Sister Rose at the Eco Connections HQ
Rose holds a Diploma in Commercial Art.
The artwork and symbols used throughout the Eco Connections material add colour and originality to the material.
She has read extensively in the area of eco-spirituality.
Sister Mary-Ann at the Eco Connections HQ
Mary-Ann holds a Masters in Educational Administration.
THE MINISTRY
Sister Rose M Schick RSJ
Rose has spent in excess of thirty years in the field of education.
She holds a Diploma of Teaching.
She has held various positions of responsibility and exercised various forms of leadership.
Rose was a creative classroom teacher, working in Queensland Catholic primary schools.
She has assisted teachers, catechists and adult groups with programs in both remote Queensland and in large centres.
Prior to joining the Eco Connections project Rose provided workshops and in-service for school staffs and key teachers in the area of creation-centred spirituality.
Rose also developed and ran a spirituality program especially for children.
Rose has participated in several residential courses centred on creation-centred spirituality including Tabgha and more recently the Sacred Earth Program at Glenburn (Victoria).
Sister Mary-Ann Casanova RSJ
Mary-Ann has a background in education.
Many of her teaching appointments were in rural South Australia.
She holds a Masters in Educational Administration and has qualifications in Religious Education and most recently in Agriculture.
She majored in biology and children's literature.
Mary-Ann took many of the photographs included in the Eco Connections material.
ECO CONNECTIONS HISTORY
The Eco Education ministry is a work of MacKillop Community Services Queensland Limited (company of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Most Sacred Heart.)
The Eco Education Project is one expression of the Queensland Sisters of Saint Joseph's commitment to ecology, education and spirituality and grew out of the recent Provincial and General Chapters.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph were co-founded by Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop in Penola, South Australia in 1866.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph have a rich history of connection with the natural environment and education.
Father Julian Woods, was a highly respected man of natural science.
He wrote and lectured on many subjects including botany, geology, marine biology and natural history.
Mary MacKillop, was noted for her passion in educating the poor.
The view from the Eco Connections Ministry HQ
ECO CONNECTIONS FUTURE
The Eco Education ministry gives our co-founders vision a new expression in new millennium.
The Eco Education ministry aims to educate and support adults and children in what Pope John Paul II refers to as ecological conversion.
Resource materials, which links ecology, creation centred spirituality and Catholic Social Teaching on the environment are currently being prepared.
These multi-media kits are suitable for use by small discussion groups, family groups, class teachers or other groups of interested people.
The Eco Education symbol (see the top of the page) depicts the traditional four elements of earth, water, fire and air as well as life itself.
It highlights the interconnectedness of all life forms and the presence of God in all creation.
Sisters Rose and Mary-Ann are available to run day programmes, reflection days or session as well as workshops and input at staff meetings and formation days.
The ministry is located on Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland.