Time to listen to the voice of Creation

The SEASON OF CREATION or CREATION TIME is the time of year when the world's 2.2 billion Christians are invited to pray and care for creation. This liturgical season runs annually from September 1 to October 4, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. The theme for 2022 is: "Listen to the voice of creation."

Events to mark it have been organised in parishes and schools throughout the UK and internationally. There is a particular imperative this year with the UK's heatwave in July, drought and food shortages in East Africa, and China experiencing its highest ever temperatures. This week, exceptionally heavy monsoon rains have devastated Pakistan and officials blame the severe weather that is here with climate change. Sindh Province received almost eight times the average amount of rainfall in August, according to government data, wiping out crops such as rice and cotton. More than 1,000 people have been killed.

Leadership on the Season of Creation is being given by Pope Francis and Catholic bishops. The Catholic Church supports the international United Nations initiatives that bring Conferences of Parties (COP) nations together. "During this Season of Creation", suggests Pope Francis, "let us pray that COP27 and COP15 can serve to unite the human family in effectively confronting the double crisis of climate change and the reduction of biodiversity." He was referring to Climate talks in November (Egypt) and the international Conference on Biodiversity in December (Canada).

On 20 August, the Catholic Bishops of Europe promoted the Season of Creation, highlighting the "cry of the Earth" from the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si'. They lamented the devastating fires seen throughout Europe this summer, linked to global warming, and reflected that "the hand of man is the main cause of this current situation". They called for "a time of serious conversion of attitudes and habits." On 25 August in the US, Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, Bishop Emeritus of San Angelo, said, "caring for creation is another fundamental and pro-life issue as all human beings depend on creation for life." He called the Season of Creation, "a celebration that helps us to recognise and to contemplate the beauty and goodness of nature and all that dwells in it and to care for our common home." He urged action on prayer, promoting sustainability, and engaging in advocacy.

'A Catholic Season of Creation' resource for the Sundays of Year C - September/October 2022 - has been produced by Columban Charles Rue in Australia. He says: "Inserting a 'Season of Creation' into the Catholic Liturgical Year during September is a structural way to help implement the Pope's vision in Laudato Si'. As a pastoral initiative, it challenges and stimulates believers to face the 21st century ecological crisis." Resources for Sunday Masses have also been produced by Laudato Si' Animators and Eco Groups in Scotland. They offer a Penitential Rite and Prayers of the Faithful for each Sunday, based on the Message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

A Season of Creation 2022 series of webinars throughout September from the Scottish Laity Network will address such issues as 'Our Common Home - Privilege and Responsibility' and 'Fossil Fuel Divestment and Investment in Clean Energy.'

CAFOD's LiveSimply programme where parishes and schools undertake to live more simply, more sustainably and in solidarity with poor communities is being launched by churches and schools during the Season of Creation. To date, more than 100 Livesimply Awards have been earned across England and Wales. While Catholic parishes are often very committed to social justice, care for the environment had not been a focus of the average parish. The Livesimply award can help change that. The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation group at Ss Alban and Stephen parish in St Albans is one of those embarking on the process this Autumn. And in Westminster Diocese there will be a Mass for the Season of Creation at Farm Street Jesuit Church next Saturday at 4pm.

There are plenty of opportunities for campaigning on environmental issues. The next United Nations Conference on Climate Change will take place in Egypt 6-18 November. It aims to build on previous goals from the Paris and Glasgow climate talks and pave the way for future ambition to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change. Walk2COP27 starts on 22 September. The 45-day virtual journey features 12 locally hosted town hall-hybrid meetings between Glasgow (COP26) and Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh (COP27), showcasing how climate change is impacting each location and the solutions that are being deployed. The 12 locations are: Scotland, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt. Campaigners can join these gatherings online, or in person. In the final week of the journey, the voices of all participants will be recorded and synthesised into a proclamation for the COP27 attendees.

The Season of Creation was established by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I in 1989 when he proclaimed 1 September as the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation. Later, the World Council of Churches extended the celebration to 4 October, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment. In 2015, Pope Francis made the Season of Creation an official celebration for the Catholic Church.

LINKS

A Catholic Season of Creation liturgical resource for the Sundays of Year C - September/October 2022:

https://columbans.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Eucharist-and-Laudato-Si-Year-C-Revised.pdf

Laudato Si Animators Resource: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10x9M4XjNY-gswnuZy3LqML9RJ1sxHO4B/view

A Season of Creation 2022 series of webinars throughout September from the Scottish Laity Network. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1toJ_44vUMVkMJWgfTTlR_mjEFJBtQ3JF/view

Laudato Si Movement offers a new training course: www.cbcew.org.uk/laudato-si-movement-launches-new-leadership-training-course/

Virtual Walk to COP27: www.walk2cop27.com/