The Season of Creation is here!
We are thrilled to see a number of Christian communities around the globe who are responding to Pope Francis’ call to pray on September 1 and throughout the Season of Creation. (By the way have you seen the amazing video with the Pope’s invitation produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network?) See below:
From a reflection on ecological conversion by Bishop Broderick Pabillo in Manila, Philippines, to an overnight silent prayer vigil in Chihuahua, Mexico, to a large ecumenical service in Durban, South Africa, communities will be gathering to pray, sing, and take action for our earth community. We also love the advocacy sessions on fair trade, energy efficiency, and healthy eating that will take place after prayer in Buffalo, New York, United States.
Now it’s time to add your parish or community to this list! It just takes one conversation, one phone call, or one email to get the ball rolling.
We have developed this helpful list of Steps to Organize a Prayer Service to help you along the way. The Season of Creation website also contains many liturgical resources for you to utilize in your prayer service for creation, including bulletin announcements and sample prayers of the faithful.
This weekend, will you reach out to your pastor to ask about organizing a prayer service to join Pope Francis in prayer?
The service can be on September 1st, but if that is too soon it can be anytime during the Season of Creation through to October 4. If you can, invite members of different Christian denominations in line with Pope Francis’ desire that this day “involve other Churches and ecclesial Communities.”
Check out the Steps to Organize your Prayer Service right now, then plan your initial step.
Steps to Organize your Prayer Service for Season of Creation
And if working with a parish or school isn’t possible, start simple by gathering a group of friends or family members to say a rosary in your home. Be creative!
In the Pope’s letter instituting the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, he reminded us that “The ecological crisis thus summons us to a profound spiritual conversion: Christians are called to “an ecological conversion whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them” (Laudato Si., 217)
May our prayer services truly be seeds for an ecological conversion for ourselves and for our world.
We look forward to seeing your prayer service on the Season of Creation map.
God Bless,
Christina on behalf of the GCCM team
P.S. Our friends at the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network will be offering special prayers and resources for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation through their Click to Pray App. Download it today to receive and share your prayers for creation on September 1.