World Day marks the start of the Season of Creation from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, an ecumenical initiative celebrated around the world.
Read Pope Francis’ message for the 2020 World Day (Vatican)
In 2015, Pope Francis declared Sept. 1 the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, joining with the Orthodox Church in praying for our common home. In his letter establishing the day as an annual celebration, the Holy Father wrote that its purpose was to “offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”
Global Catholic Climate Movement offers many helpful resources at its website for celebrating the day, including prayers, small group resources, videos, and more.
Catholics and other people of good will have the opportunity to celebrate the World Day as well as a “Season of Creation” beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of ecology and animals). The theme this year is Jubilee for the Earth.
Read more:
Pope: Peace with Creator, harmony with creation (Vatican News)
Season of Creation: Jubilee for the Earth (Vatican News)
In our Diocese:
September Series on Understanding Laudato Si’
Join this online study group to learn approaches to increase understanding of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. There will be two opportunities to participate:
Group 1: Meets via Zoom on Mondays starting Sept. 28 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. for seven weeks.
Group 2: Meets via Zoom on Thursdays starting Oct. 1 from 3 – 4:30 p.m. for seven weeks.
Barbara Scott, OFS will facilitate the Monday group and Jim Rose will facilitate the Thursday group. If your schedule varies, you may attend either meeting by registering for both groups. If you do not have a computer, you may also dial in on your phone. Cost is free. Deadline to register is Sept. 27. Watch a preview video on the series here.
To register, click here.
Laudato Si’ turns five this year!
Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home is the first encyclical to focus on the environment as an integral ecology among all of God’s creation, including the human impact on life and the poor. Its foundation rests in a long history of Church teaching on creation. This encyclical was written with both hope and resolve, looking with candor and humility to humanity’s common future.
The title is taken from the first line of the encyclical, “Laudato si’, mi Signore,” or “Praise be to you, my Lord.” In the words of the beautiful “Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon” of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.
Additional resources
Visit the: Catholic Climate Movement website
Read Laudato Si’ (Vatican website, multiple languages)
To commemorate the encyclical’s fifth anniversary, Pope Francis invited Catholics to participate in Laudato Si’ Week, a nine-day global event May 16-24: Watch video
From Michigan Catholic Conference:
Publication: Care for Our Common Home: Reflecting on Laudato Si’
Care for our Common Home
From the USCCB:
Sign up to receive daily reflections with ways to pray, learn, and act to care for God’s creation.
Ways to observe the fifth anniversary
Prayer to Care for Our Common Home (based on Laudato Si’) | Español
Laudato Si’: Caring for Our Common Home Discussion Guide | Español
