On Earth Day 22nd, April, 2025, the global community will unite under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet”. This day serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect our planet, a call that resonates deeply with the Focolare Movement’s emphasis on unity and universal fraternity.  

This year’s Earth Day theme calls everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030. This is particularly pertinent in Ireland, where we are blessed with natural beauty but also face challenges like peatland degradation, water pollution and biodiversity loss.

The Focolare Movement’s spirit of “Together to Care,” as exemplified by the Genfest, aligns strongly with the core message of Earth Day. Chiara Lubich’s vision of a united world calls us to extend our love and concern not only to humanity but also to the environment that sustains us. As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’, the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are interconnected, urging us to an integral ecology that recognizes the inherent dignity of all creation.

In the spirit of Earth Day, let’s:

• Educate Ourselves and Others: Learn more about the specific environmental challenges facing Ireland and the global initiatives promoted by Earth Day. Share this knowledge with family, friends, and within our communities. Earthday.org provides a wealth of resources, including toolkits and action guides.  
• Take Concrete Action: Participate in local Earth Day events, organize community clean-ups, plant trees, reduce our consumption of single-use plastics, and adopt more sustainable lifestyle choices. Consider initiatives that promote renewable energy or support local, sustainable agriculture.
• Foster Dialogue and Collaboration: Engage in conversations with people from different backgrounds and perspectives to find common ground and work together towards solutions. This synodal approach, emphasizing listening and shared responsibility, is crucial for addressing the complex challenges of environmental degradation.  
• Live “Love One Another” with Creation: Extend the Focolare’s core principle of “Love one another as I have loved you” to all of creation. Cultivate a deeper appreciation for the beauty and fragility of the natural world, recognizing our interconnectedness with all living beings.

Earth Day 2025 is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to building a more just and sustainable world. By embracing the spirit of “Together to Care” and working in unity with others, we can make a tangible difference in protecting our common home for generations to come.