Our Mission
In line with the Holy See’s Encyclical Letter (Laudato Si 2015) and Exhortation Letter (Laudate Deum 2023), we intentionally undertake a Christ-centered journey, listening to the cry of the earth and the poor. This ministry aims to educate, raise awareness, create opportunities for gratitude, take action, and mobilize people and parish communities to make lifestyle and societal changes.
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue. It is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” Laudato Si #217.
This ministry desires to walk hand-in-hand with Indigenous calls for reconciliation, healing, and the protection of the earth and its inhabitants. We uphold respect and dignity of life in all its forms as given by God Himself, participating and collaborating in his plan for Creation.
For more information on this subject, speak with our Care for Creation representative Mireille Church at creation@wp268132.wpdns.ca
Caring for Creation Through...
Upcoming Events
The John Dorner Care for Creation Award
Inspired by his faith in a loving God, Dr. John N Dorner supported a culture of life in all its manifestations. He dedicated his life to caring for people and for the Earth, “our common home.” As a psychologist, educator, community activist and coordinator of the diocesan Care for Creation Ministry John worked passionately to create a healthy world for his children, grandchildren and future generations. John Dorner’s vision was a foretaste and a reflection of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home. In his memory, the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall presents the John Dorner Care for Creation Award yearly to a person whose actions exemplify John’s vision that we must live a life of integral ecology for a sustainable future.
2024 Winners
The second annual John Dorner Memorial Award was given to 4 young ladies from the École Secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury: Students Rosalie Lucas, Kiliane Deslauriers, Maxime St-Martin with the support of their teacher Ms Lally Durocher. As Leaders of their School Committee to promote green practices, they raised much attention and motivated action throughout the year by cleaning up the town, building a produce garden at school, and making promotional videos and a presentation to City Councilors and the mayor, as well as local parishioners.
2025 Winner
The 2025 winner is Sandra Blais. Sandra has been instrumental for the last 12 years in keeping plastic, fabrics, milk bags, pop tabs away from the landfill by hosting in her own home a collection and distribution center.
As a volunteer, she has spent countless hours recruiting people along the chain of collection and distribution including Brinks trucks to get the items where they can be used. It is a circular economy where nothing is lost except her own energies which she offers passionately in line with Laudato Si’s principles and with recognizing Jesus in the people in need and those people who have become good stewards under her directions following her model.
Guidelines For The Nomination Process
Any work or project which has taken place between July 1st, 2024 and June 30th June 2025 on the territory of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall and which was initiated in line with Caring for Creation inspired by the work of John Dorner or the protection of Creation is eligible to be nominated.
A nomination form must be submitted for each nomination between Earth Day April 22 until August 11th (Feast Day of St. Clare of Assisi) at: creation@ottawacornwall.ca. The winner will be announced during the Season of Creation in Fall 2025.
Choice of the winner
The project or initiative will present a Christian dimension in its approach and impact and contribute positively to one or more of the following action areas detailed in the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si:
- Response to the cry of the Earth
- Response to the cry of the Poor
- Adoption of sustainable/simple lifestyles
- Ecological economics
- Ecological education
- Ecological spirituality
- Community Engagement and Participatory Action
- Reconciliation
Three judges will receive the nominations and will give points according to the overall impact of the action or project and the degree of investment in time and labour. Points may be given for a personal story or testimony in relation with the action or project. There is no age limitation to apply. We want to encourage youth to apply (up to 25 years of age), and will give additional points for submissions from young people.
