Let’s Talk: Fr. Cavanagh discusses the planet and our future

This post is part of an occasional series called Let’s Talk that provides a forum to share thoughts by Detroit Mercy faculty, staff, alumni or invited guests and is designed to start conversations. If you would like to contribute to this series, please fill out the form here www.udmercy.edu/faculty-staff/marcom/requests/story.php. 

Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” challenges “the myth that we have unlimited resources and we can continue unbounded growth” and was the subject of a talk by Detroit Mercy Professor Gerald F. Cavanagh, S.J. in November.

He spoke at the meeting of Jesuit Friends and Alumni Network of Detroit, which hosts talks on the Society of Jesus’ Universal Apostolic Preferences for those interested in the Jesuit view of the world.

Cavanagh, who is a noted expert on business ethics, urged people to realize that they need one another and should take a longer view to see how the many different pieces of compulsive consumerism fit together to create a dangerous throw-away culture. You can watch the entire talk above.

The Society of Jesus — also known as the Jesuits — have announced four Universal Apostolic Preferences they want to guide their work and that of Jesuit institutions for the next 10 years. They are:

• Showing the Way to God — through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola
• Walking with the Excluded — the poor, the outcasts of the world and those whose dignity has been violated in a mission of reconciliation and justice
• Journeying with Youth — to accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future
• Caring for our Common Home — collaboration for the protection and renewal of God’s creation

Jesuit Friends and Alumni Network of Detroit is a networking and fellowship organization for those who have been educated by the Jesuits, are associated with a Jesuit ministry or institution, a friend of the Jesuits or simply want to know more about Ignatian Spirituality. They hold events three times a year. The next one is Feb. 11, 2020, where Tom Chabolla, president of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, will discuss “Forming Great-Souled Persons: The Power of JVC’s Core Values.”

You can visit the group’s Facebook page here for more information.