Faith & Mission

As we enter September, Catholic communities around the world gather to celebrate the Season of Creation.  From the "World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation" through to the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, this dedicated month offers our school community a meaningful space to stop, reflect and realign our relationship with the natural world and with God.

This year, our reflection is guided by the global ecumenical theme of Living Water, drawing directly from the prophet Ezekiel’s striking vision of a sacred river that brings life, healing and abundance wherever it flows.  Ezekiel describes a small trickle from the temple sanctuary that steadily deepens into a vast, life-giving river, bringing fresh growth to even the most desolate lands.  In a world where environmental concerns can easily leave us feeling overwhelmed or immobile, this image offers a profound sense of hope: ecological restoration does not begin with grand, overnight fixes, it starts as a trickle.

To deepen our understanding of this sacred connection, we are also invited this season to view the land through the ancient wisdom of Australia’s First Nations peoples.  In his poignant reflection "The Land Owns Us", Yankunytjatjara elder Uncle Bob Randall shares a perspective that challenges our modern ways of thinking.  He reminds us that we do not own the land; rather, the land owns us.  Uncle Bob speaks of Kanyini, an interconnected oneness built on unconditional love, responsibility and deep spiritual family relationship (walytjapiti) with every living thing.

When we combine Ezekiel’s vision of Living Water with Uncle Bob’s teaching of Kanyini, care for the environment transforms from a modern checklist of tasks into a profound spiritual calling.  The river of life does not just sustain us physically; it connects us spiritually to the Country we walk upon.  We begin to see the trees, animals, waters and soil not as resources to be mastered or consumed, but as family to be nurtured.  Rather than seeing environmental care as a set of rules, we are called to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, reverence and wonder.  As Pope Francis reminded us in Laudato Si', everything is interconnected.  Care for our common home is a core expression of our faith and humanity.

This month, I invite every family to choose a simple, shared commitment at home to practise this deeper connection:

1. Listen to Country:  Spend intentional, screen-free time together outdoors, sitting quietly and listening to the natural world around you with an open heart.
2. Honor the Water:  Conduct a household review of daily water usage, remembering that water is a sacred gift that connects all living things across our land.
3. Talk About Kinship:  Have a conversation around the dinner table about what it means to live in relationship with the Earth, moving from a mindset of using the land to belonging to it.

Let us step into God’s life-giving river together this season, trusting that when we walk softly and act as channels of grace, stewardship and Kanyini, new life flourishes all around us.

Blessings,

Ms Hannah Hale 

Director of Faith and Mission