Resources on Critical Concern for Earth
Mercy Education affirms the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concern for Earth: striving to act in harmony and interdependence with all of creation.
The following resources are recommended to help students grow in their understanding of our Mercy Critical Concern for Earth.
Activities
Mercy Monarch Milkweed Project
Become part of the Mercy Monarch Milkweed Project by creating a milkweed garden site on the monarch butterfly’s migratory path. Your site should include nectar and milkweed plants and be free of pesticides. You can then register your garden with Mercy Ecology, Inc. and receive a sign for your garden to identify it as part of the Mercy Monarch Habitat Network.
Vegetable gardens, milkweed, chicken coops – our MESA schools engage in many creative and Earth-friendly practices to help students learn about stewardship and sustainability, hallmarks of the Mercy Critical Concern for Earth. These efforts can help your school earn distinction as a Saint Kateri Habitat. The program is named in honor of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the patron saint of Native Americans, First Nations Peoples, ecology and the environment.
Earthbeat
This series of articles from Earthbeat, a project of National Catholic Reporter, explores Laudato Si’ through a social, political and spiritual lens.
God’s Creation Waits
For grades 2-5 – Free, downloadable booklet to encourage children to develop an awareness for all of nature and to appreciate it as a gift from God. This resource may be helpful in your school’s observance of the Season of Creation, September 1 – October 4.
Global Sisters Report
Mercy Education
For those seeking new ways to engage students on the Mercy Critical Concerns, we share a new resource: Critical Concerns Bingo cards, a spin on the traditional game of Bingo that offers pathways for engagement with the Critical Concerns through readings, videos, suggested actions and spirituality. Most activities are suitable for in-person and online instruction.
Critical Concerns Summer Reading Lists
The English department at Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, developed a summer reading program that highlights our Mercy Critical Concerns. All files for the summer reading program are available. You an also view them as PDFs: English 1, English 2, English 3, English 4
Developed by Mercy educators in 2018. Curriculum guides for all Mercy Critical Concerns are available here.
Extractivism: Curriculum Guide for the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concerns
Developed by Mercy educators in 2023. A collection of lesson plans, classroom activities and audiovisual aids to help students learn about extractivism through the lens of the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concerns and the Mercy Education Core Values.
Lesson Plans on Care for Earth: Extractives
Written by Sister Patricia Donlin, RSM, theology faculty at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School.
Mercy Global Action
This campaign from the Mercy Global Action Oceans Taskforce urges the Mercy World to reflect on and take action for the health and sustainability of the world’s oceans.
Prayer for Our Ocean from Mercy International Association
Mercy Global Action, on behalf of Mercy International Association, is pleased to offer a prayer resource focused on our ocean.
Sisters of Mercy
Laudato Si’ Visual Reading: Part 1: Pollution and Climate Change, Part 2: The Issue of Water, Part 3: Loss of Biodiversity, Part 4: Global Inequality
In commemoration of the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the Sisters of Mercy have created a “visual reading” of the encyclical, highlighting key passages with powerful images, which is perfect for individual reflection as well as classroom activities.
Don’t forget to visit the resources section of our website for more inspiration.
What other types of resource would be helpful to you?
Do you have resources that you think would be helpful to share with the Mercy Education community?
Please contact us at mercyedu@sistersofmercy.org.
