NEWS FROM THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR'S DESK
VINNIES VAN FOOD DRIVE
SEASON OF CREATION
In our age, one of the Church's most insistent calls has been for people to work for the protection of the vineyard of the earth. Speaking of climate change, deforestation and chemical pollution, Pope Saint John Paul II declared in 1980 "that the ecological crisis is a moral issue" and called on all people to "recognise their obligation to contribute to the restoration of a healthy environment." In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI insisted that "technologically advanced societies can and must lower their domestic energy consumption." In 2015 Pope Francis called on all of humanity "to recognise the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat the warming" of the world's climate which we are currently facing.
Successive Popes have therefore called us all to work for the protection of our planet and its people. But it is up to every Christian to ensure that these words are not just empty rhetoric. We are called to prayer, reflection and action towards the care of our common home, the planet EARTH.
AND SO WE PRAY:
Creator of Life,
The Earth is full of Your creatures, and by Your wisdom you made them all.
At Your word, the Earth brought forth plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit, the waters teemed with swarms of living creatures of every kind, and the world was filled with every kind of winged bird, walking animal, and creatures that creep upon the ground.
Mountains, plains, rocks and rivers shelter diverse communities, and through the changing seasons, Your Spirit renews cycles of life.
During this Season of Creation, open our eyes to see the precious diversity that is all around us.
Enlighten our minds to appreciate the delicate balance maintained by each creature.
Inspire us to conserve the precious habitats that nurture this web of life.
In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ.
Amen
SUNDAY REFLECTION:
| Sunday 27 September 2020 |
26 SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME Jesus tells a little story about two brothers. One said 'Yes', but never did anything. The other said 'No', but then had a change of heart and did what was required. Jesus loved the brother who came around. He was very hard on the one who said 'Yes' but did not 'walk the talk'. We may have said 'No' to God at various times, with various intensity in our lives. But God is wonderfully patient and prepared to hear 'No' many times in the hope of hearing 'Yes'. God's patience never runs out. But our time to say 'Yes' does run out. We only have a relatively short life span! © Fr Michael Tate; mtate@bigpond.com |
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| Sunday 4 October 2020 |
27 SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. This was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see. |
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| Sunday 11 October 2020 |
28 SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME Throughout the Scriptures, the image of a wedding is often used to describe how God loves us. The Church tells us that if we want to know about how Jesus loves, we should look to the passionate, committed couples - they are an image (and a sacrament) of Christ's love for us. |
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PODCAST SERIES - RIPPLES
Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parent's on-going spiritual formation. It seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation.
Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to creation and to our loving God. Come and enjoy some Inspired Voices and Treasured Stillness.
The Ripples Podcast is now available