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My sisters and brothers in Christ,

Seven years ago Pope Francis gave us his Encyclical Letter, Laudato si’, On Care for Our Common Home. In this encyclical Pope Francis presented a sobering picture of the many ecological and social challenges we face, and called upon “every person living on this planet” (LS, 3) to enter into a dialogue and a new solidarity towards building a better future for our common home. In recent years the truth of what he wrote has been evident to all of us. This situation is critical and the Church is uniquely placed to advocate, care for and transform our world.

Last year I officially committed the Diocese of Wollongong to engage in the Laudato si’ Action Platform joining the global Catholic family in a seven year journey of ecological conversion.

Today, I launch the Office of the Bishop (OOB) and the Catholic Development Fund (CDF), Diocese of Wollongong Laudato si’ Action Plan. In the spirit of subsidiarity, where real ecological and social change happens at the local level, this is the first of many action plans that will bring about lasting change in the Diocese of Wollongong. I thank the diligent working group who have produced this Action Plan and I encourage every member of the OOB & CDF to embrace it.

I also encourage and call upon every individual, family, parish, religious order, school, pastoral work, community and organisation in the Diocese of Wollongong to write and embrace their own Laudato si’ Action Plan.

As we do this, we recognise that we are not starting from scratch. There are many wonderful environmental and social initiatives and actions that have occurred and are continuing to occur across our diocese, but more can be, and needs to be done. Please feel free to use the examples in this Action Plan in your own plan of action or reflect upon throughout your journey towards total sustainability in the spirit of Laudato si’. Where applicable, as part of our diocesan approach to engaging with the goals of Laudato si’, it is my expectation that all mission partners in the diocese will support and promote all action plans developed.

As Pope Francis has said, “We need a new ecological approach that can transform our way of dwelling in the world, our styles of life, our relationship with the resources of the Earth and, in general, our way of looking at humanity and living life.” (24 May 2021) For the sake of younger generations and their future, and for the sake of all species, human and other, “we must choose to eat, travel, spend, invest and live differently, thinking not only of immediate interest and gains, but also of future benefits.”

Yours in Christ

Most Rev Brian G Mascord DD
Bishop of Wollongong
Launched 1 September 2022

The World Day of Prayer for the Care of CreationThe first day of the Season of Creation

www.seasonofcreation.org