The Faculty of Theology, in collaboration with the Carmelite Institute Malta, is holding Ecology Week between 13 and 17 December 2019. The guest scholar for this event is Rev. Dr Eduardo Agosta Scarel, an Argentinian Carmelite who holds a doctorate in Climate Science and lectures at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires. 

On Saturday 14 December 2019, Dr Agosta Scarel will lead a day-seminar at the Carmelite Institute, Mdina, entitled ‘One with Nature, One with God: A Christian Ecological Spirituality‘. He will offer elements for a spirituality of ecology based on categories of interpretation of the reality of the current ecological, socio-environmental crisis described in the encyclical Laudato Si’ of Pope Francis. This reflection will be complemented with an update of the theology of biblical creation in dialogue with the sciences and the proposal of a mystical-contemplative pathway, in a Carmelite key, as an ecological alternative of personal healing and sanitation of creation. The seminar will be held between 09:30 and 16:00. 

On Tuesday 17 December 2019, Dr Agosta Scarel will deliver a public lecture entitled ‘Climate Change: A Theological Perspective‘ at the Faculty of Theology Boardroom (THL317) between 15:30 and 16:30. He intends to diagnose the current state of the earth’s climate in the context of anthropogenic climate change and discuss expectations for the future climate according to the climate projections obtained by well-recognized Global Climate Models, with particular emphasis on major projections of the future climate for Malta (Mediterranean area). He will also offer a succinct re-reading of fundamental texts of Scripture searching for ecological clues that are offering us a theological understanding of the current global ecological crisis, and a hopeful believing look for the future.

Since actions speak louder than words, a tree-planting initiative is being organised by the Maltese Association for the Study of Spirituality and Spiritual Companionship, a newly founded group of Spirituality and Spiritual Companionship alumni, in collaboration with Għaqda Siġar Maltin. The event will take place on Friday 13 December 2019 at Mġarr ix-Xini valley, Gozo, at 11:00.

For further information, contact the organisers at [email protected] or [email protected]