Catholic Earthcare Australia (CEA) – an ecological agency established by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference – will host an Australia-wide, two-day Convocation of Catholic Leadership from 4 to 5 September this year.
The convocation aims to emphasise the importance of personal change in leading community change.
Playing its part in helping protect the health of the earth and its inhabitants, CEA is mandated – through the activities of education, research, and advocacy – to give leadership in responding to Pope Saint John Paul II’s call to “stimulate and sustain the ecological conversion”.
Bernard Holland, Director of CEA, said those in senior leadership roles in the Catholic Church in Australia are responding to the teachings, and that behavioural change is at the core of all conversion and leaders are a key part of this change.
“Many are responding to caring for our common home through managing systemic changes, however, it’s not until we change our own heart, mind and daily practices that we live an ecological vocation and become a leader by example,” Mr Holland added.
The convocation has been placed in the two days leading up to the National Catholic Education Conference and will challenge attendees to address systemic practices in their own lives.
“It will also offer practical solutions from leading presenters and remind us all of our places in the world,” Mr Holland continued.
ACBC General Secretary Fr Stephen Hackett MSC said young people, including young Catholics, were highly engaged in the pursuit of social and ecological justice.
“This gathering will support them in that effort and also provide an opportunity for them to develop their faith and to grow as leaders for our changing world,” Fr Hackett said.
With a large youth component to the event such as key youth presenters in the main forum and at workshops, CEA’s Youth Coordinator Clare Vernon will be conducting a national competition for young Catholics aged 16 to 25.
The national competition aims to help identify the top 20 speakers to attend the convocation with support and sponsorship from Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund.
Registrations are now open for CEA’s national youth competition via: www.catholicearthcare.org.au