On 14 September, the final day of Catholic Earthcare’s Season of Creation Convocation, participants from across Victoria gathered at a ‘Sandhurst Hub’ in the chancery, one of six formed across Australia. 

The three-day online event encouraged participants from over 145 dioceses, parishes and schools, to ‘Wonder’, ‘Weave’ and ‘Heal’ in efforts to care for creation. The first two days of the convocation featured keynote addresses followed by online workshops and discussion. The hubs formed on day three allowed people to share insights and learning face-to-face while joining the convocation online. The aim being to transform combined learning into local action.

The hub at the Chancery in Bendigo interestingly included participants from every Diocese of the Melbourne Province, with participants from Castlemaine (Archdiocese of Melbourne); Warragul (Diocese of Sale), and Ballarat (Diocese of Ballarat).

Catholic Earthcare National Coordinator for dioceses and parishes, Kerry Stone said she enjoyed the fresh perspectives those from outside the Diocese brought to the day. “We were only a small group, but we came together as four dioceses; it was a great opportunity to share how we are all travelling. Although we are in different places and spaces, we share a common goal and I felt a sense of solidarity and an injection of freshness and newness, knowing we are all working away in our home parishes to care for creation.”

At the Hub, participants engaged with participants across Australia online and then, after a deep listening meditation based on Miram Rose’s ‘Daddirri’ led by Dr Chris Cotter watched a film ‘Ecospophia (Ecological Wisdom)’. The day finished with a general discussion about actions to care for creation which can be implemented in the parish or diocesan context.

Keynote Speaker, Sally Neaves, Integral Ecology Animator of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, emphasised the importance of Church communities in supporting ecological missions. She noted, “Institutions should provide the venue, and the people should provide the content.”

Archbishop Coleridge highlighted the need for new perspectives and actions. “The Season of Creation is a time to see with new eyes and listen with new ears, and to focus upon action."

Alice Carwardine, Catholic Earthcare Coordinator for Caritas Australia, said “The call to show greater care for our common home comes directly from God, and is an important expression of faith for many Catholics across Australia. The convocation was filled with fruitful meetings of minds, with attendees sharing perspectives, challenges and solutions. We hope that participants will return to their parishes, schools, and dioceses with renewed enthusiasm for the task at hand.”

“At Catholic Earthcare we are immensely grateful to our speakers and attendees for sharing their thoughts and experiences, as doing so serves to advance our collective mission of caring for creation.”
Find out more about Catholic Earthcare by visiting https://www.caritas.org.au/catholic-earthcare.