By Ruth Gledhill
A free teaching toolkit on the Catholic Church’s approach to ecology has been re-launched by St Mary’s University, Twickenham, ahead of Laudato Si’ Week which begins tomorrow.
The Laudato Si’ Champions Project at St Mary’s University, which draws from the Guardians of Creation Project, offers a six-lesson toolkit which helps teachers explore the intersection of Catholicism and ecology with students of all ages.
At the heart of the toolkit is the concept of “integral ecology”, developed by Pope Francis in 2015 in his encyclical Laudato Si’, where he argues that human activity and the natural world are deeply connected and that, consequently, care for creation and care for humanity are inseparable.
The toolkit is relaunched as Pope Leo XIV has sent a special message to a meeting of university rectors in Rio de Janeiro on the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si’, when they will be carrying out preparatory work for COP30.
Pope Leo said: “You will reflect together on a possible remission of the public debt and of the ecological debt, a proposal that Pope Francis had suggested in his message for the World Day of Peace. And in this jubilee year, a year of hope, this message is so important.
“I would like to encourage you, university rectors, in this mission you have taken on: to be builders of bridges of integration between the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula, working for ecological, social and environmental justice. I thank you all for your efforts and your work. I encourage you to continue to build bridges.”
In the video message, in Spanish, he acknowledges the universities’ efforts to reflect on “a possible reconciliation between public debt and ecological debt”.
The toolkit was developed following a one-year pilot programme of teaching and learning in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Salford. Results showed a significant improvement in student understanding of the Catholic Church teaching on ecology after engaging with the toolkit, as well as an increased sense of responsibility to care for creation, confidence in understanding of climate change rose and a stronger conviction that action can contribute to addressing climate change.
Dr Mary Mihovilović, associate professor at the Centre for Catholic Education, Research and Religious Literacy at St Mary’s University, Twickenham said: “The cross-curricular opportunities for children to study and learn about the global climate crisis and its consequences are abundant and critical to the future health and efficacy of the planet. The adaptability of the resources for children with learning needs and children with English as an additional language make this programme accessible for all.” – The Tablet
