Please note: Catholic Earthcare's new URL is www.catholicearthcare.org.au
Earthcare E Newsletter
August 2009 Edition
Editorial
Dear friends,
It has been a little while since our last newsletter… and there is much news to share with you about Earthcare’s work including our new partnerships, a new resource, our first ASSISI Facilitator Training program, our work overseas, and more…
A new partnership has developed between Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund and Catholic Earthcare. Our Memorandum of Understanding describes how we plan to work together for a more sustainable future through sharing resources and expertise. Catholic Earthcare looks forward to rolling out the ASSISI modules with the CSRF staff and presenting at their annual Christmas celebration later this year.
Another new partnership is developing with the Catholic Bible College in Johannesburg. This new partnership is enabling Earthcare to offer an ongoing intensive transformation program, which is aimed at education and formation entitled, ‘Qalehong’. I encourage you to read the story about this program, to make enquiries and if you can, take part in what will undoubtedly be a wonderful experience. Earthcare is planning to develop a series of intensive transformation programs in various parts of Australia over the coming years.
This year, to align with the International Year of Astronomy, Earthcare is developing a new CD about our Catholic cosmological story. Many thanks to Sr Monica Sparks, Denis Edwards and Beth Riolo for their work in preparing this wonderful resource. It is now in the production phase and we anticipate its completion later in the year.
We have also revised our Freshwater CD entitled, ‘Freshwater is Sacred Water’. This updated CD was been enthusiastically received by a variety of international faith groups, water innovators and representatives from the World Bank and IUCN at the Alliance of Religions and Conservation Conference in Salisbury UK last month. Two examples of great work being done in Catholic schools, namely St Catherine’s Stirling (SA) and ASSISI Gold Coast (QLD), were shared at this ‘Faith Schools, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ Conference. A good deal of follow-up skype calls have been happening since the Conference that may soon result in some exciting new partnerships ... more later.
Last week Catholic Earthcare piloted its ASSISI Facilitator Training program with 43 consultants from four Catholic Education Offices in NSW and SA. The first day of the ASSISI training took the participants on the ASSISI journey. From the feedback received at the end of the day and in emails since then, it was a great success. We are all looking forward to the second and final day of the training program in which we will unpack the philosophy and principles behind ASSISI and provide a supportive space for simulation exercises and for practising facilitation techniques.
In this edition of our E-Newsletter you will see that I had the opportunity to meet with Al Gore whilst he was in Sydney. You will also have the opportunity to find out about planting a Wirra with Galilee Primary School, SA. Please start planning to celebrate St Francis of Assisi’s feast day (Oct 4th) and National Water Week (Oct 18th-24th).
All the very best,
Jacqui
Prayer with Sister Monica
Reflection on Creation
International Year of Astronomy
Pre-time, Pre -space , pre-energy, pre-matter
O God without beginning and without end, You invite us to contemplate Your extraordinary Self Bestowal of Love in creating primordial Energy and Matter. In the Beginning there is but utter Silence till Your great Love bursts forth, creating Light and Heat- Your first manifestation of sublime Self- outpouring...more.
Nobel Prize winner, Al Gore endorses Catholic Earthcare's ASSISI
At a meeting in Sydney on 14 July, Catholic Earthcare’s executive director, Jacqui Remond briefed Mr Gore on Earthcare’s mandate from the Australian Bishops’ to affect an ‘ecological conversion’ to an environmentally sustainable church in Australia.
Ms Remond said Earthcare’s ecological sustainability model ‘ASSISI’ (A Strategic, Systems-based Integrated Sustainability Initiative) was now being piloted in Catholic schools and parishes in NSW and Queensland, in the Franciscan congregation in Australia and New Zealand, and in St John of God hospitals...more.
Catholic Earthcare's New Resource - Our Cosmic Story
Catholic Earthcare Australia will soon be launching a new resource based on the Christian and scientific story of our Cosmos. This CD is being developed in partnership with Sister Monica Sparks SGS, Wollongong Catholic Education Office education consultant Beth Riolo and Catholic Earthcare Australia. Click here to register your interest.
'Super' Partner On Sustainability
At a meeting in Sydney on 14 July, the CEO of Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund (CSRF), Mr Greg Cantor, and Executive Director of Catholic Earthcare, Ms Jacqui Remond, signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the two organisations sharing resources, information and training on ecological and sustainable investment and best practices. Click here for more information.
A Parish in Action
Our Lady of the Rosary, Kenmore, Queensland
Catholic Earthcare Australia's Megan Seneque, visited Our Lady of the Rosary, Kenmore to offer a strategic, systems-based and integrated approach to becoming a sustainable parish.
"Megan’s presentation gave us a clearer understanding of the Churches teaching on ecological responsibility and helped us to explore how we might understand our responsibility of the earth within the context of our faith." Peter Arndt, Kenmore.
Click here to visit our ASSISI page and discover how your parish can become sustainable.
A School in Action
Galilee Catholic School, Aldinga, South Australia
As part of our World Environment Day focus at Galilee this week we have developed and planted a meditative Wirra in the form of a labyrinth. The Labyrinth has been planted with local and indigenous seedlings more.
Revised edition of Catholic Earthcare's Fresh Water is Sacred Water
This revised edition of our Fresh Water is Sacred Water CD-ROM is an educational resource for students P-12. Catholic Earthcare Australia first produced this interactive CD to encourage and assist schools in celebrating water in 2003 during the International Year of Freshwater.
It has now been revised and contains earth and water liturgies, lesson plans on water for English, Religion, Mathematics, Science, Art and Geography (in PDF format), and features a multi-media interactive lesson for upper primary and secondary students (running time approx. 50 minutes) as well as a Powerpoint presentation for liturgies and reflection, useful weblinks and teacher background notes. Click here to visit our Resources page to order.
Faith in Water Conference Salisbury 10 July 2009
This first Faith in Water conference resulted in an astonishing array of new and possible partnerships, including the UN family (UNDP, UNICEF, UN-HABITAT) inviting faiths to become official partners on these issues, and the World Bank suggesting the faiths become partners in particular in the Bank’s annual Water Week. Click here to view story.
Catholic Earthcare's new partnership with Catholic Bible College - Intensive Transformation Program
Catholic Earthcare in partnership with the Catholic Bible College in Johannesburg. There will be a wonderful opportunity in November-December 2009 for anyone in the Catholic Education network in Australia to have an unforgettable learning experience
- The new cosmology and planet Earth – no science background required.
- Evolution - in its broadest terms
- Human origins – we are all Africans!
- Ecojustice and our responsibilities in an age of new challenges
All of this in a context of biblical and theological reflection in a setting rich in resources of both people and places for this – Johannesburg, South Africa Qalehong 2009. Click here for more information.
National Water Week
National Water Week 2009, which will be held from 18-24 October 2009. This year’s theme – Securing Our Water Future and is an all-encompassing community water awareness event in Australia and will be hosted by the Australian Water Association (AWA) in partnership with the National Water Commission.
Click here to find out how your school or parish can become involved.
