Living Water theme flows through Laudato Si’ days
By Wendy Shaw
The importance of caring for each other and for God’s creation is a key theme of a special event next month.
Around 200 Catholic school students from years 4 to 12 are expected to attend the second Laudato Si’ Schools’ Day on Friday 18 September, from 9am to 3.30pm at St Aloysius Catholic College junior campus at Kingston Beach following the success of the first event last year.
Parishioners from around the state, as well as community members and representatives of religious orders are invited to attend the following day, on Saturday 19 September, the third annual Laudato Si’ Community Day, from 9am to 3 pm, also at St Aloysius’ junior campus.
The theme this year is ‘Living Water’ and the co-convenors are Jacqui Remond and Adam Thompson.
Ms Remond, an expert in integral ecology, is a lecturer from the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, and a cofounder of the global Laudato Si’ Movement. Adam Thompson is a First Nations author and educator.
Following last year’s event, Ms Remond said: “A key message is to see ourselves as deeply interconnected within creation and to remember that God’s creation is a sacred gift.
“From this theological understanding we can realise that our unique role as humans on Earth is to care for each other and all of God’s creation.”
Archbishop Tony Ireland will celebrate Mass at the community day.
The events take inspiration from Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si, published 11 years ago on the urgent need to ‘care for our common home’. They take place during the Season of Creation, a global ecumenical initiative to promote environmental prayer and liturgy, faith-based climate action, community engagement and education, and advocacy for ecological justice.
Long-time teacher Luch Brighella is the event organiser, with support from the Bellerive-Lindisfarne Parish Laudato Si’ Steering Committee, the newly formed Laudato Si’ School and Community Days Steering Circle, St Aloysius Catholic College and Kingston- Channel Parish.
“My philosophy is that if everybody plays a small part and does their little bit to care for our common home then a big difference can be made,” he said.
“We hope everyone who attends can work towards doing their own little bit to care for the wonderful home that has been created for us.
“There is an urgency to respond to Pope Francis’s call. We are also blessed that Pope Leo has followed on from Pope Francis with his call for ‘integral ecology’ and authentic care for creation.”
Mr Brighella said it was hoped that the ‘exciting’ program over the two days would encourage more schools, parishes and community groups to develop and expand their own Laudato Si’ projects in their areas.
He urged early registrations via the QR codes. For further information, please contact Mr Brighella (Email: Loochie2022@gmail.com).