In this issue of the CARFLEO Newsletter
- Season of Creation Resources
- Listening to Indigenous Voices
- WFMP 2021
- Catholic Education Week 2022
- Education for Justice Webinar
- World Teachers Day prayers and resources
- CARFLEO Award Winners 2021
- CARFLEO Executive 2021-2022
As we prepare for yet another school year in hope and joy we are also mindful of the clouds that portend more challenges. CARFLEO supports your work in faith formation by providing resources through our newsletters, website, and conference/retreat. In this Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4) we provide images, prayers and inspirational quotations which you are free to use. The photographs were taken by Les Miller, who authored an award-winning book of photographs and prayers, Northern Light: A Canadian Prayerbook (Novalis). Les manages our website.
Season of Creation Resources
CARFLEO has recently focussed on the implications of Laudato Si’ for our Ontario Catholic schools through our conference, retreat and website resources. In this Season of Creation, Ontario educators can turn to the CARFLEO website (carfleo.com) to find prayer and curriculum resources for the Season of Creation. Throughout this newsletter, you will see prayer posters that you can use in your own boards. Here are five other resources for your use:
- Praying in, with and for Creation: A spiritual integration of Laudato Si includes resources developed for our Retreat in April 2021. It includes documents, videos and prayers. Videos of different segments are also available.
- Ecology Links were updated in April 2021. They connect teachers and students to a variety of curated ecological resources useful for Catholic educators.
- The Season of Creation resources were renewed for September 2021. These include prayers and curriculum ideas for the celebrations this year. Our theme is, “A Home for All? Renewing the oikos [household] of God”.
- Links to recent ecological resources produced by our Ontario Catholic educational partners:
- D&P Schools Program from Development and Peace.
- Learning in the Great Outdoors. A K-6 Curriculum project from the EOCCC.
- Eco Placemats from the Institute for Catholic Education
- Awakening an Integral Ecology, a Monograph from the Institute for Catholic Education
- Environmental Education links from OECTA
- Ecoschools
- Living Out Laudato Si’: A Commentary and Practical Resource for Canadian Catholics. from the Canadian Bishops (CCCB). The Canadian Bishops also have a series of documents on the environment.
Listening to Indigenous Voices
The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice through Novalis published Listening to Indigenous Voices, a valuable and timely resource that “showcases Indigenous voices and the many elements of our traditional knowledge and skills inherited from our ancestors. It is an indispensable tool for all those who want to make a difference today in building bridges across ignorance and racism.” (Nicole O’Bomsawin from the foreword)
For more information and the launch video, see carfleo.com’s post. The EOCCC and the Institute for Catholic Education will be offering a webinar featuring the launch of the new Indigenous Curriculum Mapping Project for Catholic Secondary Schools. Secondary teachers of all subject areas are invited to the webinar on September 28th, 2021, from 3:30-5:00 PM. Here is the link for registration: https://iceont.ca/indigenous-voices/
When Faith Meets Pedagogy
CARFLEO is happy to be a sponsor for When Faith Meets Pedagogy for 2021. It will be held online from October 21 to October 23. The theme is, “Guardians of Hope, Bearers of the Promise, Stewards of Creation”. Keynote speakers are conference favorite David Wells and Anne Jamieson of the Institute for Catholic Education. The Most Reverend Ronald P. Fabbro C.S.B. Bishop of London, will be the celebrant at the liturgy on Friday October 22. Keep an eye on the CCC website for updates about the conference.
Catholic Education Week 2022
Plans for Catholic Education Week 2022 are well underway. The theme is, “Catholic Education: Rebuild, Restore, Renew Together / Rebâtir, Rétablir, Renouveler Ensemble”. Already materials are being assembled on the OCSTA website. For example, you can see the Catholic Education Week prayer:
God of Grace,
Help us to rediscover how to be side by side
in rebuilding our communities of faith and learning.
Help us restore harmony and balance in our relationships,
and renew our desire to approach challenges confidently and with peaceful hearts.
May we always rejoice in recognizing the blessings our lives hold.
Amen. +
The scriptural touchstone for the week is, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)”
Education for Justice Webinar
On Thursday June 3, 2021 CARFLEO hosted Brenna Davis of Education for Justice to lead CARFLEO in an exploration of the great resources found on their website. To access their resources, contact your school board’s CARFLEO representative. Education for Justice is a member of the Ignatian Solidarity Network. The video recording of this webinar appears on our CARFLEO.com website.
World Teacher Day 2021 Resources
World Teacher Day is celebrated annually on October 5. The theme of World Teachers’ Day 2021 is “Teachers: Leading in crisis, re-imagining the future”. The United Nations (UNESCO) presented this theme for teacher’s day in respect of their determined and diligent efforts in the crucial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.
CARFLEO.com has prayers and prayer services that can be used to celebrate the role of teachers in Ontario Catholic schools.
CARFLEO Award Winners 2021
At the conclusion of our CARFLEO Retreat we announced the winners of the 2021 CARFLEO Award Winners. Both recipients were noted for their outstanding contributions on local and provincial levels to Religious Education and Family Life Education.
The 2021 Archbishop Philip Pocock Award for outstanding contributions to Ontario Religious Education is Patricia Dal Ben of the Halton Catholic District School Board.
The 2021 Fr. Angus MacDougall Award for outstanding contributions to Ontario Family LIfe Education is Nancy Davie of the York Catholic District School Board.
Please keep in mind nominees for the 2022 CARFLEO Award winners. The nomination forms will be made available on the CARFLEO.com website in December 2021.
CARFLEO Executive
Sr. Pat Carter (HSCDSB-Chair), Peter Bagnell (PVNCDSB-Treasurer), Bishop Wayne Lobsinger – Diocese of Hamilton (ACBO Liaison), Les Miller (Communications-ex YCDSB), Nancy Davie (YCDSB) Acting Secretary, Peter Crane (ex PVNCDSB), Lisa Malcolm (TCDSB), John Murphy (WCDSB), Mike Nerino (TNCDSB), Lisa Malcolm (TCDSB), Tish Sheppard (exDCDSB), Mark Siolek (OCDSB), Kate Veinotte (CDSBEO), Julie Webster (DPCDSB), Paula Wheeler (CDSBEO)