CMCP attends Miami Laudato Si’ Leadership Retreat

Bro. Jack Ventura, SM, Ministry Lead for MFEP and Director of Mission Integration at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory, Hollywood, FL, sends us this update.

On April 29, 2025, a delegation from CMCP (Bro. Jack Ventura, S.M., and five students) attended a leadership retreat hosted by Barry University (a sponsored ministry of the Adrian Dominicans) entitled Miami Laudato Si’ High School Leadership Retreat. This leadership training experience is the first step in planning a South Florida summit unpacking the seven goals of Laudato Si’. Together for Tomorrow: The High School Summit on Caring for Our Common Home will coincide with the Season of Creation (September 1-October 4). The goal of this larger summit is to bring together hundreds of students from Catholic high schools across South Florida, along with religious and community leaders, to promote the values of integral ecology and care for creation. The event will be designed to empower young leaders to care for our planet through the lens of faith, embracing eco-spirituality, fostering environmental stewardship, and working together for the common good.

CMCP was proud to join about 50 other students from seven other Catholic High Schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The retreat provided all the participants with the opportunity to explore the goals of Laudato Si’, participate in hands-on activities, and listen to presentations from experts in different areas of integral ecology. It was very enlightening to learn about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Fair Food Program, and the facts and myths about recycling from a Garbologist. Our last activity was to break up into groups by our schools and actually design the Summit sessions.

One of our students, Milagros Funes, wrote this about her experience. “I gained a profound understanding of the various things we can do to protect our planet and the beings that inhabit it. What I enjoyed the most was learning about the Fair Food Program and the journey that people have taken to get justice.” She would also like to promote sustainable practices on campus and care for the environment. "I believe we can achieve this by collaborating with clubs like Environmental Club and Interact Club.”

Attending this gathering brought to life the first and fourth Characteristics of Marianist Education: Educate for Formation in Faith & Educate for Service, Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation.