Pope Francis named Father Manuel Dorantes, pastor of St. Mary of the Lake-Our Lady of Lourdes Parish as the administrative-management director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education in Italy. His four-year term will begin on Dec. 1. “When Pope Francis published the encyclical letter Laudato Si’, he both sounded the alarm about our warming planet and made clear the moral imperative to act in its defense,” Cardinal Cupich wrote in a statement about the announcement. “He designated the papal property at Castel Gandolfo as the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, a place where its principles could be demonstrated and human dignity could be developed to its full potential. “Today, Pope Francis named a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Father Manuel Dorantes, as administrative-management director of the center. A son of Mexico who came to the United States at the age of 11, Father Dorantes pursued his vocation as a teenager living in a new country, led two parishes to revitalization and completed an advanced business degree at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. We are proud the Holy Father chose him for this important work. He has both the heart to understand the experience of migrants and the tools to help create solutions. “We wish Father Dorantes well as he takes up his new position and pray that his efforts lead to the full realization of the Holy Father’s vision.” In a Nov. 13, statement, Dorantes expressed surprise and gratitude for the appointment. “I look forward to collaborating with the men and women who work daily towards the realization of the Holy Father’s vision expressed in ‘Laudato Si’’: to create tangible examples of the Church’s contribution to the care of our common home and to the integral development of the human person. The potential of the Centre in the areas of education, the economy of sustainability, ecological training and service is both challenging and inspiring.” Dorantes also said he is grateful for his family, the church in Mexico, and the priests, people and parishes with whom he has worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Cristo Rey St. Martin installs solar array on school’s rooftop Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep in Waukegan is now powered, at least in part, by the sun. The school announced in September that an array of solar panels installed on the roof is now fully operational and producing clean, renewable energy.
Vatican officials applaud Archdiocese of Chicago’s move to 100% renewable energy Vatican officials have written to Cardinal Cupich to congratulate him and his “coworkers in ministry” on moving to purchasing energy from 100% renewable sources starting in January.
Pope calls on world leaders to end divisions to fight climate change The future of humanity depends on what people choose now, Pope Francis said in his message to global leaders at the World Climate Action Summit of the U.N. Climate Change Conference.