Religious Education Professional Learning

The Religious Education Department started the term with a Professional Learning Community day, featuring a 2-hour session on Integral Ecology led by Sr Adele Howard RSM OAM. Our goals were to explore the connection between faith and caring for creation, as highlighted in Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, and to reflect on the spiritual bond First Nations Peoples have with their land.

Adele discussed the significance of land for First Nations people, noting that God has been revealing God’s self through nature for 60,000 years in this country. She then covered Pope Francis’ teachings from Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, emphasizing our duty to protect the earth and connecting these teachings to St Brigid, our founder.

We explored the call to integral ecology, a conversion of the heart, and the need for courageous communication with the contemporary world, especially with young people. Table discussions focused on the implications for educators and our mission. Adele referenced theologian Elizabeth Johnson, who wrote about our spiritual connection and the mystery and beauty of life.

We reviewed the 7 goals of Laudato Si’ and discussed their relevance to our Living Justice Living Peace charter. Adele provided a brief history of the relationship between faith and science in framing integral ecology. She concluded by affirming the role of Religious Education teachers in fostering ecological conversion and encouraged our commitment to help students experience creation and find the revelation of the Creator God through First Nations brothers and sisters, Jesus, and our Brigidine heritage and stories.

Feedback from teachers included:

“It was amazing to have Sr Adele speak around this time of Pope Franics passing given she had such a close connection to him, working in the Vatican space. Sr Adele was able to provide some wonderful  insight into the person Pope Francis was and the message he is sending to the world around caring for our common home”

“I was reminded just how important Indigenous Spirituality is in our curriculum”

“Adele encouraged us to be brave and model with your actions what you are teaching to the students”

“It is great to have this valuable time for thinking, reflection and growth as an educator”

The department have been embedding opportunities for students to experience eco-spirituality in their RE learning as a part of our intentionally connected sphere of One Pace Beyond.