RE News
This week is Laudato Si’ Week.
Pope Francis wrote this encyclical (a public letter to the world) titled Laudato Si’ in 2015. Laudato Si’ means ‘praise be to you’. In this letter, Pope Francis calls on us, to care for our common home, the earth. We are all encouraged to work for positive change to leave our earth in a better place. He asks us to take the time to disengage from devices and spend time with our families in nature. I encourage you all to stop, look and listen within the environment around you throughout the coming weeks.
Why not:
- Take your family outside on a frosty morning and enjoy the frost on the lawn, breathe in the refreshing air or plan ahead and place a bucket of water out and see what happens.
- Walk through the fallen leaves and admire the wonderful colours on the trees around you.
- Stop and listen to all the birds, their cheerful calls spread joy to all.
- Take time to collect the litter.
- Spend time just sitting, listening and watching the birds and animals surrounding a pond, lake or wetland.
It is in these times that the Holy Spirit breathes gently through us. The Holy Spirit is always ready to listen and guide us even when we just sit in contemplation.
Common Prayer for Earth and for Humanity
Loving God,
Creator of Heaven, Earth, and all therein contained.
Open our minds and touch our hearts,
so that we can be part of Creation, your gift.
Be present to those in need in these difficult times, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.
Help us to show creative solidarity as we confront the consequences of the global pandemic.
Make us courageous in embracing the changes required to seek the common good.
Now more than ever, may we all feel interconnected and interdependent.
Enable us to succeed in listening and responding to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.
May their current sufferings become the birth-pangs of a more fraternal and sustainable world.
We pray through Christ our Lord, under the loving gaze of Mary Help of Christians.
Amen.
I would love to see or hear about the times you, as a family, take to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our wonderful Canberra weather.
Kirstie Buckley
Religious Education Coordinator