This year, the Labor Day holiday falls on Monday, September 1. For Christians throughout the world, this day is also the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the first day of the Season of Creation, which lasts until October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. As a Franciscan parish, our celebration of St. Francis this year is extended into the Sunday celebrations on October 6 and so the Season of Creation lasts a little longer!
St. Francis showed a reverence towards creation in his writings and in his life. For this reason, he is known as the Patron of Ecology. More recently, the late Pope Francis recognized that the Season of Creation was already being celebrated in other Christian denominations and brought the Catholic Church into line with this ecumenical movement. Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ seminal document on the Care of Creation, is enjoying its 10th anniversary this year and stands as a significant contribution to the movement. If you have not read this it would be a good exercise to do so during the season. You can view the encyclical here.
Pope Leo XIV became Pope in May of this year, but Pope Francis had already chosen this year’s theme. He hoped that the Season would provide “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.” Perhaps it would be timely to consider, as individuals and as parish, what is our impact, both positive and negative, on our environment, our common home. The USCCB has published a summary for this year’s focus, which is available to view here.
– Phil Jakob, Director of Music
More from the USCCB on the Season of Creation
The Franciscan Center is also inviting our parishioners to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Creation at an ecumenical prayer service on Wednesday, September 3, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. Br. Louis Canter, OEF, will be leading prayer. Br. Louis is a member of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans and has been in pastoral ministry for more than 50 years. The theme for the service is Peace with Creation. This service is part of the overall Season of Creation, recognizing the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si. The prayer service will include song, sacred text, prayers, thanksgivings and more. Click here to register for the prayer service.
