Br. Adolf Mugume, C.S.C., Director of Communications at the Holy Cross Generalate, was invited to be one of the featured speakers at the global webinar “Raising Hope for a Reconciled Creation: Celebrating 10 Years of Laudato Si’”. The webinar was organized by the Laudato Si’ Action Platform of the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Commission, which is jointly sponsored by the Union of Superiors General and the International Union of Superiors General.

Br. Mugume was invited to speak on his pioneering work helping to found the Laudato Youth Initiative, which began in Uganda, but has since spread to Kenya and Tanzania.

“I find this work important to me because, from childhood, my dad, Leo, who has since passed away, inspired and taught me to appreciate nature and care for it,” said Br. Mugume. “I also find inspiration in Pope Francis, who in Laudato Si' urges us to reflect on the kind of world we wish to leave to future generations, specifically to children who are growing up (160).”

Read more about how Holy Cross is working to live out the goals of Laudato Si'

LYI draws on the Holy Cross charism and mission priorities of educating in the faith and serving with a preferential option for the poor. Finding inspiration in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si', the initiative seeks to“[foster] climate change and ecological crisis awareness in communities through training, information sharing, technical support, media, and Youth talents.” The goal is “to create a Laudato Si' responsive and climate change-conscious society through action, attitude, and behavioral change communication.”

In addition to his work at the Generalate, Br. Mugume continues to serve as a mentor to LYI. In addition to lending his expertise in communications, technology, and leadership, he also helps to brainstorm, design, and plan some of the initiative’s major action projects.

“With what is going on in our world today, we need to unite and act to put our synodality in action for creation,” related Br. Mugume. “Talking about climate change itself is not enough, I feel we need to inform society and form ambassadors who will be the change we want to see. From the Holy Cross perspective, it is educating young people to be agents of fostering better times than ours.”