Term 2, Week 5

Laudato Si’ Week at SLC

This week, our St Laurence's College community joined schools, parishes and communities around the world in marking Laudato Si’ Week; a time to reflect on our shared responsibility to care for our common home and one another.

Inspired by Pope Francis’ call to ecological conversion and action, students and staff were invited to consider not only the environmental challenges facing our world, but also the kind of people we are called to become in response to them. As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’:

“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue” Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ (2015).

Across the College, conversations throughout the week centred on awareness, responsibility, stewardship and hope. In Year 7 Religion classes, students explored the question: “If the Earth could speak to us for one day, what would it ask us to change?”

The responses were thoughtful and honest. Students reflected that the Earth may ask humanity to:

• “stop wasting things we don’t need,” 
• “care more about animals and oceans,” 
• “use less plastic,” 
• “slow down and appreciate nature,” and 
• “think about future generations, not just ourselves.” 

Students were then challenged in groups to identify one small action they could personally take to care for creation and support a more sustainable future. Responses included reducing waste at school, conserving water and electricity, encouraging recycling within their families, walking more often, and being more mindful consumers.

These conversations continued within this week’s Edmund Rice Society meeting, where students engaged in a ‘World Café’ reflection process centred on our own College community. Together, students explored:

• the environmental and social challenges we currently face, 
• what we could do as a community, and 
• what we must do moving forward. 

The discussion generated rich and practical ideas surrounding sustainability, awareness, waste reduction, student advocacy and the role of young people in shaping a more just and hopeful future. These conversations will continue to be explored in the coming weeks as students continue discerning how our Edmund Rice identity calls us not only to reflection, but to action.

Laudato Si’ Week reminds us that caring for creation is not separate from our faith; it is an expression of it. At St Laurence’s, we continue striving to form young men who notice the world around them, recognise their responsibility within it, and respond with compassion, courage and hope.

Live Jesus in our Hearts. . . Forever!

MR LACHLAN HESHUSIUS 

Dean of Identity and Community