Issue 12 SJC News 2020

28 Days for Climate Campaign

The ‘28 Days for Climate Campaign’ is a month long national campaign, taking place across Edmund Rice Colleges Australia wide. Led by the ERA (Edmund Rice Advocacy) For Change Group, staff and students around Australia are calling for climate justice. Advocating that our politicians take a stronger stance against climate change.

As a group, we are committed to being a voice for the voiceless and advocates for the planet and people that are suffering due to climate change and inaction. Through the campaign, we are drawing on the words of Pope Francis in Laudato Si. ‘Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience’, which directs us as Catholics, to stand up and advocate for the future of our planet and its people.

Over the month-long campaign, each week will adopt a different focus, ranging from responsible water and waste management to emissions reduction. There will be a prayer focus for each week along with students being encouraged to be actively involved in the campaign by joining in with weekly activities on the SIMON Daily Messages. The campaign will conclude with the sharing of a video with combined messages from Edmund Rice Schools across Australia calling for our politicians to be more future focused in their work on climate change. For further information, please follow our ‘ERA for Change –Speak Up’ posts on our St Joseph’s social media over the coming weeks. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Lachlan Kelly - Victorian Student Representative for ERA for Change

Gospel Spirituality Prefect

Nourished by Hope

Reflection from our Faith Development Coordinator

In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear the disciples call, ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds.’ In this moment we are reminded, that Jesus nourishes us.

In a world fraught with uncertainty, he offers purpose. To a world that is stumbling in darkness and confusion, he provides direction. What we learn here, is that Jesus will not allow those who follow him to languish alone without hope.

Sometimes, all we need is to open our eyes wider in order to see how those around us are already providing nourishment. God’s generosity exceeds all of our expectations, but we can see this generosity already happening within our community. Now more than ever, as we continue our second chapter of remote teaching, may we be endlessly kind and generous with our time, compassion and empathy towards each other.

Whether you are in my position and will be busy with young children to homeschool or whether you are living alone and feeling isolated, or if you’re somewhere in between, Jesus has shown us that a small gesture can go a long way. So check in on your friends, check in on your sons and provide nourishment as best as you can. The feeling of being spiritually nourished and not left behind is the message that Jesus is imparting in this Gospel. All we have to do is reach out to receive it.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us love, confidence and the ability to nourish others. Help us look to You when our days seem hard and our anxieties are high.

Help us to always be kind and thoughtful as we navigate through another round of lockdown and remote teaching and learning. Guide us to be spirit-filled people who radiate positivity and hope. Amen.

Belinda Milverton - Faith Development Coordinator