Ecological Conversion – Falling in Love with the Earth

Ecological conversion is nothing more than falling in love with the earth – again, or for the first time. In Laudato Si’ Pope Francis calls us to “profound interior conversion” as the fundamental underpinning of the shift in consciousness and lifestyle needed to change humanity’s headlong course towards ecological – and hence human – disaster.

In three sessions we will explore the words of Pope Francis and renowned eco-theologians (Thomas Berry, Denis Edwards, Elizabeth Johnson and Sallie McFague among others), in an effort to understand what is being asked of us and how we might respond.

These sessions will include five talks, as well as time for reading and reflection, discussion and questions.

• Saturday 25 February: The context of our times for ecological theology; reclaiming our Christian heritage
• Saturday 11 March: A renewed theology of God and the voices of women theologians
• Saturday 25 March: What is eco-spirituality? How do we embody a renewed theology? How does one undertake “profound interior conversion”?

Facilitator: Patricia Gemmell

Patricia is a wife, mother of four, and a retired teacher of French, Latin and Italian. She graduated with a Maters in Theology at Newcastle University in 2014. She is a member of the Sydney Grail group and currently serves on their national leadership team.

The reflections will take place at the Grail Centre, 22 McHatton Street, North Sydney, on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. For more information, please visit our Events page or download the flyer.