Watch the short video on our YouTube Channel
As Laudato Si’ Week draws to a close, we are reminded that the call to care for our Common Home is not a one-time event—it’s a way of life. Nowhere is this more powerfully lived out than at the Barbara Ford Peacebuilding Center in Guatemala. In this inspiring short video, members of our ministry share how they integrate the spirit of Laudato Si’ into their daily lives, rooted in a deep reverence for creation and the wisdom of Maya culture. Their commitment to ecological justice, sustainable farming, and community education offers a beautiful and urgent example for us all.
By Luciano Laynez, Barbara Ford Peacebuilding Center, Executive Director
Guatemala is losing its forests at an alarming rate. Illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and urbanization are destroying our jungles and forests — endangering biodiversity and accelerating climate change.
Our rivers and lakes are in crisis. Untreated wastewater, industrial runoff, and solid waste threaten vital sources like Lake Atitlán, where pollution continues to rise.
Guatemala is a megadiverse country, yet many species are at risk. The jaguar, the quetzal, and the tapir are losing their habitats due to deforestation and wildlife trafficking.
Climate change is hitting us hard. Hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and floods are becoming more frequent. The loss of forest cover intensifies these impacts, jeopardizing agriculture and access to clean water.
For the Maya culture—our culture—water and forest are not just resources. They are living beings. Their destruction not only harms the environment, but also disrupts our spiritual and social harmony.
Here, we live the message of Laudato Si’! In everything we do, we promote respect for water, air, and land.
We teach local communities to practice conservation agriculture — using drip irrigation for efficient water use, diversifying crops to protect soil fertility, and managing pesticides and fungicides responsibly.
We promote beekeeping, recognizing the vital role bees play in pollination, preserving biodiversity and supporting healthy ecosystems.
We plant trees, protect the forest, and honor the animals that are our friends and neighbors.
Living out Laudato Si’ means transforming our relationship with nature — and with one another. It calls us to adopt practices that promote ecological justice and support the well-being of our communities.
At the Barbara Ford Peacebuilding Center, we bring this call to life through concrete actions that honor and protect creation.
Living Laudato Si’ is a daily commitment to our Common Home. Let’s care for it –together!