Care+for+God's+Earth+and+CST


 * Eco-Justice and Eco-Spirituality **
 * Care for God’s Creation **is one of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching (US Bishops)

Students can learn about this CST theme and make the connection with Cornelia Connelly and the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.
 * What is the call to justice for the earth (and all creation/creatures)?
 * Why is this part of Catholic Social Teaching?
 * Why is this part of the mission of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus?
 * How does this relate to Cornelia Connelly?
 * What is Eco-Justice?
 * What is Eco-Spirituality?
 * What action can be taken?

The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition. We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored. [] [] This is the Mission Statement of the [SHCJ] American Province’s EcoSpirituality Group: //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">“For this is our mission: to help others believe that God lives and acts in themand in our world, and to rejoice in the divine presence." (SHCJ Constitutions) //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Impelled by this mission, we SHCJ join for mutual support to nurture ourreverence for the human family and all creation. We seek a deep contemplative attitude of heart drawing us to respond to a planet in crisis. We strive to
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Church Statements from US Bishops __****<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;"> (USCCB) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Care for God's Creation **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Environmental Justice **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> (US Bishops)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ecological Justice **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> (US Bishops)
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">SHCJ EcoSpirituality Group ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">live simply and sustainably,
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">shift our consciousness from stewardship of Earth to kinship with God’s creation,
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">understand that care for creation embraces all peace and justice concerns,
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">grow in our awareness of creation’s interconnectedness, and
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">act on behalf of Earth’s most vulnerable members
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">What does "eco" mean? **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Eco comes from the Greek //oikos// — "home." In this case, it means Earth and all of creation. Ecospirituality refers to finding God in all creation. (Other terms include creation spirituality and creation theology.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|SHCJstatementsonCreation.pdf] **
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Resources from Education for Justice __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|10 Things to Do to Care for Earth.pdf] **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">by: Sr. Katherine Feely, SND


 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|GoingGreen.pdf] **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> by: Sr. Katherine Feely, SND


 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|Care for God's Earth.pdf] **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> by: Sr. Katherine Feely, SND