b'ENCOUNTERING CALLS TOACTIONMarianist initiative responds to the late Pope Francis call ofcaring for the poor and caring for the Earth By Linda Norris H ow do we respond to the cry of youth? PHOTO BY ANGIE LIPSCOMBHow do we respond to the cry of the poor? How do we respond to the cry of the Earth, and how we can move everybody in that way? And then, what does our Marianist Charism have to say about it? And how can it inform us in that work, through that lens? Marianist Sister Leanne Jablonski posed these questions when asked about the Marianist Family Encounters Project (Encounters), a collaboration in the Marianist Family developed in response to Pope Franciss calls to action in the Global Compact on Education and to contribute to theSister Leanne Jablonski, FMI, is co-director of Marianist Family action areas of the Laudato S Action Platform.Encounters Project with Brother Jesse ONeill, SM. She also is Living justlyreally caring for the humanthe director of the Marianist Environmental Education Center at poor and really caring for the Earthis integralMount Saint John near Dayton, Ohio.to our Catholic faith. It is core. It is not just anFamily includes religious brothers, priests, and option for some or a nice service thing to do.sisters, plus lay communities, along with Marianist-It is core to who we are, said Sr. Leanne, whosponsored schools and universities, parishes, serves as co-director of Marianist Encountersretreat centers, and other ministries.with Marianist Brother Jesse ONeill. PopeSr. Leanne also shared that Pope Leo XIV Francis invited everybody to take action, andemphasized this message, too, in his firstin Pope Franciss wisdom and practicality, heapostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (I have loved reached out in ways that entities would respond. you), released on Oct. 4, 2025. He focuses on In response, Marianist collaborators developedpoverty and love for the poor.and implemented five broad goals (see chart onBy the Marianist educational institutions page 19) in 2022 to guide to guide a seven-yearparticipating in the Encounters project, we can journey of the Encounters project. The Marianistreach out to our youth, she said. I dont think marianist.com/donate17'