At Sophia College, Integral Ecology plays a central role in shaping both the curriculum and the broader college community. Inspired by Pope Francis' Laudato Si' and the example of St Francis, the College embraces a vision of education that emphasises our deep interconnectedness with one another and all of creation. Pope Francis' call for a holistic approach to environmental and social justice in Laudato Si' encourages the integration of ecological principles across all subjects, fostering an understanding that care for the Earth is inseparable from care for humanity. This vision aligns with the spirit of St Francis, whose reverence for nature and commitment to living in harmony with creation serve as a guiding example for the College. By embedding integral ecology into the curriculum and offering students opportunities to engage in meaningful service projects, Sophia College fosters a generation of young people who are not only knowledgeable but also compassionate stewards of both the environment and their community, recognising their responsibility to nurture and protect the web of life.
Laudato Si
Laudato Si – with the subtitle On Care for Our Common Home is an inspirational letter, from Pope Francis, that calls us to examine our hearts, transform our social values and act for global solidarity. The encyclical captures the interconnectedness of social, economic and environmental justice in building and protecting our common home.
It highlights the ‘intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet’. Protecting the planet requires an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.
As a school community inspired by Laudato Si’ Sophia College:
- values and explicitly teach the importance of connectivity to nature and local ecology.
- equips staff and students with age appropriate theological and moral understanding of the issues affecting our common home.
- continually evaluates and identifies how we can and will continue to care for our common home through faith inspired actions.
As Pope Francis has written, Ecological education can take place in a variety of settings: at school, in families, in the media, in catechesis and elsewhere. Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life. (Laudato Si’ #213)
Our Franciscan tradition is especially attuned to the message of Laudato Si’ in that the beautiful canticle composed by St Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is made up of all creatures forming one family of creation, deserving our respect, care and love.