On Monday, June 18, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr designated 13 Catholic parishes, schools, and religious congregations in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as “Laudato Si’ Communities” in recognition of their efforts to be outstanding stewards of the environment. The recognition prayer service took place at Good Shepherd Church.

June 18 was the third anniversary of the release of Laudato Si’: On Care of Our Common Home, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for the world and its resources. To be recognized as a Laudato Si’ Community by the Archdiocese, Catholic institutions must achieve a certain benchmark score on a facility assessment, exhibit environmentally-friendly daily practices, have staff members who have completed personal household assessments, and have hosted a program for its members on Catholic teaching regarding caring for God’s creation. The 13 communities recognized have achieved impressive results in terms of utilizing clean solar power, energy usage reduction, and reduction in solid waste, among other outcomes.

Here are some photos from Monday night’s ceremony: