The Season of Creation 2022

Note: In preparation for celebrating the Season of Creation (Sept. 1, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation through Oct. 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi), the Climate Change Task Force will provide 10 blogs, with this being the first. Sister Marilyn Kofler, SP, and Marilyn Antonik, both members of the task force, are the primary writers of these blogs, with help from SeasonofCreation.org. We hope you enjoy the series!

“Praise be to you my Lord, with all your creatures,” prayed St. Francis of Assisi. With this simple but profound prayer, he has encouraged believers of many generations to recognize creation as the fruit of God’s eternal Love.

Season of Creation is a time of grace that the Church, in ecumenical dialogue, offers to humanity to renew its relationship with the Creator and with creation, through celebration, conversion and commitment together.

Call to our Providence Community

During the Season of Creation 2022, our Providence Community is invited to participate as together we educate, reflect, advocate, act and celebrate.

On each Sunday and Wednesday during the Season of Creation, the Climate Change Task Force will provide opportunities to learn, pray, promote and act as we continue to care for all of creation.

We invite each Sister of Providence and Providence Associate and others to respond as together we move forward in our Laudato Si’ Action Platform commitment to climate justice.

Season of Creation History

In 1989, Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitros I proclaimed Sept. 1 as the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation. Subsequently, the World Council of Churches (WCC) extended the celebration until Oct. 4, the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In turn, in 2015, Pope Francis made the Season of Creation official for the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis expressed in 2015:

“The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer 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. The celebration of this Day, on the same date as the Orthodox Church, will be a valuable opportunity to bear witness to our growing communion with our Orthodox brothers and sisters.”

In recent years, the Pope and the Vatican have shown more prophetic leadership in strongly encouraging all Catholics to participate in this ecumenical season.

Why is it Important?

The Church, following the teachings of Jesus, has exhorted believers to work for the common good, which requires dignifying life in all its forms, caring for our common home, committing to the construction of more just, supportive, amicable and peaceful societies, among other fundamental aspects, to achieve what Pope Francis calls integral ecology in Laudato Si’.

“Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26).

The Season of Creation is a celebration that allows all people to recognize ourselves as “the work of God’s creative act,” to contemplate nature and all that dwells in it, and to care for our Common Home.