Over 145 representatives from dioceses, parishes and schools across Australia have participated in a three-day Season of Creation Convocation, concluding on Saturday 14 September.
The event called participants to ‘Wonder’, ‘Weave’ and ‘Heal’ together in pursuit of greater care for creation. Across six in-person hub events – held in Brisbane, Sandhurst, Parramatta, Bathurst, Sydney, and Broken Bay – and a virtual convocation for those joining remotely, attendees heard from over 40 speakers, who shared their wisdom on how to care for our common home.
The hub event for the Diocese of Parramatta took place at ‘Winbourne’ Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre in Mulgoa. After a livestreamed keynote by Sally Neaves, the gathering featured a workshop on ‘Aboriginal Wisdom of the Land’ with Darug Elder Uncle Chris Tobin, and a ‘Liturgy of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Creation’ with Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta. The participants from parishes and organisations from nearly all deaneries left the event with a revitalised sense of connection with each other and God’s Creation.
Darug Elder Uncle Chris Tobin (centre) leads a workshop during the Diocesan gathering at ‘Winbourne’ Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre, Mulgoa, during the Catholic Earthcare Season of Creation Convocation in September 2024. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
In her keynote, Sally Neaves, Integral Ecology Animator of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, commented on how Church communities can support ecological mission and ministries. She reminded us that “institutions should provide the venue, and the people should provide the content.”
Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane, also counselled that the Season of Creation “is a time to see with new eyes and listen with new ears, and to focus upon action.”
In line with that thinking, keynote addresses were followed by workshops and discussions across day one and two, with day three reserved for diocesan hubs to come together to transform learning into action.
Participants watch a keynote address during the Diocesan gathering at ‘Winbourne’ Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre, Mulgoa, during the Catholic Earthcare Season of Creation Convocation in September 2024. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Over 2,500 votes were cast in the Season of Creation Convocation People’s Choice Art Competition, with Celestah at St John XXIII Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens winning in the primary category, and Eliza from St Mary’s Star of the Sea College Wollongong winning in the secondary category. The Bishops Award, judged by Bishop Vincent, was given to Sarah from St Therese Primary School, Colonel Light Gardens (South Australia), in the primary category and Addison from St John XXIII Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens in the secondary category.
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
