The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Advocacy

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.

Join Our Partners for a Global Town Hall: Pilgrims of Hope

Filed Under: Advocacy, News, Take Action

A Jubilee Inspiration for Action on Debt, Climate, and Development
🗓️ May 28, 2025
🕝 2:30 PM CEST
📍 Online (Zoom)
Click here to register

ORCIE is honored to stand in solidarity with Caritas Internationalis and the Holy See Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development as they host a special global town hall: Pilgrims of Hope.

Marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ and celebrating the 2025 Jubilee Year, this event invites us into a shared space of reflection and action on the pressing, interconnected issues of debt, climate justice, and sustainable development.

At a time when the call for Jubilee justice resounds more urgently than ever, this conversation gathers faith leaders, civil society actors, and global institutions to chart a hopeful path forward. We’re grateful for the leadership of our partners in convening this vital dialogue—and we hope you’ll join us in listening, learning, and acting together.

🌍 Let’s journey as pilgrims of hope, building a more just and sustainable future for all.

📬 For inquiries, contact: Alfonso Apicella | Caritas Internationalis | apicella@caritas.va

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 joins coalition of organizations in advocating for $1 billion

Filed Under: Advocacy, News, Take Action

Youth Climate Corps investment

Over 180 faith-based organizations and civil society groups have officially endorsed the Youth Climate Corps open letter launched on December 4, 2024. The launching event hosted by the Youth Climate Corps campaign and Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) on Parliament Hill brought together a broad coalition advocating for a transformative Youth Climate Corps to address Canada’s climate and workforce challenges. Over 180 organizations, including ORCIE, are calling on key ministers to commit to an initial $1 billion investment for the program’s national, large-scale rollout.

See Open Letter and ORCIE’s endorsement here: An Open Letter to Federal Political Leaders in Support of a Youth Climate Corps

ORCIE was present at the launching event along partners from KAIROS

ORCIE and Partners Meeting with Minister Guilbeault and Faith Leaders

Filed Under: Advocacy

After months of ORCIE’s dedicated efforts to arrange a meeting with Minister Guilbeault, the opportunity finally came on August 28, 2024. ORCIE, together with KAIROS and Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ), met with Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, and his senior advisor, Jennifer Lash. The zoom meeting aimed to encourage Canada to adopt more ambitious climate targets, explore the mutual benefits of closer collaboration, and establish ongoing relationships with the Minister and his team to advance shared goals of decarbonization and a just transition for workers.

This meeting follows from a November 2023 letter, spearheaded by ORCIE, and signed by 13 church leaders and faith organizations calling for an urgent meeting to dialogue on how Canada can strengthen its climate commitments. Representing ORCIE, Sue Wilson thanked the Minister for the work on recent climate regulations and called for deeper emissions reductions, a cap on oil and gas emissions, and increased international climate finance. CPJ’s Maryo Wahba highlighted the “Give It Up to the Earth” campaigns, while KAIROS’ Cheryl McNamara shared the success of Climate Action Weeks and the “100 Faithful Climate Conversations” initiative. These presentations emphasized faith communities’ strong desire to collaborate more closely on climate justice.

Minister Guilbeault was highly receptive, recognizing faith groups as valuable allies in the push for climate policy. However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by fossil fuel lobbyists and legal limitations on regulating natural resources. He outlined ongoing government efforts, including consultations on 2030 climate targets, new regulations on plastic production, and initiatives to empower Indigenous communities to lead climate adaptation projects. The meeting concluded with a request for an in-person gathering with church leaders. The Minister responded enthusiastically, stating, “It would fill me with joy. I’m sure we can make this happen!”—signaling continued dialogue and collaboration. A letter was sent to the office of Minister Guilbeault at the beginning of October, requesting an in-person meeting. ORCIE is eagerly awaiting a response, though it acknowledges that the Minister’s preparations for COP 29 in November may delay the scheduling. Meanwhile, ORCIE and its partners will continue to actively follow up on this matter.