RVA Pope Prayer Request
RVA App Promo Image

How to Form Eco-Friendly Priests and Nuns?

Eco-Friendly Priests and Nuns.

In an age when the cry of the earth is as urgent as the cry of the poor, the Church is being challenged to form leaders with ecological awareness at the heart of their vocation. Future priests and nuns cannot treat environmental stewardship as an optional ministry; it must become part of their spiritual, pastoral, and theological identity.

The Church stands at a critical point in history. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation are no longer distant threats but present realities. In this context, priests and nuns of the future are called not only to be spiritual guides but also to act as guardians of creation.

The call to care for creation is rooted in Scripture, from the Genesis mandate to “till and keep” the garden, to St. Paul’s description of creation longing for redemption. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis frames ecological degradation not only as a scientific or political issue but as a moral and spiritual crisis demanding urgent response. For future Church leaders, this means interpreting environmental challenges through a theological lens, recognizing that justice for creation is linked to human dignity and the Gospel itself.

Pope Francis’ Vision for Formation

Since publishing Laudato Si’ in 2015, Pope Francis has consistently urged that environmental care be integrated into priestly and religious formation. In his address to seminary rectors and formation delegates, he described formation as “unique, integral, communitarian, and missionary,” a vision that includes ecological responsibility as part of Christian witness. He called on seminaries and formation houses to foster a spirituality that recognizes the interconnectedness of all creation, making care for the earth a pastoral priority.

Embedding creation care into seminary curricula, Pope Francis said, can prepare a new generation of priests and nuns able to guide communities in facing environmental challenges with wisdom, compassion, and faith.

Practical Pathways

Incorporating ecological consciousness in formation requires a holistic approach. This can include:

  • Academic Formation: Courses on eco-theology, creation spirituality, and biblical ecology; theological reflection on the link between creation, humanity, and God.

  • Spiritual Formation: Creation-themed liturgies, retreats in natural settings, seasonal prayers, and meditations on the beauty of the earth.

  • Pastoral Training: Preparing seminarians to preach and teach on environmental issues and to establish parish-based ecological ministries.

  • Experiential Learning: Immersion in rural parishes, organic farms, or conservation projects; collaboration with ecological NGOs.

  • Sustainable Living: Transforming seminary campuses into models of sustainability through solar energy, rainwater harvesting, organic gardens, and waste reduction.

  • Advocacy and Leadership: Training in public theology and advocacy so that priests and nuns can mobilize parish communities for ecological action and policy engagement.

A Generation of Ecological Leaders

An ecologically conscious priest or nun is not simply an environmental activist in religious clothing. They are spiritual shepherds who understand that caring for creation is part of their pastoral mission. By leading communities toward sustainable practices, they also promote justice for both human and non-human life.

If seminaries and formation houses embrace this integrated approach, the Church can raise leaders who inspire their communities to see care for creation as a fundamental dimension of faith. As Pope Francis reminds us, ecological conversion is inseparable from love of God and neighbour: every tree we plant, every river we protect, and every life we cherish is an act of faith, a quiet homily spoken from the soil beneath our feet.

(Fr. Ashok Sandil, an Indian Jesuit from Ranchi Province in Jharkhand, holds a doctorate in Computer Science. He writes on a wide range of topics, including computer science, spirituality, leadership, ecology, and more.)

Let us know how you feel!

148 reactions

Comments

Nelsa A.C. , Sep 09 2025 - 10:51pm
It is a pressing need today to care for our environment more than ever. Each of us especially as religious needs to be a leader to inspire the others. Both human and non human life needs to be cared for.
SUHASINI Pasupula , Sep 09 2025 - 11:03pm
It's thought provoking, inspiring and influential message.
Sr. Sangeeta Lakra, Sep 09 2025 - 11:09pm
Very meaningful write up. Eco-Friendly priests and nuns can truly inspire the faithful to care for God's creation through their lifestyle and witness.
Sama Ekta Tirkey, Sep 09 2025 - 11:49pm
I m really inspired by this article, because it invites me to be aware of the essence , that the earth provides in abandons. It is like Right to life. Any threat of Ecology can lead to violent of , right to healthy life.
Anna Lugun , Sep 10 2025 - 12:13am
Very inspiring message and it is our prime responsibility to love and protect the creation of God.
Sushma kujur, Sep 10 2025 - 12:15am
Priests and nuns who live eco-friendly lives truly become role models of stewardship. Their simple lifestyle, care for creation, and respect for nature reflect God’s love for the earth. By planting trees, reducing waste, and conserving resources, they inspire society to protect our common home.
Sunita Bage, Sep 10 2025 - 2:10am
Our eco-friendly way of life is an inspiring witness to the harmony between faith and creation.Through our simplicity and care for the earth,we reflect the sacred call to protect God's gift of nature.
Sr. Santana Pereira, Sep 10 2025 - 11:15am
I congratulate you for this inspiring article. Hope reading the same, the priests and nuns will truly make it become part of our ministry. It is not that We are doing something FOR the Earth. It is something much more. We are showing our repentance by caring for the Earth, we have put into emergency situation.