Archdiocese Launches Laudato Si Action Plan
The Archdiocese of Dubuque is building a parish-level environmental program drawn from Pope Francis' 2015 pastoral letter.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Catholicism
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The Archdiocese of Dubuque has launched a Laudato Si Action Plan, led by Deacon Brian Logan, to address environmental concerns across its parishes. The effort is assessing what parishes already do and which additional initiatives to pursue.
Why it matters
The plan shows how Iowa's Catholic dioceses are translating Pope Francis' 2015 pastoral letter into local practice, with parishes encouraged to take small, practical steps. Its goal is to help make the Earth a better place for everyone.
The archdiocesan plan is built on seven goals from the 2015 pastoral letter, including ecological economics and creation-centered liturgy. St. John the Apostle in Norwalk estimates its 2017 rooftop solar installation saves about $2,000 a year, though the archdiocese has not said which initiatives it will fund.
The players
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is the regional church body in northeast Iowa that oversees Catholic parishes in its territory.
Brian Logan
Deacon Brian Logan is a deacon in the Archdiocese of Dubuque who leads its Laudato Si effort.
Diocese of Davenport
The Diocese of Davenport is a Catholic diocese in eastern Iowa that has operated an official Laudato Si action plan for several years.
The details
Deacon Brian Logan leads the archdiocese's effort, which he presented after attending the first national Laudato Si Leadership Cohort meeting in January in Washington, D.C. The plan emphasizes small steps such as installing energy-efficient lighting and folds its environmental goals into evangelization efforts.
Timeline
January: Deacon Brian Logan attends the first national Laudato Si Leadership Cohort meeting in Washington, D.C.
2017: St. John the Apostle in Norwalk installs rooftop solar panels.
2028: The Archdiocese of Dubuque hopes to begin implementing initiatives.
Roadmap
The Archdiocese of Dubuque's plan applies the seven goals of Pope Francis' 2015 Laudato Si letter at the parish level in Iowa. It follows the Diocese of Davenport, which has run an official action plan for several years, and parallels the Diocese of Sioux City's online sustainability resources.
Iowa Catholics in parishes across the state may see new energy-efficient lighting and creation-care teams as parishes take up the plan's small steps. Parishioners interested in participating can ask their parish whether it has a Creation Care team, as St. Thomas Aquinas in Indianola does.
The takeaway
Parishes can begin with simple changes such as switching to energy-efficient lighting, a step the archdiocese's plan highlights as a practical starting point. Ask your parish whether it has a Creation Care team or similar effort to get involved.
Further reading
Explore more on Catholicism coverage from across Iowa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Quad-City Times.
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