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Profession of Faith for Creation
We believe in God, who creates all things, who embraces all things, who celebrates all things, who is present in every part of the fabric of creation.
We believe in God as the source of all life, who baptises this planet with living water.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the suffering one, the poor one, the malnourished one, the climate refugee, who loves and cares for this world and who suffers with it.
And we believe in Jesus Christ, the seed of life, who came to reconcile and renew this world and everything in it.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, who moves with God and who moves among and with us today.
We believe in everlasting life in God.
And we believe in the hope that one day God will put an end to death and all destructive forces.
Amen
St Maximilian Kolbe pray for us
The Season of Creation
Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. The theme for 2022 is, “Listen to the voice of Creation.’’
As followers of Christ from around the globe, we share a common call to care for creation. We are co-creatures, and part of all that God has made.
Our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.
We rejoice in this opportunity to safeguard our common home and all beings who share it. This year, the theme for the season is Listen to the Voice of Creation
The Psalmist declares, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
Every living thing in creation is part of the book that tells a story about God.
A Holiday Activity
An examen is a way of beholding an object or being present in prayerful wonder.
Through a series of questions, you are invited to reflect on God’s presence and the goodness around you.
During this Season of Creation, consider contemplating a part of your local ecology.
Pick a natural or agricultural place to contemplate.
A forest, river, or city street with a natural area.
An urban park or a beach.
A hilltop or a meadow.
Invite Holy Wisdom to open the eyes of your heart.
1. Become aware of God’s presence in a natural or agricultural place that you are contemplating.
How is God present in this place? How does all the life you see exist in God’s spirit? How do you feel knowing that the Holy Spirit has filled this place for geological ages, with every plant, animal, organism and mineral that has called this place home in the deep past, makes its home here with you now, and will live here with creatures in this place in the future? How do you feel knowing that you, as a human also belong to this place, are made of the same carbon, breathe the same air, are nurtured by the same cycles and life processes, and are enlivened by the same Spirit of the Creator?
2. Reflect on the ecological cycles of this place with gratitude for all that it provides.
What nutrient cycles are supported by this place? Is this a watershed that filters water? Is this a rainforest (tropical or deciduous) that fixes nutrients? Is this a meadow or field that fixes nitrogen? Is this a green space that absorbs CO2 and cleans the air? What plants, animals, microbes and minerals are sheltered here? How do they serve the whole earth in their being? For all that this place provides to nurture you and all that belong to this place, let a feeling of gratitude fill you.
3. Listen for the voices that speak in this place, and pay attention to what you feel as you contemplate the health of this site.
Fill your lungs with breath. Be attentive to what you feel (the air, grass, sand, soil, sun, rain) on your skin. Open your eyes (or close them and open the eyes of your heart). Open your ears to listen to the voices of creation in this place. Who are they? What do you hear them saying? Who is missing or lost from this place? What does their absence tell you? Is this ecosystem healthy? How is this ecosystem at risk of illness? What are the keys to sustaining the equilibrium and balance of this place? What niches and diversity must be protected to maintain the health of this habitat? What are the sources of stress that threaten the balance of this particular ecosystem? Do those stresses drive your co-creatures from their home in this place? How do you feel when you consider the fragility of life that depends on the health of this place? What is your effect on this balance?
4. Choose one feature of the site and pray for it, its rest and its renewal.
When you consider the ways that this place is under stress, what does it need for rest, restoration and renewal? What needs to be conserved for this site to heal itself? What features need to be reclaimed? What creatures need to be restored to their rightful home here so that their voice can be heard? Pray for this site, and the wisdom to care for it.
5. Look toward your response. What can you do to ease demands or promote the rest of this ecological site?
Based on your examination, how do you identify with this place? What have you discerned is required to care for this place? Whose voice from among this place will you seek to amplify? What will be your act of compassion to promote rest for this common home?
Adapted from the Season of Creation Celebration Guide
Year 10 Reflection Day Report
On Friday the 2nd of September, Year 10 students embarked on a Reflection Day Program that aimed to increase our connection with others and our faith. The main focuses of the day were social justice and Catholicism. Run by the Youth Mission Team, everyone involved was able to participate and contribute to conversations and activities.
The day consisted of many team-building exercises and theatrical productions run by students to have a laugh while simultaneously learning about the Catholic faith and how God is always watching over us and loving us.
At the end of the program, we were able to have a 10-minute time of reflection where we were able to pray and write our names on a cross as a symbol of acceptance of our faith and beliefs. My favourite part of the day was being able to stand up and participate as one of the actors in the performances with my friends and being able to have a laugh while also gaining knowledge on social justice. Overall, it was a great time and we all learned important lessons throughout the day and have some fun at the same time.
By Alexander Grech Year 10
Backpacks for the Homeless Feast Day Appeal
Thank you so much for your generous support for this appeal.
Rihan Roffaeel from COTS https://christmasonthestreets.com/ was able to pick up the backpacks to distribute them to our homeless brothers and sisters on the streets of Melbourne.
COTS is a wonderful organisation started by one of our alumni and past School Captains, Roseanne Rofaeel, and we are proud to support this work.
Caithleen Malone
Director of Faith & Community
