News – Diocese of Ballarat

News

August 2023

World Water Week 2023
World Water Week aims to explore how water can be a powerful tool to address the water crisis, global warming, biodiversity loss, poverty, food insecurity and many other water-related challenges. More information at https://www.worldwaterweek.org/ and https://sdg.iisd.org/events/world-water-week-2023/ (International Institute for Sustainable Development – Sustainable Development Goals)

World Water Week 2023 will focus on innovation at a time of unprecedented challenges. The theme, ‘Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World,’ invites a rethink of how water is managed, and urges consideration of the ideas, innovations, and governance systems that are needed in an increasingly unstable and water scarce world. https://www.worldwaterweek.org/about/impact-2022

The “Invisible” Water Crisis: Groundwater Sustainability in Asia and the Pacific.

From September 1 to October 4, Christians around the world celebrate the Season of Creation. Some of us pray, some of us do hands-on projects, some of us advocate.

We all protect creation. It’s powerfully good work that’s urgently needed.

21/02/19

Lenten Resource

Laudato Si’ Stations of the Cross – St Columbans Mission Society

14/2/19

Blessing of the Rivers – a simple, non-political gesture of good will that focuses communities’ attention on the significance of water to life.

13/2/19

Catholic Earthcare Austtralia Newsletter

12/12/18

News from the Global Catholic Climate Movement:

Blessed Advent! As we begin Advent, as well as consider the upcoming Christmas celebrations, I encourage you to look at our Advent guides, as well as ways to “Laudato Si-ify” your Christmas.

World leaders are taking part in UN climate talks in Katowice, Poland. A follow up to the Paris Agreement, at COP24 the goal is to increase our ambition and commitments to keep global warming below 1.5C, and to identify a strong framework of accountability for these commitments. There is a real chance that opposition from countries such as the United States, China and Brazil, and a lack of courage or ambition from others, will keep us from meeting these goals. Because of that, our Laudato Si’ Reflections this month focus on prayers for COP24 and world leaders, as well as scripture reflections and ways to green your Christmas.

Laudato Si’ Circles are a way to bring people together to pray for and with creation, reflect on scripture, and support each other in our ways to live Laudato Si’. If you have not yet formed a Laudato Si’ Circle, consider doing so, and read more information here.

We also invite you to pray for Our Common Home with this prayer that has been sent to all 10,000 Polish parishes, and read more about GCCM’s activities in Katowice.

Let us all take time to pray for leaders, pray for our world, and consider how we can make change in our lives and in our communities, confident in the hope we are given each Christmas.

Peace and blessings to you this Advent.

22/08/18

Season of Creation:

From September 1 to October 4, Christians around the world unite to pray and care for creation. It is the “Season of Creation,” and it’s happening from Paris to Pittsburgh, Pretoria to La Paz, Patchewollock to Purnim.

You are called to lead your community. The theme for this year’s celebration is “walking together,” and there are endless ways for your community to show it is on a journey toward better care of our common home.

Join the global movement to protect creation.

An invitation is extended to all to the Season of Creation 2018 Ecumenical Service to celebrate the start of the season being held at St Mathews Anglican Church, 204 Forest Street, (corner of Forest and Howitt Streets), Wendouree on Sunday, September 2 at 2pm, with refreshments to follow. All welcome.

For more information and resources check out the Season of Creation website: https://seasonofcreation.org/

St Columban Mission Society also has liturgical resources available to celebrate the Season of Creation here.

25/6/18

Addressing some 40 participants in a Vatican conference dedicated to “Energy Transition and Care for our Common Home”, Pope Francis said “civiliazation requires energy but energy use must not destroy civilization”. Continued here. Pope Francis’ address can be read here.

23/5/18

In a documentary released last week, Pope Francis said, “If you asked me who is the poorest of the poorest of the poor, I would tell you ‘Mother Earth.’”

Few gifts match a mother’s sheltering care. May 21 was the first feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, a new annual saint’s day instituted under the guidance of Pope Francis. On May 24, we celebrate the feast of Mary, Help of Christians.

As we seek to emulate Mary in caring for those who are most innocent, let us remember the poor and the young, who suffer the consequences of environmental degradation.

The first step is to pray. We invite you to download this ecological rosary for Mary, Help of Christians.

Then, please join us for a multilingual prayer service on 24 May at 11 AM Eastern. Click here to find the time in your time zone.

This prayer service, which will follow the ecological rosary, will be held primarily in Spanish with additional contributions in Portuguese, Polish, and English. Register here to join the service, May 24 at 11 Eastern US time, or to get the recording. (May 23, 2018)

As you consider the next steps in your journey, we invite you to join us as a Laudato Si’ Animator.

Laudato Si’ Animators bring the Church’s teaching on climate change and ecology into the heart of their communities. Animators receive guidance, resources, and hands-on help to deepen their spiritual understanding and act to protect creation. People of all backgrounds are welcome, and current animators include scientists, retirees, and parents.

Animators connect with new friends and make change possible, both at home and around the world. From the science of climate change to a deep grounding in Catholic teaching, Animators are equipped and empowered to serve.

You’ll find a warm, welcoming community in the Animators program, and you’ll make a real difference for our common home. I encourage you to apply. The application deadline is June 11.

Apply Here

Animators demonstrate a Marian love for the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers.

More information can be read here. (May 23, 2018)

Australian Bishops call for action on Climate Change (26th April 2018): Catholic Bishops join 170 other faith leaders. Read here.

Faith leaders deliver letter to Adani urging them to invest in solar not coal (18th April) Click here.

Declaration urges fundamental changes to Murray-Darling Basin administration (4th Feb 2018) See here.

LIVE: Filipino climate champions join Al Gore in ’24 Hours of Reality Broadcast’ (7th Dec 2017) Click here.

Spiritual Leaders Deliver Interfaith Climate Declaration at COP23 – By Bicycle Parliament of Religions (15th Nov 2017) Read here.

Earth Day 2018, “Coming Together for our Common Home” is on April 22, 2018.

For further information see https://catholicclimatemovement.global/earth-day-2018/ and https://www.earthday.org/

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World Water Day – March 22, 2018. Read more.

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22/11/2017

SPIRITUAL LEADERS DELIVER INTERFAITH CLIMATE DECLARATION

AT COP23 – BY BICYCLE

The Conference on Climate Change (COP23) held in Bonn, Germany from November 6 – 17, 2017 was an international conference at which the Interfaith Climate Declaration was presented. Click here for more.

Cop23 UN climate talks: Everything you need to know. Click here.

PLASTIC BAGS

The Victorian government is inviting people to have a say on banning lightweight plastic shopping bags and future approaches to manage plastic pollution in Victoria until January 28th 2018. The submission site is below:

https://engage.vic.gov.au/waste/plastic-pollution

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The Season of Creation September 1 – October 4, 2017

Pope Francis has asked the Church to celebrate The Season of Creation from September 1 – October 4 (St Francis of Assisi Feast day).

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The Diocesan Ecological and Sustainability Group invites all people of the Diocese to celebrate World Environment Day which is on Monday, June 5 2017. The theme for World Environment Day 2017 is Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator.

The following is Pope Francis’ prayer from Laudato Si’ (A prayer for our earth).

Further information on global actions can be found at: worldenvironmentday.global/

A prayer for our earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.