AMPJP commits to Laudato si’

The Association of Ministerial PJPs Ltd (AMPJP) has committed to implementing Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical Laudato si’, with its dual call to respond to both “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”[1].

The AMPJP does not consume many resources but we acknowledge that some of our activities do have a detrimental impact on creation. We believe it is vital that every individual and organisation moves from harming to healing creation – whether their impact be large or small.

Moira Najdecki, AMPJP Council Chair

 The AMPJP is the umbrella organisations for the 12 MPJPs who sponsor Catholic hospitals, schools, aged care and other ministries. It has one employee and a small office. The main elements of its carbon footprint are flights, electricity use and waste associated with meetings/events.

As a body of Church Authorities, we are conscious that showing leadership has an impact on others. As Pope Francis says “… all creatures are connected… all … are dependent on one another”[2]. 

Moira Najdecki, AMPJP Council Chair

The AMPJP will develop an annual action plan that addresses the seven Laudato si’ Goals. This plan will be lodged with the Laudato si’ Action Platform (LSAP) under the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

 Pope Francis invites us to “… cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation”[3] so the LSAP is a practical way for AMPJP to plan, implement and report on our actions.

We see LSAP as addressing our strategies to: “Demonstrate excellence in governance within AMPJP” and “Proactively work with Authorities and agencies within and beyond the Church to build capacity and effective responses to the needs of this time”.[4]

Moira Najdecki, AMPJP Council Chair

All Catholic Authorities, entities, families and individuals were encouraged to participate in the LSAP by the 2021 Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement, “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor”[5] and Decree 8 of the 2022 Plenary Council[6].

PDF version: AMPJP Laudato si Commitment

[1] Pope Francis (2015) On Care for our Common Home (Laudato si’) https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20 Strategic Direction 2023-2025150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html <accessed 02 May 2023> paragraph 49

[2] Laudato si’ paragraph 42

[3] Laudato si’ paragraph 14

[4] AMPJP (2023) https://ampjp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/AMPJP-Strategic-Direction-2023-2025_For-Web-1.pdf <accessed 02 May 2023>

[5] Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference: Office of Social Justice (2021), Social Justice Statement 2021–22: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Social-Justice-Statement-2021-22.pdf  <accessed 02 May 2023>

[6] Fifth Plenary Council of Australia (2022) Decree 8, Integral Ecology and Conversion for the sake of our Common Home https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/FINAL-Decree-8-Integral-Ecology-and-Conversion-for-the-Sake-of-Our-Common-Home.pdf  <accessed 02 May 2023>