What is our Call to Justice? 

The human person is understood to be created ‘in the image and likeness of God’. This belief obliges Christians to work for justice, the flourishing of the human person and the common good of all.  This theme is  contextualized within our Year 10 theme, `Looking out the Window’.  The unit gets students to reflect on not just awareness of social justice issues but get students to reflect on their personal impact on creating change in our world. The following are some reflections from students on the global issue of Climate Change and their personal response.

Yr 10’s reflect on themselves as Stewards of the Earth

I think society will have to change our ways in order to create a change for the better. For the past few years, our emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses have increased drastically. The Catholic Social Teaching of Stewardship of Creation claims that we are responsible for the actions that we do to our Earth, with this in mind, we should do things that are good for our environment and care for our common home.  Through this unit, it has taught me to take care of our Earth more and view the world through the eyes of a Catholic and how we should be grateful with what God has blessed us with. Kristyl

Climate Change is the defining issue of our time. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding. The impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. According to Catholic social teaching, the earth and all life on it are God’s creation, Catholics must respect this gift by being responsible for our actions and take care of the world we live in.  Linh

My thoughts and inner voice have changed and I have more knowledge about indigenous lifestyle in the past and how they treat and used the environment back then. I learned more about what is happening in developing countries and how they are destroying the environment by using chemicals and burning the forests. Rita

My inner voice has grown throughout this unit and I have also learnt many things regarding ‘Steward of the Earth’. Throughout this unit, I have learnt that the society’s aspect about taking care of the earth has changed over time but in a negative way. I have also learnt that more people are realising and getting to know about the harm the earth is going through, therefore, many people have offered to help. I would rate myself 6 out 10 as a ‘Steward of the Earth’ because there are still many things I need to learn and improve on. Stephanie

On a scale from 1-10 on “Steward of the Earth”, I'd have to place myself at 7. This is because I have not done many drastic and important things to make the earth and environment a better place, but I have the knowledge and ideas on how to keep the earth a better place. I also commit myself to small actions such as throwing the rubbish in the bin. Krystopher

I have gotten some knowledge on the impact we have on the earth and how much we are destroying it, so I am trying to adapt to a lifestyle where it's less of that. I would consider myself a struggling ‘Steward of the Earth’ but I definitely  want the best for the earth.  Liya

As a Steward of the Earth, I would like to believe that I live to protect God’s creation but there are things that are out of my control that I wish I could help with but just cannot. Such as things that are hurting our planet for example climate change, pollution, deforestation and more which are issues that I can have some effect on to help but cannot overall stop these issues. In terms of rating myself, I would like to give myself a respectable 7 but there are decisions and changes that I could make to further be a Steward of the Earth but those are decisions that can be difficult to make and maintain to do on a daily basis. One example could be becoming a vegetarian, something that would help me be a better Steward of the Earth but a decision which personally I do not want to make. Romiley