Sr. Franca Onyibor Urges Ecological Consciousness for MSHR
The annual season commemorating creation concluded on Sunday, 4 October 2026, coinciding with the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Ecology. On this day, Sr. Franca Onyibor, Congregational Leader…
The annual season commemorating creation concluded on Sunday, 4 October 2026, coinciding with the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Ecology. On this day, Sr. Franca Onyibor, Congregational Leader of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), encouraged her fellow Sisters to deepen their commitment to ecological awareness and responsibility amid contemporary challenges.
In her address to MSHR members worldwide, Sr. Franca acknowledged the gradual yet commendable awakening of humanity to a new approach in our relationships with each other, the earth, and the universe. She highlighted that the just-completed annual Season of Creation was a positive indication of this awakening, as Christians globally united in prayer and action for the Common Home, recognizing the intrinsic connection between the earth's wellbeing and human dignity, particularly for the marginalized.
Sr. Franca praised the initiatives already underway among the Holy Rosary Sisters, emphasizing the significance of simple actions such as tending to gardens and nurturing care for one another. She expressed her hope that narratives inspired by the Laudato Si' movement will emerge from the countries where the Sisters serve, reinforcing the collective responsibility to care for creation.
Highlighting the interconnectedness of all life, Sr. Franca articulated, "We are part of one web of life; what happens to one affects us all." This understanding transcends religious divides, and as she prayed the 'Our Father,' she reflected on its communal nature, which embraces all humanity and creation.
Additionally, Sr. Franca referenced Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, underscoring its reminder that human diversity is a gift that enriches community and underscores our shared future. She reinforced the Pope's call for strong government regulation and a more cautious approach to the development of artificial intelligence, insisting that it must prioritize human dignity and the common good over concentrated power or profit.
