aren't filled with liquid or material, but there is no need to worry if it is not perfectly clean, they can still recycle it! Believe it or not, it is best if the recycled materials go into the dumpster with no garbage bag. Just throw everything right into the dumpster "loose."

Five students from Siena, Br. Jimmy, and Br. Jacek joined Radix and students from the University of Albany to plant seven fruit trees in Albany's South End. We learned about sustainable urban development and the benefit for planting trees. The seven trees planted will provide sidewalk shade, reducing the urban heat island effect in this area, and also provide food for the local community.

Siena students and Br. Jacek advocated for the Packaging and Recycling Infrastructure Act with Rev. Kathryn Beilke of Beyond Plastics. The bill seeks to greatly reduce single-use plastics at the source.

In November of 2024, the directors of the Laudato Si' Center presented to Catholic school teachers in the Diocese of Albany. The presentation shared about the long tradition of care for creation in Catholic teaching, discussed our work as a center, and shared ideas on how we can become agents of positive change in our school communities. 

In a conference hosted by Franciscan Action Network, 10 students from Siena travelled to Washington DC to develop skills in leadership and advocacy with a Franciscan lens. Students met with people on Capitol Hill to advocate for bills that promote Franciscan values. Learn more about the conference and Franciscan Action Network below!

In October 2024, the Laudato Si' Center hosted its first symposium on Integral Ecology: Earth's Cry, Humanity's Call. Check out the highlights from the symposium!

Check out how we celebrated Earth Week here at Siena!

Along with the Siena's Saints Act Together group, Br. Jacek planted a linden tree behind Rosetti Hall. Read more about the event here and why the linden tree was selected!

Presented by:

*Gina Castillo, Climate Policy and Research Advisor, Catholic Relief Services,

*Br. Ed Tverdek, OFM, Advisory Group, St. Peter's Church (Chicago), Siena University Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology

Host: Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology (Siena University)

Sponsor: Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities

Engaging the Imagination, Constructing Laudato Si’ Bridges

The Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference took place in Washington D.C. October 13-16, 2023. As part of Franciscan Leadership Conference, it brought together young people from several Franciscan colleges and universities to advocate for climate and racial justice. Siena's Franciscan Center for Justice and Advocacy had a robust, active presence in this initiative. Go Saints! Continue to advocate for comprehensive solutions to the interlocking issues around social, racial and climate justice.