WelCom March 2023
‘What is the relationship between ecology and evangelisation?’ Pope Francis asks in The Letter – a message for our Earth, a recently released film about climate action leaders who journey to Rome to meet the Pope to discuss with him his encyclical letter Laudato si’.
Pope Francis’ question in The Letter, was addressed at two workshops in Palmerston North facilitated by Dr Mary Nash and Dr Mary Eastham. Dr Eastham is a trustee on the Religious Diversity Centre Aotearoa New Zealand and a member of their Climate Action Committee.
The first workshop, held in November, pondered the stories from film’s climate change activists – from Africa, Brazil, India and the United States – who shared their concerns with the Pope.
The second workshop, held at the Palmerston North Diocesan Centre on 26 February, addressed the Pope’s question with reference to the recent climate-induced devastation in Auckland, the Coromandel, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay regions caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The workshop featured six successful climate call-to-action projects, which people can get involved with.
Speakers about the six projects included: Robert Van Bentum on water and waste management; Beth Lew on growing gardens and sustainable living; Mike Stone on restoring biodiversity at Kopua; Therese Petersen on becoming an eco-school; Jaspreet Singh on ‘Pit Park People’ restoring habitats; and Nelson Harper on the Palmy plastic pollution challenge.
The diocese has provided funding for Mary Nash and Mary Eastham to offer the workshop throughout the regions. Please contact Dr Mary Nash, egmanash@gmail.com for more information.
The Letter explores Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato si’, which encourages us to see how ‘everything is connected’. The way we treat the Earth, our common home, is a reflection of how we treat each other. Caring for each other means caring for the home we share.
The Letter is on YouTube at: www.theletterfilm.org/watch/
