Earth Day and Arbor Day invite us to slow down — to notice what sustains us, and who is most affected when that balance is broken. At SSM Health, this moment calls for a quiet but transformative form of courage: the courage to see.
To see clearly is to understand how deeply human health is shaped by the world around us. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the places where people live, work and heal all matter. In health care, caring for creation goes hand in hand with caring for people — especially those who are poor, sick or marginalized.
In Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, Pope Francis called the world to a new way of seeing — one that listens to both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. He warned that when we fail to pause and truly notice what is beautiful, we risk treating creation as something to be used rather than cherished. That shift in perspective, he wrote, is where real change begins.
Pope Leo XIV has continued this commitment, making it clear that care for creation is not a temporary focus, but an essential part of our faith. By reminding us that the earth and the poor suffer together, he invites us to move from simply recognizing the problem to taking responsibility through action.
This message is especially meaningful in health care. Environmental harm often affects those already facing the greatest challenges — the poor, the sick and communities at the margins. Following in the footsteps of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, SSM Health has long understood that nurturing healthy communities means more than delivering excellent care within our walls. It includes advocating for clean air and water, safe and livable neighborhoods, and practices that protect the earth entrusted to us. This commitment flows directly from our Mission and Values and our belief in the dignity of every person — especially those most vulnerable.
Many of us already practice familiar habits like reducing, reusing, and recycling. These small, faithful actions matter. But courage calls us to go deeper — to recognize how everyday decisions and shared priorities shape the health of our neighbors today and the well being of generations to come. This begins when we learn to notice how what we consume, conserve or discard can become a choice — one that protects life or leads to harm we never intended.
Earth Day and Arbor Day remind us that awareness is where responsibility begins. When we choose to see more clearly — the beauty of creation, the harm caused when it is neglected, and the hope found in collective action — we open the door to wiser, more compassionate care.
Join us in caring for creation and in celebrating Earth Day and Arbor Day this week – for our planet and for our neighbors.
