St Dominic's Justice & Peace Group - Integral Ecology
St Dominic's guide to implementing the encyclical Laudato Si'
In his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si': Care for our Common Home, Pope Francis calls on us all to reflect on 'the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor'.
During February and March 2022, St Dominic's conducted a series of seven reading sessions to read the encyclical and to explore more deeply its challenging message.
One of the outcomes from these sessions is a guide to steps that each of us can consider in caring for our common home. This aligns with Pope Francis' message in Laudato Si': “many people today sense a profound imbalance which drives them to frenetic activity and makes them feel busy.” (LS 225). All are invited to consider the list and adopt those suggestions that can be adapted to our own household, community and spiritual life. Click here for the guide.
The international Laudato Si’ Action Platform Team has also listed nine actions that could be taken in the home:
During February and March 2022, St Dominic's conducted a series of seven reading sessions to read the encyclical and to explore more deeply its challenging message.
One of the outcomes from these sessions is a guide to steps that each of us can consider in caring for our common home. This aligns with Pope Francis' message in Laudato Si': “many people today sense a profound imbalance which drives them to frenetic activity and makes them feel busy.” (LS 225). All are invited to consider the list and adopt those suggestions that can be adapted to our own household, community and spiritual life. Click here for the guide.
The international Laudato Si’ Action Platform Team has also listed nine actions that could be taken in the home:
- Reducing waste and increasing recycling
- Adopting sustainable dietary habits, such as opting for a more plant-based diet and reducing meat consumption
- A greater use of public transport
- Choosing active mobility like walking and cycling
- Avoiding single use items, especially plastic
- Discussing together what lifestyle changes you as a family can make to avoid getting caught up in “a whirlwind of needless buying and spending.” (LS 203)
- Exploring with one another the ways in which you can live in a good relationship with nature right outside your door
- Spending time together as a family in parks, forests, by the seaside, or just observing wildlife
- Repairing broken toys and sports equipment instead of throwing them away and buying new ones
A reflection of how the themes and insights of Laudato Si' might be reflected in our scripture readings at Mass: click here for an essay by Columban Fr Charles Rue.
Follow up to online forum for parishes - Implementing Laudato Si'
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Our 8 March 2022 nonline forum for parishes was built around three engaging presentations that each pointed to a way forward for parishes in bringing alive a commitment to ecological conversion. Thanks to our speakers, and to all who participated.
The presentations each focused on a particular framework for parish engagement, but a consistent message was that the approaches are complementary - it's a broad church, but pathways towards deeper engagement can enable us to achieve more than just working on our own. In addition to the three lead presentations - see text and links under the main graphic - there is other material from the evening now available:
Any queries, or follow up with any of the speakers, can be directed to Denis Fitzgerald, for the organising committee. |
Jacqui Remond's presentation was built around the Vatican's Laudato Si' Action Platform. Click here for a copy of Jacqui's PowerPoint and here for a video of her presentation.
Kerry Stone's talk introduced us to the Catholic Earthcare Parish Program, and she also drew attention to their Inspiring Ideas Newsletter. Click here for Kerry's PowerPoint and here for a video of her presentation. Genevieve Mougey outlined the approach to parish engagement at the Archdiocese of Washington, as set out in their action oriented Laudato Si' Action Plan. Click here for Genevieve's PowerPoint and here for a video of her presentation. |
Come, Jesus, Light of the world - Advent 2021
The Glasgow Climate Summit 2021 has concluded, new agreements have been reached to limit global emissions. We must wait to see if the agreements, if fully implemented, can hold global warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
As we wait this Advent for the coming of our Lord, let us reflect upon God's abundant generosity, ultimately sending Jesus to us, to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
The life that God wants for us is not based on material goods, important though they are, but centres on loving relationships and justice.
This Christmas, let’s commit to sharing the joy of God’s abundance and gift to the world, Jesus, with those around us.
Advent Prayer from Henri J.M. Nouwen:
Lord Jesus, Master of both light and darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'
Amen.
(with thanks to the Care for Our Common Home December 2021 Update from the Parishes of Our Lady of the Assumption, Cheltenham and St Agnes, Highett)
The Glasgow Climate Summit 2021 has concluded, new agreements have been reached to limit global emissions. We must wait to see if the agreements, if fully implemented, can hold global warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
As we wait this Advent for the coming of our Lord, let us reflect upon God's abundant generosity, ultimately sending Jesus to us, to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
The life that God wants for us is not based on material goods, important though they are, but centres on loving relationships and justice.
This Christmas, let’s commit to sharing the joy of God’s abundance and gift to the world, Jesus, with those around us.
Advent Prayer from Henri J.M. Nouwen:
Lord Jesus, Master of both light and darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'
Amen.
(with thanks to the Care for Our Common Home December 2021 Update from the Parishes of Our Lady of the Assumption, Cheltenham and St Agnes, Highett)
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Forum for Parishes – Care for our Common Home - Inviting a personal and parish response
16 November 2021 Our Justice and Peace Group here at St Dominic’s partnered with the Care for our Common Home group from the combined parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Cheltenham, and St Agnes, Highett, to present this video forum. Over 100 registrations were received from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Our four speakers (Anne Boyd csb, Jacqui Remond, Rob Humphrey of OLA, and our own Mark Quirk) were well received. These presentations can be accessed here:
Another forum is planned for 8 March 2022 - bookings at https://www.trybooking.com/BVHTM - see entry above. |
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Care for Our Common Home - Integral Ecology - Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor. These words introduce a major theme of Catholic Social Teaching, as explained in Pope Francis 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si'.
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The 2021 Social Justice Statement from the Australian Bishops, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, affirms that “we human beings need a change of heart, mind, and behaviour”. It draws from Scripture, from the theological tradition, from Catholic Social Teaching, and from the wisdom of the world, including the insights of the First Nations. A set of prayer cards, along with other support material, is also provided to help each of us in our own prayer and reflection on these themes.
In the Statement, the Bishops invite the whole Catholic community to join them in taking up Pope Francis’ invitation to a seven-year journey towards total ecological sustainability, guided by seven Laudato Si’ Goals. These Goals are: response to the cry of the earth; response to the cry of the poor; ecological economics; sustainable lifestyles; ecological spirituality; ecological education; and community engagement and participatory action. St Dominic's Justice & Peace group will continue to develop a parish response to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor over the coming months. (August 2021)
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On 1 September 2021, to mark the Season for Creation, Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Patriarch Bartholemew issued a joint message for the protection of creation, This short, accessible document is clear:
These crises present us with a choice. We are in a unique position either to address them with shortsightedness and profiteering or seize this as an opportunity for conversion and transformation. If we think of humanity as a family and work together towards a future based on the common good, we could find ourselves living in a very different world. Together we can share a vision for life where everyone flourishes. Together we can choose to act with love, justice and mercy. Together we can walk towards a fairer and fulfilling society with those who are most vulnerable at the centre.... All of us—whoever and wherever we are—can play a part in changing our collective response to the unprecedented threat of climate change and environmental degradation. Caring for God’s creation is a spiritual commission requiring a response of commitment. This is a critical moment. Our children’s future and the future of our common home depend on it. |