Season of Creation 2021: A Call to Ecological Conversion

Wednesday 1st September 2021

Christians around the world are coming together in faith and action this September as the Season of Creation returns with an urgent call to respond to the environmental crisis.

Running from 1 September to the Feast of Saint Francis on 4 October, the ecumenical festival of Season of Creation seeks to renew our relationship with the Earth and its Creator by recognising the sanctity of creation and the dignity of human life.

Season of Creation in Salford

Here in the Diocese of Salford, we will be celebrating the Season of Creation by joining our brothers and sisters around the world for a period of prayer, reflection, and practical action.

With the help of our environmental team at the Laudato Si’ Centre – our trailblazing project to inspire local action on climate change – we will be exploring four main themes over the coming weeks:

• Nature
• Spirituality, renewal, and wellbeing
• Sustainable living
• Social justice.

Using these four themes as a framework, we will be exploring some inspirational stories of environmental action from our parishes and schools around the diocese, sharing updates from charities such as Caritas and CAFOD, and providing key resources and advice on how you can make effective changes at home and in your communities.

Guided throughout our journey by opportunities for prayer and reflection from Bishop John, we hope you will join us as we seek new ways to praise God for the miracle of creation and to care for our common home.

 

This year’s season of creation comes at a critical point in the planet’s battle against climate change as world leaders – including Pope Francis – prepare to gather in the UK this November for the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26).

Calling Catholics around the world to environmental stewardship has been a constant theme of Pope Francis’ papacy, with his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ providing a pivotal framework for a future of ecological sustainability and social justice.

Now, with the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change declaring a “code red” alert for humanity ahead November’s conference, this year’s Season of Creation presents an urgent call for Christians all over the world to come together in prayer and action to address the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”.

The time for action is now and this period of prayer, reflection, and practical action allows the voice of the church to come together, unite, and look at way our parishes and communities can create a different legacy for the next generation.

To keep up-to-date with Season of Creation news from the Laudato Si’ Centre, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tagged | Around the Diocese | Caritas Salford | Catholic Church | Charity | Education | Environment | faith in action | Guardians of Creation | Laudato Si Centre | Parishes | Schools