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“Christianity gives us no excuse to plunder the planet—but it does perhaps help to explain the reasons why we do. The doctrine of Original Sin describes the beginning of the process. Death, suffering and disorder were the results of a deliberate sin, in which we are all implicated—not just the eating of an apple, but the conscious decision to destroy an order of nature established by God. From the effects of this, the world can only be liberated by Jesus Christ, in whom all things ‘hold together.’ (Col 1:17)” Stratford Caldecott, Christian Ecology, 1996.

News of the passing of Stratford Caldecott has darkened the world, especially for those of us who seek to champion, communicate, and celebrate the Catholic view of ecology.

I did not know Stratford. Those who did have more to say than I—and there is much to say. One could spend days reading the tributes and analyses of his life and works, such as here in Patheos, the National Catholic Register, Catholic News Agency, and in many other publications.

But allow me, a simple blogger, to acknowledge Stratford’s life and death and his ongoing presence, which he has bequeathed to us...

“Young Catholics in Africa, Caring for Creation!” This is the slogan that kept ringing out for one week when twenty young Catholics from 6 African countries (Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Kenya) gathered in Nairobi for the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) Summit 2014.

It was the first time the CYNESA leaders were gathering since the beginnings of CYNESA in late 2011, during which period the team was in contact through cyber space, as well as united in prayer and our common vision.

The summit provided the space to concretely define that common vision, to celebrate the "birthday" of CYNESA and to draw wisdom and encouragement from the words of our shepherds and invited speakers representing faith based environmental organizations.

The Bishop of Murang’a and Chairman of the Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, His Lordship Rt. Rev. James Maria Wainaina, officiated at the opening of the summit and a short ceremony to officially launch CYNESA.

Bishop Wainaina has been instrumental...