CHARLOTTE — The Season of Creation begins Sept. 1 with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Since 2015, Pope Francis has asked Catholics each year to start the month of September by praying for our common home.
“The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvelous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking His help for the protection of creation and His mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live,” Pope Francis said in his inaugural announcement for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation in 2015.
During the Season of Creation, Catholics are called to focus efforts to protect the planet for ourselves and future generations.
The theme for the 2023 Season of Creation is “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” This theme is inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
Pope Francis notes, “God wants justice to reign; it is as essential to our life as God’s children made in His likeness as water is essential for our physical survival.”
The five-week-long Season of Creation encourages and assists the faithful to respond to Pope Francis’ call to care for the environment – as individuals, as family, as parishioners and as members of community.
What can you do?
Consider reading Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si” –whether for the first time or to explore more deeply the pope’s message.
The full text is posted at www.laudatosimovement.org, along with more resources and the pope’s statement for the 2023 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ webpage www.usccb.org/environment also focuses on environmental concerns – with resources such as prayers, educational videos, advocacy information, and Church quotes and statements about the environment. The webpage also includes links to the encyclical “Laudato Si’” as well as a “Laudato Si’” discussion guide.
— Joseph Purello is director of the Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy for Catholic Charities.