Pope Francis has said, “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. Here, though, I would stress the great importance of the family, which is 'the place in which life – the gift of God – can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth.'” (Laudato Si', para. 213)
Pope Francis on the Importance of Family Education Laudato Si’, paragraph 213 |
In the family we first learn how to show love and respect for life; we are taught the proper use of things, order and cleanliness, respect for the local ecosystem and care for all creatures.
In the family we receive an integral education, which enables us to grow harmoniously in personal maturity. In the family we learn to ask without demanding, to say “thank you” as an expression of genuine gratitude for what we have been given, to control our aggressivity and greed, and to ask forgiveness when we have caused harm. These simple gestures of heartfelt courtesy help to create a culture of shared life and respect for our surroundings. |
Youth Education on Laudato Si’
|
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International. This website contains a wealth of educational materials for young people, including age-appropriate videos on Laudato Si’ and a workshop for young people to introduce them to the themes in Laudato Si' such as climate change, stewardship, and consumption. Resources can be searched by age group, theme (climate change and environment), and resource type.
|
|
This video, called “The Green Ninja: Footprint Renovation", helps kids learn in an entertaining was about people who have taken action to care for our common home. The PDF Facilitator's Guide was created to assist in showing this video to young religious education students.
|