How do we continue to seek ecological conversion during Christmas a time that can easily become about consumption and materialism. This reflection gives you ideas for how to have a Laudato Si’ Christmas. “Invite Christ who became human just like us to replace our longing for stuff with a longing for a simple and sustainable life, for justice and peace in our world and for a commitment to caring for our common home.”
On November 28-30, the Laudato Si’ Inspired Conference: Our Ocean Home will take place online from 3-5pm each day. This event includes “storytelling, reflection, practical theology, scientific exploration and dialogue from across Oceania in preparation for the 2023 Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) Assembly in Fiji”. Registrations are open.
Peter Arndt, director of the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace reflects on the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Pacific Islanders who have gone to global summits like COP27. He writes that they are often left feeling frustrated and angry at being forced to the peripheries of power. We must be together with them at the peripheries and follow their lead. It is there we will meet Jesus and make progress, together.
A group of eight Torres Strait Islanders have gone to the United Nations to bring a complaint against the Australian Government for failing to protect their human rights in the face of rising sea levels. With rising waters effecting their food gardens, cemeteries and coast lines, the group successfully argued their point and the UN supported their complaint. An in-depth article by SBS goes into detail on the process and the climate heroes involved.
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is celebrating its first anniversary this week. The platform is a brilliant opportunity for families, parishes, schools, businesses, hospitals and organisations to work towards total sustainability and collate this information across the world. It is easy to pledge and receive the information needed and get to work in whatever your context. The first anniversary was celebrated with an online event available to watch anytime.
Clean Up Australia is the largest environmental community event in Australia. You can run or join a Clean Up Australia event any day of the year, however the next Clean Up Australia Day is Sunday 5 March 2023. Registrations for Clean Up Australia events are… Read More »Clean Up Australia Day
This week COP27 continues. It is the first of two crucial global meetings where world leaders will discuss and make agreements to combat climate change and rapid loss of biodiversity. The office has created this fact sheet to provide information, prayer and action ideas for those following these events closely. Feel free to share with friends, groups, schools and parishes.
The Letter is a documentary showcasing the stories of frontline champions and promotes the message of Pope Francis’ letter to the world – Laudato Si’ Caring for Our Common Home. “Hello everyone. My name is Bilal Seck. My home has been affected by rising sea levels.” There is also a 40-day Laudato Si’ Prayer Campaign in the lead up to 14 November which marks when Laudato Si’ Planning Guides and all related materials will be published.
The UN COP27 and COP15 are coming up in the next two months. These are key opportunities for global leaders to make the commitments necessary to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius and put protections in place to protect the beautiful biodiversity in God’s creation. A new State of the Environment Report discusses the tragic impacts on Australia already and more information and resources will be provided by the office in the next weeks.
A personal, on the ground reflection from Catholic Schools Diocese of Lismore Mission team on what Laudato Si’ means to them. They share their experience of ‘Standing on Holy Ground’ as they support each other to clean up after the floods and rebuild after catastrophic flooding where over 12 of their schools had damage to half of its buildings, and three completed inundated. You can support with prayers and responding to their appeal.