Background: Laudato Si'
In May of 2015, Pope Francis published Laudato Si', the second encyclical of his papacy. The name of the encyclical, which means “praised be to you” in the medieval Italian dialect spoken by Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of ecology and the saint from whom the Pope took his papal name), references Francis of Assisi’s famous “Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon,” which praises God through the wonder of the created world. In the encyclical, Pope Francis notes that care for creation is no longer optional, but is an integral part of the Catholic Church’s social teaching.
In the wake of the publication of Laudato Si', the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development launched the Laudato Si' Action Platform, an initiative developed to support institutions in building real movement to promote care for the common home.
Background: Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preferences
In 2019, Rev. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, promulgated the
four Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP) that are to guide the Society in all of their apostolic works through the year
2029. In particular, the fourth UAP, “Caring for our Common Home,” emphasizes the
disproportionate impact of the ecological crisis on poor and vulnerable populations,
and the commensurate responsibility for an “ecological conversion” that leads to solidarity
and real lifestyle changes that are sustainable and respectful of the created order.
In line with Pope Francis’ urgings and the guiding principles of the Society of Jesus,
the Division of Mission and Identity is collaborating with colleagues across the university
to organize the efforts that are already underway to build sustainability into our
teaching and research, our policies and practices for maintaining and improving facilities,
and our community engagement efforts. This includes elevating liturgical and spiritual
offerings that harmonize with Pope Francis’ recognition that the entirety of creation
gives glory to God.
News
- 5/1/2024 - Sustainability Committee Awarded an 1818 Grant to partner with Gateway to the Great Outdoors on increasing environmental literacy among low-income children in St. Louis
- 9/19/2024 - Department of Energy Awards Saint Louis University Nearly $1 Million to Create a Climate Resilience Center
Faculty and Staff Initiatives
Fresh Gatherings Cafe + Farm is a student-run cafe operated by the Culinary Program and Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at Saint Louis University. Fresh Gatherings partners with local farms and vendors from the St. Louis and Illinois area to offer customers the highest quality ingredients available.
Saint Louis University’s urban garden was established in 2002 to address the disconnect between the food people eat and their knowledge of where it originated. It has been fulfilling its mission to improve access to healthy, local foods by providing nutrition and garden education to the St. Louis community ever since.
Research and Teaching
The research conducted at the WATER Institute focuses primarily on three critical areas:
- Addressing water-related social justice issues at home and around the world
- Protecting aquatic ecosystems
- Improving infrastructure to secure water supplies and address key societal needs
The University’s Jesuit mission to serve humanity is also at the heart of the WATER Institute, whose findings will address public health issues and protect society from natural and human-made water-related disasters. The institute’s multifaceted, collaborative approach supports research with positive applications for local, national, and global communities – and their most vulnerable populations.
Reis Biological Station is operated by the Saint Louis University Department of Biology to promote education and research focused on ecology, evolution and the environment.
- Orhun Aydin (Earth and Atmospheric Science), computational sustainability
- Sarah Coffin (Urban Planning), sustainable built environment
- Amanda Cox (Civil Engineering), hydraulic modeling, erosion control
- Benjamin de Foy (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), air pollution and emissions
- Matthew Elia (Theological Studies), eco-theology and Catholic social teaching
- Elizabeth Hassenmueller (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), watersheds and soil chemistry
- Emily Hite (Sociology), cultural environmental anthropology
- Jason Knouft (Biology), aquatic biodiversity
- Liuqing (Cathy) Mai (Finance), green innovation
- Laura Muro (Business and Economics, SLU-Madrid), accounting and sustainable finance
- Cristy Portales-Reyes (Biology), ecosystem responses to global change
- Vasit Sagan (Earth and Atmospheric Science; Computer Science), food and water security; ecosystem analysis
- Enbal Shacham (Public Health), community and geospatial health determinants
- Nitish Singh (International Business), corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability
- Thomas Valone (Biology), arid ecosystem ecology and conservation
- Robert Wood (Biology), aquatic ecology; Reis Biological Station