The Faith Ecology Network (FEN) is holding a public forum on Thursday July 23 at 6:30pm at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street Sydney. The forum is entitled ‘Healthy Earth, Endless Growth - Are they compatible?’ with responses exploring faith alternatives to the growth economy from the Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish and Christian traditions. It will feature a keynote speech from environmental scientist and author Dr. Haydn Washington. We hope it inspires others to hold a similar forum in other parts of the country.
Praise for Laudato Si’
In our work we encounter people of many faiths and none. It is exciting to hear them praising Pope Francis’ for his style of leadership in speaking out about the urgency of changing our ways for the sake of the poor and other species. We are encouraged in our recent activities, most of which have been related to the content of Pope Francis’ encyclical.
We have:
- Created a video response to the Encyclical by the Faith Ecology Network (FEN) (http://faithecology.net.au/multimedia/)
- Participated in a prayer vigil with Catholic Earthcare and ARRCC for the People’s Pilgrimage.. This pilgrimage is being led by Yeb Sano, a Filipino, who left his role as a climate commissioner in the Philippines Government, to walk in places around the world which are impacted by climate change. It will culminate at the UN Paris Conference in December.
- Participated in a Multifaith forum on climate change run by Transition Parramatta.
- Attended an information session about the impacts of the fossil fuel industry which was put on by the NSW Catholic Leaders of Religious Institutions (CLRI). They resolved to contact their congregational leaders about requesting for their ethical investment policies to be updated to include divestment from fossil fuels.
- Facilitated a workshop on “Jesus, the Cosmos and Us” at the Edmund Rice Centre “Wonderful World” study weekend held at Mulgoa.
- Assisted with the running of a Catholic Sustainable Schools Network writing day with teachers who were writing a unit of work for the Environmental Ethics unit component of the Studies of Religion HSC subject.
NEW Catholic Season of Creation
We are pleased to announce the Columban September Season of Creation Liturgical Resource. It explores the existing Catholic Lectionary to help us remember God’s seamless gift of Life in all Creation – people within the natural world.
It gives pastoral workers a framework within which to lead worshippers to nurture an ecological dimension of faith.
The resource will be sent electronically in July to Catholic parishes and other communities.