The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Activities

Join Us for a Global Dialogue on Debt Justice

Filed Under: Activities, Communications, Take Action

Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform
Date: Monday, July 14, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM EDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Register here

ORCIE is proud to co-sponsor the upcoming global webinar Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform, an official side event of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Hosted by the Congregations of St. Joseph NGO to the United Nations, this timely conversation brings together global voices to explore pathways toward long-term debt sustainability, justice, and ecological accountability.

The event will focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 17.4, addressing the urgent need to confront unjust global debt burdens that hinder the flourishing of communities across the Global South. Participants will engage with key themes including health equity (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and decent work (SDG 8), all through the lens of debt reform and ecological justice.

We’ll hear from inspiring speakers who are working at the intersection of economics, justice, and faith, and who are mobilizing around the Global Jubilee Year Campaign—a call to transform unjust debt structures and reimagine global solidarity.

Co-Sponsors:
Alongside ORCIE, this event is co-sponsored by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary–Loreto Generalate, Caritas Internationalis, and the NGO Committee on Financing for Development. Canadian partners include Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, CSJ Federation Office for Systemic Justice, Centre Oblat, and the Mary Ward Centre.

We encourage all members of congregations, advocacy networks, and justice-seeking communities to attend and spread the word. Let’s come together to reframe the conversation on global debt and embody a new vision rooted in justice, sustainability, and solidarity.

Together, let’s turn debt into hope.
Click here to register.

From Debt to Hope: Watch Our Spring Webinar on Ecological and Financial Justice

Filed Under: Activities, Advocacy, Take Action

Webinar Recap and Recording Available: From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope

Thank you to everyone who joined our spring 2025 ORCIE webinar, From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope. We’re grateful for the insightful presentations and the powerful conversations that took place.

We’re pleased to share that the full recording of the webinar is now available for those who were unable to attend or would like to revisit the event. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujh3-bPLyik

During the webinar, speakers explored the deep connections between ecological and financial debt, highlighting how global financial structures contribute to both climate breakdown and economic injustice—especially in communities in the Global South.

As Darelene O’Leary reflected:

“The global financial structures behind the debt crisis are the same structures behind the climate and ecological crises facing the planet… We must move toward new models of economic life that respect human dignity, the common good, and the flourishing of earth systems.”

The voices from Brazil were particularly impactful, sharing the lived realities of ecological and financial harm—especially on women and children—and reminding us of the role of religious communities in bearing witness and speaking out for justice.

This event also highlighted the ongoing work of congregations in Canada and abroad, including the continued advocacy of the Sisters of St. Martha for corporate accountability and extractive industry regulation in line with Indigenous rights and sovereignty.

Coming Soon: English and French Translations

A second recording will soon be available with subtitles translating the original Portuguese presentations into English and French.

The PowerPoint presentations used during the webinar were in Portuguese. Translations of these slides into English and French are available at the following link: Webinar Resources: From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope – The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Thank you for continuing this journey with us—from ecological debt to ecological hope.

ORCIE Joins Rally for the Planet: No Faith in Fossil Fuels

Filed Under: Activities, Advocacy, Take Action

On May 12, 2025, the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE) stood in solidarity with faith-based and environmental allies at the Rally for the Planet: No Faith in Fossil Fuels on Parliament Hill. This powerful, family-friendly event was the final stop of the two-day Pilgrimage for the Planet, a 200 km bike journey from Montreal to Ottawa calling on the Canadian government to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty—a bold step to stop the expansion of fossil fuel projects.

ORCIE’s participation—represented by Executive Director Genevieve Gallant, Advocacy and Communications Officer Sasquia Antúnez Pineda, and Treasurer Joe Gunn—reflects our commitment to working in coalition to demand urgent climate action rooted in justice and the care for creation. With the federal election just behind us, this is a crucial moment to push the next government toward real climate leadership.

Led by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Pilgrimage and Rally brought together a broad coalition of partners including Fridays for Future Ottawa, CAFES Ottawa, OMI Lacombe (Le Centre Oblat), the Mouvement Laudato Si’ Movement Canada, KAIROS Canada, and ORCIE/BCRÉI. Learn more here: The Pilgrimage for the Planet

Together, we’re calling for a livable future—because climate justice can’t wait!

ORCIE Presents Position Paper and Gathers Support for Jubilee 2025 Petition at St. Paul University Eco-Fair

Filed Under: Activities, Media, Take Action

On March 25th and 26th, ORCIE was grateful for the opportunity to participate in St. Paul University’s Ecological Fair, an inspiring event that brought together students, faculty, and organizations committed to sustainability. The fair began with a screening of Princess Mononoke, followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion that drew connections between the film’s themes and today’s ecological and socio-political challenges.

ORCIE’s Executive Director, Genevieve Gallant, and Advocacy and Communications Officer, Sasquia Antúnez Pineda, collaborated with Le Centre Oblate’s Executive Director, Tara Hurford, offering support and encouragement to the student organizers. ORCIE was honored to support the fair’s success and encourage student leadership.

During the fair, Sasquia represented ORCIE on the panel “Future Leaders of Sustainability: Organizations Making an Impact”, presenting ORCIE’s position paper titled “Linking Ecological Debt to Global Financial Exploitation“. This presentation highlighted ORCIE’s advocacy within the Jubilee 2025 campaign, focused on the topic of ecological debt, and emphasized the urgent need for debt cancellation of low-income countries and ecological justice.

In addition to the panel, ORCIE hosted a booth where attendees were invited to learn more about the Jubilee campaign and sign the petition calling for global financial and ecological debt justice. The event fostered valuable conversations, raising awareness about ORCIE’s mission and ongoing advocacy efforts.

The fair also provided opportunities to expand ORCIE’s network. Notably, the Ottawa Peace & Environment Resource Centre (PERC) invited ORCIE to contribute an article for their publication, further amplifying our message. Additionally, Sustainable Eastern Ontario extended an invitation to a networking meeting, offering a platform to exchange strategies and strengthen partnerships in the pursuit of ecological justice.

We are grateful to St. Paul University for hosting this impactful event and to all those who engaged with ORCIE’s work.  ORCIE celebrates the initiative of SPU students in bringing this event to life, demonstrating their spirit and dedication to sustainability. 

Together, we continue to build momentum for the Jubilee 2025 campaign and advocate for a just and sustainable future!

Webinar: From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope

Filed Under: Activities, Take Action

ORCIE invites members of religious congregations and friends to: From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope on March 18, 2024 1h EST with Guest Speakers: Journalist Elton Bozzetto, Sr. Nilva Dal Bello, CSJ Brazil & Dr.Sue Wilson, CSJ Canada, with Sasquia Antunez Pineda, ORCIE Advocacy and Communications Officer (with full translation)

Join us to hear from religious in Canada and Brazil and for small group discussions about our call to action and hope. How can we amplify the voices of religious in the Global South in this Jubilee campaign? How can we spread the word on the crushing unjust and unpayable debts facing so many countries around the world?

Learn more with ORCIE’s new position paper: Linking Ecological Debt to Global Financial Exploitation. A shorter executive summary is available. 

We look forward to an invigorating discussion!