46 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 SOCIAL JUSTICE On 24 May 2020, we commenced the Fifth Anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical “On Care for Our Common Home” (Laudato si’). Pope Francis extended an invitation for us to fully participate in the Season for Creation. The season commenced on 1 September, on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and finished on 4 October, on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. In preparation for the Season for Creation, Bishop Shane launched a diocesan ‘Care for Creation Statement’ . The statement was built on Pope Francis’ Laudato si’ with the aim to encourage a greater appreciation of creation and a deeper understanding of our responsbility for its care. Prepared by a team formed from the Adult Faith Education Reference Group, the statement was launched with slide presentations and resources to assist Parishes to “care for our common home.” When he introduced the Statement, Bishop Shane Mackinlay provided context Five years ago, Pope Francis issued the first encyclical that he had himself initiated (after completing an earlier encyclical that was begun by Pope Benedict XVI). The topic he chose was On Care for our Common Home, and he entitled it with a quote from a canticle of St Francis of Assisi, the figure who he chose as inspiration and guide when he was elected pope. Laudato si’ is a truly prophetic document, calling us to renew our awareness of and care for God’s creation as the common home that we share with all living creatures and also with future generations. The Season of Creation is normally focused on organising prayer services, community actions such as litter cleanups, and advocacy actions; in 2020 it was necessarily more reflective. In 2020 Catholic Earthcare Convocation was held online making it even more accessible to Sandhurst Parishioners. Convocation included formation sessions, which focused on the theological and moral imperative to take care of our common home. Foundation sessions explored the financial, economic, political and social spheres which influence our common home and Action sessions looked at the transformative ways in which we can realise the need to care for creation. Sandhurst Social Justice Coordinator Kerry Stone was on the closing session panel, and was asked what aspect of Convocation Sandhurst Care for Creation Our Sandhurst Diocese is a community whose members have valuable insights: first Australians, who have cared for the land through generations; older parishioners who lived simply and wasted little through difficult times; and young people and their families who are well informed and passionately committed to caring for the environment. Our rural parishes are used to engaging cooperatively with other community groups. With the worldwide Church, the Catholic Church in Sandhurst is called to show leadership through shared wisdom, responsible decision making, good practice in a context of prayer and a spirituality that knows “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love … (Laudato Si 8). Sandhurst Care for Creation Statement Catholic Earthcare Convocation had the biggest impact on her. Kerry replied, “The whole world of economics has never been an area of interest for me but, of course, it’s so intimately entwined with our enviornment that I’m now taking notice! The economy and finance sessions made a big impact on me.” It was hugely encouraging to hear the economic argument against fossil fuels which I had an inkling of but was so clearly presented here. Tim Buckley’s words, “Coal is a dying technology… it’s a wealth hazard!” will stay with me as will Ross Garnaut explaining, “Australia has the potential to be an economic superpower of the future post-carbon world”.
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