The Season of Creation, an annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action to protect creation is underway this month with the theme ‘the web of life’.
The season begins on September 1, the Day of Prayer for Creation, established by Pope Francis in 2015 and runs through to October 4, the Feast of St Francis, who is the patron saint of ecology in many traditions. It is celebrated by Christians of all traditions, and the leaders of faith traditions have encouraged the faithful to participate.
Image: mercyworld.org.au
The Season of Creation is celebrated annually by tens of thousands of Christians around the world. Local, volunteer event hosts on six continents organise celebrations in their communities. These range from prayer services to litter clean-ups to advocacy actions.
A letter signed by various leaders of Christian communities, including Msgr. Bruno-Marie Duffé, Secretary, Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, urges local faith communities to get involved in celebrating the Season.
“During the Season of Creation, we unite as one family in Christ, celebrating the bonds we share with each other and with “every living creature on earth.” (Genesis 9:10) The Christian family celebrates the season by spending time in prayer, considering ways to more sustainably inhabit our common home, and lifting our voices in the public sphere,” the letter says.
“This Season of Creation, we offer our reflections on the web of life itself, in the hope that they might provoke richer contemplation and deeper responses among us, brothers and sisters. We do it in ecumenical spirit and in acknowledging that Creation is given as a gift to all of us and that we are called to shared responsibility for its protection.”
Among the religious congregations and communities involved in celebrating the Season of Creation, The Mercy International Association is leading the way, by preparing and sharing a range of resources, which are available here.