Caring for our Common Home

When was the last time you paused to watch the waves roll in at the beach, to listen to birdsong at dawn, or to marvel at a sunset over the Glass House Mountains? Moments like these remind us that creation is God’s first gift, a sacred privilege placed into our hands. As we conclude this Season of Creation (1 Sept – 4 October) we are invited not only to give thanks for the beauty around us but also to renew our commitment to protect and care for our common home.

The call to care for creation is not limited to environmental experts or world leaders. It is a mission entrusted to all of us by God from the very beginning: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it” (Gen 2:15). As members of the Church, and especially as parishioners here in Caloundra, we are called to live out this stewardship in our daily lives. We are pretty good at tilling the Earth…but keeping it for future generations to come, we are not so good at that. So much so that Pope Francis wrote an encyclical in 2015 titled Laudato Si’ (“Praise be to you”) and later a follow-up exhortation in 2023 called Laudate Deum (“Praise God”), both urging all people to care for our common home. As Pope Francis reminds us: “The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor.” (LS, 2)

Caring for the earth is in fact a matter of faith. When we look at the beaches, the Glass House Mountains, or the sunsets over the Pumicestone Passage, we are reminded that creation itself is a hymn of praise to God. But we also know that our world is fragile. Pollution, waste, and climate change affect the poor and vulnerable first. To protect creation is therefore both an act of worship — giving glory to God — and an act of justice, ensuring that all people and future generations can share in these blessings.

It can be tempting to think that one person cannot make a difference. Yet the truth is, every small action counts. As parishioners, we can show our gratitude and care for creation in very practical ways: planting trees in our gardens, reducing single-use plastics, saving water, or even sharing a lift to Mass with a neighbour. Each step is a concrete expression of faith and gratitude.

Practical Steps We Can Take:

🌱 Practice the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. Put things in the correct bins!

💡 Conserve energy — switch off lights and appliances when not in use.

🚶 Choose walking, cycling, or carpooling whenever possible.

🧺 Support local produce and farmers’ markets to reduce waste and food miles.

🙏 Pray regularly in thanksgiving for the beauty of creation.

🤝 Get involved in our various initiatives ie Parish gardening group, Laudato Si Action Group, 10c Bottle/Medication packet recycling, Parish Art Group, Craft Group, and so much more!

As we conclude this Season of Creation, let us recommit ourselves to caring for our common home, starting with small, faithful actions that reflect God’s love for all creation.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist (1901–1978)

Yours in creation, Fr Gerard