Resources
Freshwater is Sacred Water
(Revised edition July 2009)
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.
"I enthusiastically recommend this wonderful teaching
resource to all schools - primary and secondary.
The factual and spiritual components of this expertly crafted
resource should provide an invaluable teaching tool for
teachers."
Vicki Tanzer - Director of Catholic Education Office, Sydney
Eastern Region.
"This visually stimulating and interactive CD provides a
tremendous resource for teachers who are dealing with
environmental and spiritual issues in their classroom. I
congratulate Catholic Earthcare Australia on its vital and unique
contribution to this very important aspect of
education."
Mark Raue - Religious Education Centre Consultant, Wollongong
Catholic Education Office.
"Caring for God's Creation" Earthcare DVD
Environmental Justice DVD filmed at WYD
Now available on DVD, “Caring for God’s Creation” is a series of reflections and insights into contemporary environmental issues and spirituality. These presentations were delivered as a part of the official World Youth Day environment event and encompasses issues such as: our place in the Universe and our role in protecting God’s creation, Indigenous environmental perspectives from Australia and Papua New Guinea, reflections on the importance of being in right relationship with creation and how modern technology can be a gift that allows us to open our eyes to the wonder of God’s creation. This DVD, is an excellent tool for exploring environmental issues within a Catholic framework with young adults and adults alike. Music performed by Soul Band at the Bayside Auditorium, Darling Harbour.
‘Caring for God’s Creation’ is available for $5.00 (not including postage & GST) from Catholic Earthcare Australia.
Speakers on the DVD include Bishop Christopher Toohey, Chair Catholic Earthcare Australia, Annie Kajir, Executive Director of the Environmental Law Centre in Papua New Guinea & Winner of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize and Erica Spry, a Traditional Owner from Bardi country in the Kimberley.
Reefs of Revelation
The International Year of the Reef 2008 aims to raise awareness about coral reefs and the threats facing these vibrant ecosystems.
...to realise that all things have been made in Christ and find their connectedness in him (Col. 1:15-18), is to become more sensitive to the wonder of creation".
"Reefs of Revelation" is a CD for Australian Catholic schools - responding to the international Year of the Reef.
The “Reefs of Revelation” CD-Rom comprises a multi-media interactive ecological spirituality lesson in five sections:
1. Reefs of Revelation:
2. Water Gardens
3. Threats
4. Signs of Hope
5. Ecological Vocations
Each section has been designed for upper primary and secondary school students. A new feature is the pop up button that appears throughout each section for secondary students to explore the content area and some more complex concepts further. The aim of the CD-Rom is to heighten awareness about all Australian reefs and lead the viewer to make a stronger connection with the gift of our beautiful reefs and to consciously care for them.
The CD-Rom also contains teaching materials for a range of educational levels about reefs, a spiritual reflection powerpoint show that can be used during school assembly or during a liturgy, links to organisations that care for Australia’s reef and a beautiful film showing the Coral Sea. Thank you to those who have expressed an interest in this resource. We appreciate your patience and hope that you enjoy making use of this special resource on St Francis of Assisi’s feast day – October 4th.
On Holy Ground - Queensland
An Ecological Vision for Catholic Education in Queensland
"Pope John Paul II, who in a remarkably consistent series
of statements on the environment, has passionately promoted
'Ecological Conversion' as the norm for all Catholics.
If such a conversion was to become a reality among the one billion
Catholics of the world, think what a difference it would make to
the well-being of the world, now and in the future...
But passion for the environment will not be maintained unless we
are plugged into Christ through scripture, prayer and the
sacraments of the church.
As a Christian, concern about the environment must be linked to faith.
We can express that concern as simply as by the careful use of
power or water in our schools and homes, or as powerfully as by
ensuring that the magnificent Barrier Reef off our Queensland
coastland is protected for the benefit of the entire
planet."
Address by Archbishop John Bathersby at the Queensland Launch of Catholic Earthcare Australia at Marymount College, Burleigh Waters, June 5, 2003
On Holy Ground QLD - PDF Download = 2.6MB
On Holy Ground - New South Wales
An Ecological Vision for Catholic Education in NSW
"This document provides Catholic schools and colleges
with a planned and logical pathway to journey towards more
ecologically sustainable practices.
As well as recognising the moral and spiritual dimensions, it makes good economic sense to carefully examine our use of water, energy and the potential for recycling and waste management.
Accordingly, I commend this document and pray that all those
good women and men involved in Catholic Education read and
reflect upon the contents with great seriousness, and respond in
a way that you consider most appropriate and beneficial, in your
particular circumstances. We are called do this in love; for our
children, their children and the generations to follow."
Bishop Christopher Toohey
On Holy Ground - PDF Download = 1.941MB
A New Earth ...the Environmental Challenge
This beautiful document is a core part of the history of Catholic Earthcare Australia.
A New Earth - The Environmental Challenge: The Social Justice Sunday Statement for 2002 - is also available as a PDF file: (Download=799 KB)
[Please note: some 'contact details' no longer apply]
Climate Change - Our Responsibilty to Sustain God's Earth
This is a Position Paper from Catholic Earthcare
Australia endorsed by the Bishops' Committee for
Justice, Development, Ecology and Peace.
It was presented by Bishop Christopher Toohey at the National
Climate Change Conference in Canberra, November 2005.
This beautifully illustrated document reminds us all that:
"We are intimately interconnected with...other living
creatures, the atmosphere, the land and the water
systems."
Bishops' Position Paper (Text only)
Ordering the printed booklet:
Print copies of the bishops' position paper: Climate Change - Our Responsibility to Sustain God's Earth can be ordered through our website.
Other papers and presentations from the 2005 Conference are available.
See this page
for full list.
The Gift of Water
Murray-Darling Basin Statement: "The Gift of Water"
A Statement from Catholic Earthcare Australia endorsed by Bishops of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Click here to download a PowerPoint presentation (16.4MB) which summarises the main points of the Statement.
Click here to download The Gift of Water in PDF format (3MB)
Let the Many Coastlands be Glad!
A beautifully presented booklet from the Queensland bishops on safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef and the waters of the South Pacific.
Click here to download Pastoral Letter Summary in Powerpoint format (732kB)
OR
Click here to download "Let the Many Coastlands be Glad!" booklet in PDF format (2.6MB)
Grains of Life
A CD ROM for schools, adult and parish groups for use as a resource for reflection and learning.
Includes: Prayer Reflections (Power Point Presentations); Lesson Plans and Student Work Samples; Listing of Linked Resources; Suggested Teaching and Learning Activities; Image Bank.
The Garden Planet - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE
"This 20 minute video comes with a discussion/action booklet that will help parishes, schools, communities and organisations explore for themselves, how to best journey on the path to ecological conversion." Archbishop John Bathersby.
"A challenging and inspiring video. I highly recommend this to individuals and community groups throughout the nation - who care about our land, and its future." Ian Keirnan
"Recently I was in the Styx Valley in Tasmania and I met
the Archbishop of Hobart and he told me of the church's plan
to get involved with the environment. This is a marvelous thing
because you can really make a difference."
Olivia Newton John
"The Garden Planet" Video produced by Catholic Earthcare Australia for the Australian Bishops is distributed nationally to all Catholic schools and parishes.
The video takes up Pope John Paul II's call to ecological conversion through the stories of the Marian school's efforts in eco-literacy and practice, Archbishops Adrian Doyle's experiences of walking through Tasmania's endangered Styx Forest and the efforts of Port Kembla resident grandmother Olive Rodwell to stop toxic pollution from local industry.
Download "The Garden Planet - User Guide" here. PDF 7.2MB
PPT 1MB