Social Justice Trends

Latest news from the Office for Social Justice

Dear Friend,

In our July edition we focus on the Social Justice Statement 2021-22:
Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor.

FROM THE OFFICE

2021-22 Launch invitation for Social Justice Statement

Social Justice Statement Launch

You are invited to the online national launch of the Social Justice Statement 2021–22: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor on 5 August at 5:30pm AEST. The Bishops proclaim: “It is not just a matter of awareness or changing our minds, but a shift at the level of the heart and will that results in changed action.” Join us for the launch of this foundational document for the conversion of the Australian Church to become wholly sustainable. Hear from guest speakers and Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Chair of the Bishops Commission for Justice, Mission and Service.

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Front cover of the Social Justice Statement

Social Justice Statement 2021-22

The Bishops' Social Justice Statement 2021-22, Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, forms the theological basis of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) seven-year journey towards the Laudato Si’ Goals. Drawing from the insights of First Nations people, Scripture, theological tradition, Catholic Social Teaching and from the wisdom of the world, the statement engenders individual and social reflection and provides three key actions all can take. The statement and a dedicated podcast will be available from 5 August 2021. Prayer cards, liturgy notes and action cards are available now.

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Liturgy Notes Social Justice Sunday

Liturgy notes for Social Justice Sunday are now available for parishes, schools and communities. The liturgy notes are based on the readings for 29August 2021 but also contain prayers that can be used in a variety of settings. Based on the Social Justice Statement, the notes also include an introduction to the statement, parish bulletin notices, reading and homily notes, prayers of the faithful and suggested hymns. The liturgy notes are available online and include the Prayer entitled Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor.

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Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor Action Card heading

Actions Card

The Social Justice Statement proposes three actions to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Firstly, to listen to First Nations peoples as the first teachers of the land. Secondly, to reflect on the theological foundations offered in the statement to shape our actions and lastly to use the Laudato Si’ Action Platform to adopt the seven-year Laudato Si’ goals. A DL-sized card has been created as a reminder and reflection piece in parishes, schools and communities.

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Prayer Cards

To support the conversion of the heart that the statement calls for and to support people throughout the seven-year journey towards the Laudato Si Goals, the Office has created five prayer cards available to all. The prayer for the Statement as a whole is entitled Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor and the four other prayer cards focus on the theological foundations discussed in the statement: the sacramentality of all living things, creation made in and through the trinity, beauty, wonder and awe, and ongoing conversion of heart and mind.

NETWORKS

Community launches 

As well as the national online launch on 5 August, some dioceses are preparing in-person or online launches for the Social Justice Statement. For example, the Archdiocese of Perth will hold a face-to-face meeting on 19 August, the Archdiocese of Brisbane will have a face-to-face launch on 25 August and the Diocese of Parramatta will have a schools launch on 13 October. Every year, hundreds of coordinators, teachers, advocates and volunteers continue to serve their communities and bring the statement alive.

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Pope's Message: Laudato Si' Action Platform

Pope Francis has released a video message on the global Laudato Si' Action Platform. In his message he says, "Today, I am pleased to announce that the Laudato Si’ Year will lead to a concrete action project, the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, a seven-year journey that will involve our communities in different ways so that they can become totally sustainable in the spirit of the integral ecology. I would like to invite everyone to tackle this journey together."

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Laudato Si' Action Platform: Call to commitments

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has created the Laudato Si' Action Platform, a tool which families, organisations and communities can use as sign posts for their journey to total sustainability. "On a journey lasting seven years, we will be guided by the seven Laudato Si’ Goals that will give us direction as we pursue the vision of integral ecology: the response to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor," Pope Francis said.

COMING SOON

Events approaching include:
- Launch of Social Justice Statement - 5 August
- Social Justice Sunday: 29 August
- Season of Creation: 1 September - 4 October
- Migrant and Refugee Sunday - 26 September

FEEDBACK

If you have any feedback for the Office for Social Justice, please contact our Editor Sandie Cornish at sandie.cornish@catholic.org.au.

BISHOPS COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, MISSION AND SERVICE

Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv (Chair), Bishop Paul Bird CSsR, Bishop Terence Brady, Bishop Karol Kulczycki SDS, Bishop Bosco Puthur, Bishop Christopher Saunders, Bishop Donald Sproxton.

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DISCLAIMER
The Office for Social Justice facilitates this newsletter in good faith. Its aim is to promote adult faith formation, awareness and action in relation to social, economic and ecological justice issues. Factual information is presumed free of error. If this is found to be incorrect please contact the OSJ for purposes of rectification. The reference to news items and the provision of links to other websites is solely for the user's convenience. The OSJ assumes no responsibility for, nor does it necessarily endorse, these items or websites, their content, or their sponsoring organisations.

Social Justice Trends is a publication of the Office for Social Justice and is distributed monthly. Our aim is to provide news of interest to you. If you have suggestions or feedback about Social Justice Trends please don't hesitate to get back to me.

Dr Sandie Cornish
Social Justice Officer
Office for Social Justice
sandie.cornish@catholic.org.au

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