Caring for Our Common Home

A Journey of Ecological Conversion. The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is blessed to live in the midst of God's handiwork, from roaring rivers to sprawling plains, and we are called to care for these blessings.

Read the Full Action Plan

Guiding Principles

Pope Francis, in his Laudato Si' encyclical, reminds us that protecting God's handiwork is "essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience."

This call is not new to our faith. Saint John Paul II cautioned that man's lordship over the Earth is "not the mission of an absolute and unquestionable master, but of a steward of God's kingdom who is called to continue the Creator's work." He urged an "ecological conversion" to safeguard both our physical habitat and our human ecology for future generations.

Pope Benedict XVI similarly taught that our present environmental and social crises are ultimately moral crises requiring a profound cultural renewal. Through Laudato Si', we are called to recognize the world as God's loving gift and to foster a spirit of generous care and universal communion.

"Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change? Humanity needs a profound cultural renewal... Our present crisis—be they economic, food-related, environmental or social—are ultimately also moral crises." — Pope Benedict XVI
"We must therefore encourage and support the 'ecological conversion'... Man is no longer the Creator's 'steward', but an autonomous despot, who is finally beginning to understand that he must stop at the edge of the abyss." — Saint John Paul II

Laudato Si' Goals

Pope Francis invites every diocese, parish, school, and ministry to take on the seven goals of Laudato Si':

  • Response to Cry of the Earth
  • Response to Cry of the Poor
  • Ecological Economics
  • Adoption of a Sustainable Lifestyle
  • Ecological Education
  • Ecological Spirituality
  • Community Resilience and Empowerment

Current Diocesan Efforts

Over the past year, the Diocese has undertaken the following efforts:

  • Energy Consumption: Completed energy audits in partnership with Catholic Energies on ten (10) diocesan and parish buildings.
  • Building Design & Construction: Set to install solar panels on five (5) diocesan buildings by the end of 2027.
  • Land & Landscaping: Partnering with local organizations to revitalize a portion of Holy Cross Cemetery in Billings as a natural wildlife habitat along the Yellowstone River.
  • Community Outreach: Rolling out media resources and establishing partnerships to promote Laudato Si' priorities.

Future Efforts & Parish Plans

The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is committed to continuing our Laudato Si' journey into the future. In the coming years, we are committed to expanding our impact by establishing policies at the Pastoral Center that cut down on waste production, encourage purchasing from ethical sources, and reduce transportation energy consumption. We will also establish policies that encourage parishes to make energy conservation efforts when designing, constructing, and renovating properties.

Communities of Salt and Light

The parish is where the Church lives. Parishes are communities of faith, of action, and of hope. They are where the gospel is proclaimed and celebrated, where believers are formed and sent to renew the earth. Parishes are the home of the Christian community; they are the heart of our Church.

In the coming years, the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings will be inviting Parishes and families to join us in our Laudato Si' journey by establishing their own Laudato Si' plans.

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