Resources and Publication
New Resource! Sneak Peak of the 'Pure Gift' Resource Package of formation and prayer exercises for adults and senior secondary students.
'Pure Gift'
Introduction
‘Pure Gift’ is Catholic Earthcare Australia’s new resource. It is an animation of a legacy letter written by Luke Edwards to his three young sons.
This ‘Pure Gift’ resource package will be a growing resource. As additional themes are developed, these will be added to the resource package.
The ‘Pure Gift’ resource package offers a range of prayerful exercises and contemplative reflections based on themes contained within the animated clip. Material is intended to assist the user in the growth and understanding of their emerging ecological consciousness. It is hoped that these exercises might provide moments of insight and transformation to stimulate and sustain the movement for ecological conversion at a personal and communal level.
The ‘Pure Gift’ resource has a flexible design and offers a selection of options for the user within each theme. The material is suited to use by individuals, small groups and for classroom use in the senior secondary context.
Recently Release
'Jesus and the Natural World: Exploring a Christian Approach to Ecology' by Denis Edwards
Fr Denis Edwards describes his most recent book as a popular text; it is his intention to make the theology and connections with ecology as accessible as possible.
This most readable text is accompanied with photographic images. Jacqui Remond has endorsed this book, 'we are blessed to have the fundamentals of ecological theology offered to us so clearly today."
The book is available through the website of Garratt Pubishing www.garrattpublishing.com.au.
Archbishop Phillip Wilson launched 'Jesus and the Natural World' at 
the close of the Eucharist celebrated to mark the first ten years of Catholic Earthcare Australia .
Click here for an interview given by Edwards on the background to the book 'Jesus and Natural World'
Photograph of Fr Denis Edwards on a field trip in the Blue Mountains NSW during the recent 'Creation and Reconciliation' program.
People and Planet Diary & Wall Calendar 2012
Make this diary and w
all calendar a part of your plan for 2012. Catholic Earthcare are delighted to be a part of the People and Planet: Social Justice and Environment Diary and Wall Calendar 2012. Please click here for an order form
The 2012 Diary & Calendar feature extraordinary images of people and places from around the globe, selected from over 4,000 entries to the People & Planet International Photography Competition from 84 different countries. Each beautiful image is accompanied by a unique story highlighting one of the planet's social or environmental challenges.
Perfect for daily use, both the diary and calendar also make great gifts for Christmas!
The Garden Planet -now available on You tube
"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.
click here to access the You Tube version
PERMISSION IS GIVEN TO HOLDERS OF A VHS COPY OF 'THE GARDEN PLANET' TO CONVERT THIS TO DVD FORMAT FOR EDUCATIONAL USE. For Educational purposes, 'The Garden Planet' may be uploaded and stored on internal digital video systems.
Download "The Garden Planet - User Guide" here. PDF 7.2MB PPT 1MB
On Holy Ground - South Australia
Catholic Eart
hcare Australia and Catholic Education South Australia recently launched "On Holy Ground", an ecological vision for Catholic Schools in South Australia. The purpose of this document is to provide a foundation, a framework and a suite of resources for schools and the education system to become sustainable. Click here to download a PDF version.
The Awesome Cosmic Story
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 in late 2011. Please register your interest here to be the first to receive this exceptional educational resource.
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.
Photos from the WYD/Earthcare event can be seen HERE.
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 - CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED
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.
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.
Resources produced by others
Other Eco themed resources are available from
- Catholic Mission
- Caritas - including resources around A Just Climate
- Emmaus Productions - including a DVD entitled 'Holy Mystery: a Ccelebration of the New Universe Story'
- Eco Connections- including 'Telling the Universe Story' and 'Eco Connections for Children'
- Columban Mission Institute - offers programs in ecology andhave developedresources are the Stations of the Forest