Season of Creation Gathering 2026
(Online Catholic Ecology Event)
3-4 September 2026
10 am - 4:30 pm (AEST)
A national online gathering to listen deeply, reflect faithfully, and act courageously in care for all creation.
Registrations have now closed.
A national Catholic gathering on integral ecology
The Catholic Earthcare Season of Creation Gathering is an endorsed Caritas Australia initiative, supported by the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, and delivered in partnership with Catholic Religious Australia.
This gathering aims to bring together more than 300 participants from across Australia to deepen formation and inspire practical ecological action grounded in faith.
Recognising the urgent environmental challenges facing our world, this event responds to Pope Francis’ call for ecological conversion and care for our common home.
The Season of Creation Gathering seeks to:
Foster deep formation across the Catholic community in integral ecology and Catholic Social Teaching
Articulate a cohesive Catholic response to ecological challenges
Inspire practical, faith-filled action across ministries and communities
“In a time when our common home faces unprecedented challenges, the Season of Creation Gathering offers a grace-filled opportunity to come together to listen, reflect and act with hope. I warmly encourage all to participate, so that we may deepen our faith, strengthen our unity, and respond with love and responsibility to care for all creation.”
Listen
Attune ourselves to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor as we listen and learn from lived experience, and theological insight.
Reflect
Deepen understanding through reflection on what we have heard in light of our faith tradition.
Act
Move from insight to faith-filled action in our ministries and communities.
Program Overview
Time: 10 am - 4:30 pm (AEST)
This is a two-day online gathering designed to support both shared formation and practical action:
Day 1: Formation for All - Keynote presentations offer shared formation encouraging participants to deepen their understanding of integral ecology.
Day 2: Workshops - Workshops exploring current environmental challenges and opportunities for action, helping participants identify tangible ways to care for our common home across parish, organisation, school and ministry contexts.
Auslan interpretation will be provided for all keynote sessions on Day 1.
For more information email: catholicearthcare@caritas.org.au
Keynote Speakers - Day 1 (3 Sept)
Auslan interpretation will be provided for all keynote sessions on Day 1.
Bishop Timothy Norton SVD
Bishop of Broome
Listen, Reflect, Act: Welcome to the Season of Creation Gathering 2026
Julie Edwards
CEO, Jesuit Social Services
Grounding Laudato Si’ – From Aspiration to Implementation
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong
Archbishop of Suva, Fiji
Voices from the Pacific: Climate Justice, Ecological Conversion and Hope on the Frontline
Dr Anne Jennings
Perth Archdiocese Member of Committees and Catholic Earthcare Laudato Si' Advisory Committee
Ecology at the Heart of Faith: Exploring Grassroots Community Approaches
Rev Anthony J Doran
Executive Secretary for Liturgy, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Understanding the Mass for the Care of Creation
Alwin Macalalad
Regional Coordinator Pacific-Asia & Oceania, Listening & Dialogue Section, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Laudato Si' and Our Synodal Conversion: Spotlights, Insights and Invitations
Day 2 - Workshops
Evelyn Enid Parkin and Dr Ann-Maree O’Bierne: Healing Land and People: Reclaiming Ancient Ways of Living Together
Michael McGirr: The Eucharist and Creation
Pete Arndt: Pope Leo XIV and Integral Ecology
Thea Ormerod: Global faith petition campaign for a Fossil Fuel Treaty: a deep dive
Alice Carwardine: Preparing for Extreme Heat – how to help your community
Dr Michael Walker: Green Growth is unsustainable: We need Degrowth now
Emma Beach: The Rich Garden of Interfaith and Ecumenical Ecology
Tara Harvey: COP Explained: Understanding the world's biggest climate conversation
Michael Fendel: Ecological Justice in Community Organisations – Lessons from Jesuit Social Services’ over 15-year Journey
Sue Martin: Nurturing our Hearts in Creation: Using Ignatian Contemplative Practices
Catholic Education Panel Discussion: Approaches to integral ecology within the education sector
Sabrina Stevens: Living Water: From Coast to Country, and Back Again
Kerry Stone: Living Laudato Si' as an Earthcare Parish/Diocese
Dr Melina Ey: From Sustainability to Integral Ecology: Developing a Laudato Si’ Action Plan for Your School
Waminda Parker and Dr Miles Holmes: Healing Through Nature
*Subject to change due to presenter availability
With thanks to our Bronze Sponsors
What is the Season of Creation?
The Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for our common home. It is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together.
The Season of Creation begins on September 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
What is Catholic Earthcare?
Caritas Australia through Catholic Earthcare, accompanies and empowers the Australian Catholic community including schools, parishes, organisations and households, on the journey to ecological conversion. Through ecological formation, grassroots action and advocacy, Catholic Earthcare inspires communities to respond in faith to both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, in alignment with Laudato Si’.
