Earthcare E Newsletter
December 2009 Edition
Editorial
Dear friends,
Happy Christmas and welcome to the end of 2009!
I would very much like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and encouragement throughout 2009.
It has been a wonderful year for Catholic Earthcare. We have developed our sustainability initiative and piloted it in many contexts. It is pleasing to see the many practical steps that communities are choosing to take once they reach the ‘Sustaining’ phase of the ASSISI journey. The social process we have been piloting for this phase of the of the journey enables actions to emerge from the community during conversations in small groups around a resource we have called ‘Mapping the Journey’. A critical factor for reaching the point where the whole community is alive with actions for sustainability is in the preparation where seeds are sown to enable Awakening, Discovering and Transforming as unique phases of the ASSISI journey. I have been especially delighted by the feedback we have received from various schools and Catholic Education Offices when we ask the whole staff body present to finish the following sentences: I have learned… I am wondering… I will now… I would suggest… Facilitating whole staff days has been a very successful way to invigorate the spirituality of sustainability. If you would like to view a summary of evaluation sheets taken from various ASSISI days please have a look at our ASSISI webpage.
I have been equally delighted by the progress being made by the Catholic hospitals, congregations, universities and agencies involved in the ASSISI pilot program. You will see in this newsletter a story about the work of the Franciscans as the first religious order to pilot ASSISI. There is also a great story about the work happening across schools from a Students Conference on Sustainability.
During 2009 we worked on our new education resource, ‘The Awesome Cosmic Story’ which brings together cosmology and the theology of our tradition. I hope that this will be a valuable resource for years to come.
I am looking forward to working with the staff of Notre Dame University in 2010 and further developing the formation program for staff at St John of God Health Care. I am also looking forward to celebrating the International year of Biodiversity.
You will see in this special Christmas edition of our newsletter a story about the meeting at Windsor Castle in the lead up to Copenhagen. I hope that this is inspiring.
I feel inspired at the thought that we hold a shared vision for a sustainable future and that we are walking this new path together. I truly hope that you bask in the Holy Spirit this Christmas and feel a real sense awe for what is guiding us on this magnificent journey!
With my very best wishes for a wonderful Christmas, Jacqui
Christmas Reflection with Friar Paul Ghanem
Bonaventure recounts for us the story of Francis and the Christmas Crib: Three years before he died, Francis decided to celebrate at Greccio the memory of the birth of the child Jesus with the greatest possible solemnity. He obtained the permission of Pope Honorius III for the ceremony; then he had a crib prepared with hay, an ox and an ass. The Friars were invited and the people came in crowds. Francis, who was a deacon, sang the Gospel and preached to the people about the birth of the poor king,"the babe of Bethlehem". Major Life X, 7...more.
Visiting Professor John Hart spends time with Catholic Earthcare's Director
John Hart is Professor of Christian Ethics at Boston University School of Theology, and founder of its Doctoral program in Ecological Ethics. John was recently in Australia to attend the Parliament of World Religions. This was his first visit to Australia.
Professor John spent three days with Catholic Earthcare's Director, Jacqui Remond, which included an expedition on the 
Blue Mountains. Father Paul Hanna gave a tour of his country near Blackheath, around the region of the upper Blue Mountains.
On the second day Father Eugene Stockton shared two of his archaeological dig sites and explained the significance of his discoveries. It was a wonderful expedition.
Professor John Hart has authored four books: Sacramental Commons: Christian Ecological Ethics (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006); What Are They Saying About...Environmental Theology? (Paulist Press, 2004); Ethics and Technology: Innovation and Transformation in Community Contexts (Pilgrim Press, 1997); and The Spirit of the Earth -- A Theology of the Land (Paulist Press, 1984). He is a member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics.
The Awesome Cosmic Story - New Resource
Catholic Earthcare Australia has been working hard on it's new multi media education resource, "The Awesome Cosmic Story". Copies will be available for purchase early 2010. Please register your interest here to be the first to receive this exceptional educational resource.
A Congregation in Action, Franciscan Friars JPIC
The Franciscans are currently working with Catholic Earthcare in developing a formation programme for the Friars to deepen their understanding of environmental issues. We are also working with Catholic Earthcare's partner, CarbonSystems Australia to develop the ASSISI audit tool for gathering information/data in order to calculate the energy used by the Province and to evaluate our practices...more.
Schools in Action, Regional Primary School Students Sustainability Conference
An exciting event occurred in Sydney on the 28th of September. Students and key staff from 12 Catholic primary schools attended a Regional Primary Students Sustainable schools conference at Liverpool. The event was the brain-child of the All Saints Primary School Principal, Rose-Marie Hoekstra who describes her journey to sustainability as a “conversion” which has left her with a passionate desire to “leave a gift for those who come after me, particularly the children”...more.
The origin of the Christmas Crib
St Francis of Assisi wanted to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a very special way. "I wish to recall to memory the little child who was born in Bethlehem, I want to set before our bodily eyes the hardship of his infant needs, how he lay in the manger, how with an ox and ass standing by he lay upon the hay."
With his friends he succeeded in re-creating the first crib scene in a cave surrounded by candles. The villagers and friars were completely overwhelmed as they celebrated the Christmas mass at which St. Francis preached, bringing the Christmas story to life in a very special way.
After the death of St. Francis, the custom of having a crib spread throughout Europe. The crib in the house also became popular by the 17th century owing much of its popularity to the enthusiasm of the Franciscans.
Many Heavens, One Earth:
Faith Commitments for a Living Planet
If the world’s media is to be believed, in one short week the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen (December 7-18) went from ‘Hopenhagen’ to ‘Brokenhagen’. Nothing could be further from the truth. Copenhagen is a real political breakthrough because for the first time a climate change conference has attracted the leaders of over 190 countries. Whether rich or developing nations, each leader came in good faith representing billions of people...more.
2010 - International Year of Biodiversity
The United Nations have declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity...more.
