The ecological crisis of our time is not only an environmental challenge. It is a human, social, and spiritual one. Across the world—and especially in our region—communities are experiencing firsthand the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and economic systems that prioritise profit over people and the planet.
For Cardijn Community Australia (CCA), these realities invite not despair, but discernment and action. In the spirit of Joseph Cardijn and the See–Judge–Act method, we believe that caring for the Earth is not a task for isolated individuals, but a calling best lived through movements—people organised, formed, and acting together for the common good.
Why Movements Matter
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis reminds us that “social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds” (no. 219). Movements create the conditions for lasting change: they form consciences, sustain commitment, and connect local action to global transformation.
Cardijn understood this deeply. He believed ordinary people—especially young and working people—are not merely recipients of strategies or programmes, but protagonists of history. Movement building is therefore at the heart of ecological conversion: it enables people to interpret their lived experience, judge it in the light of faith and reason, and act together to transform unjust structures.
Learning to Read the Signs of the Times
Thresholds of Transformation
One opportunity to deepen this shared discernment is Thresholds of Transformation
https://thresholdsoftransformation.org/
This initiative offers a framework for understanding the critical ecological, social, and economic thresholds shaping our world today. Rather than focusing only on incremental change, Thresholds of Transformation invites participants to ask deeper questions:
- What systems are reaching their limits?
- What futures are emerging?
- How can communities respond creatively and ethically at moments of profound transition?
For those committed to Cardijn’s praxis, this resource strongly complements See–Judge–Act. It helps communities see more clearly the complexity of our context, judge wisely the underlying causes of ecological and social harm, and act courageously at pivotal moments of change.
Planning with Purpose
Start the Year Strong: Forming Your Plan for 2026
Another meaningful opportunity to respond as an organised community comes through the Laudato Si’ Movement’s planning programme:
Start the Year Strong: Forming Your Plan for 2026
19 February 2026
10:00 PM (Perth time)
REGISTER HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__HsKm_IcS5OWgDP1VCx2DA#/registration
This two‑part gathering responds to a question many are asking: What will 2026 require of us, and how can we prepare well?
The opening webinar will help participants:
- re‑ground their work in the spiritual and educational foundations of Laudato Si’;
- understand emerging ecological trends and challenges shaping the year ahead; and
- explore how education, discernment, and ethical reflection can guide communities toward wise and hopeful responses.
For Cardijn Community members, this initiative offers a practical way to translate faith into planning, ensuring that our ecological commitments are intentional, collective, and sustained over time.
Acting Together in Hope
CCA encourages its members, partners, and friends to engage with these initiatives not simply as events, but as part of a broader movement-building journey. Joining formations such as Thresholds of Transformation or the Laudato Si’ planning gatherings strengthens our capacity to act—not alone, but together.
As we look ahead to 2026, we are reminded that hope is not passive optimism. It is disciplined, organised, and communal. It grows when people commit to formation, accompaniment, and action rooted in human dignity and care for our common home.
In the spirit of Cardijn and Laudato Si’, may we continue to see the reality clearly, judge it faithfully, and act together courageously—joining movements of hope for the Earth and for future generations.