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Mercy College co-captain Lydia in the launch video (Supplied)

A Melbourne Catholic school has taken part in the launch of a new Laudato Si’ resource from the Vatican, titled Our common home: A guide to caring for our living planet. Source: Mercy EcoCommunications.

Mercy College Coburg principal Lila McInerney and college co-captain Lydia featured in the publication’s launch video, along with other voices from Italy, Ghana and Puerto Rico.

The new booklet is the product of the collaboration between the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Stockholm Environment Institute. It connects the science of climate change, biodiversity and sustainable resource use with the messages of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.

Mercy Sister Sr Adele Howard, who works with the dicastery, was asked to produce videos of key interviews with educators for the February 14 launch and post-launch promotion. Filming took place at the college and at St Raphael’s Primary School in West Preston.

Speaking at the launch, Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, said, “We are at a critical historical moment where actions today will determine the fate of generations to come.” 

“The challenge ahead is monumental; we need nothing short of a ‘bold cultural revolution’ (Laudato Si’ 114) to respond to it adequately. For this reason, the guidebook we offer today to local churches and community groups represents an important and hopeful collaboration between two great sectors: that of science and that of faith. 

“While starting from complementary worldviews, what we hold in common is what matters – science and faith share core values and purpose capable of healing the world.”

The 20-page, full-colour booklet is available in five languages – English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Succinct summaries of the science on each topic are illustrated by beautiful photography and graphics.

The booklet is free to download from the Stockholm Environment Institute website at sei.org/ourcommonhome

View the launch video on YouTube

FULL STORY

Australian School Participates in Vatican Dicastery Launch of New Laudato Si’ Resource (Mercy EcoCommunications)