“Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home. We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert for our children.” Joint statement from Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury.
Peace with Creation
This year’s Season of Creation has as its theme “Peace with Creation”, inspired by the passage from Isaiah 32:14-18; “My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” In a world of challenges and division, marked by war and climate change, how can we as people of faith create and work towards peace with creation?
The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since the late Pope Francis established 1 September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.
We hope that the following resources will help you and your parish community to celebrate the Season of Creation 2025. These resources are compiled by the Laudato Si’ Working Group of the Irish Bishop’s Conference and Trócaire. You can find further resources on the international Season of Creation website: www.seasonofcreation.org
Resources:
- Sunday Liturgy Notes for Season of Creation 2025: This resource includes homily notes for each Sunday of the season, prayers of the faithful, music suggestions, reflections and Mass parts which highlight the call for “Peace with Creation”.
- Mass and prayer for the Care of Creation: This resource is for celebration of the new Mass for Care for Creation on weekdays, ad experimentum
- Season of creation prayer 2025 (from seasonofcreation.org )
- Ribbons of Peace – a short 10 minute liturgical moment that could be done within parish activities, at the end of the Sunday Mass or even at the start of parish meetings that occur during the Season of Creation.
- Nurturing your family faith in nature: This resource from Trócaire is ideal for a children’s group, youth group or any family or community setting where people can explore their relationship with God’s Creation through reflection and activities.
- Rubbish graveyard – a resource which helps to show people just how long it takes for items to biodegrade. You might create a space in your parish to display it. This is a helpful activity for children’s liturgy or youth group. With thanks to An Tairseach Ecology Centre.
- A blessing for animals: On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October ) parishes might like to invite people to bring their pets for a special blessing. This resource will help support this activity. “Praise be to you my Lord, with all your creatures.” (Canticle of Creation).
- An ecological rosary: Slides to accompany an Ecological Rosary from the Laudato Si’ Movement.
- Creation walk moments: adapted from the booklet by Father Brian Grogan SJ, ‘Creation Walk: The amazing story of a small blue planet’. You may use this resource in your parish community by setting up ‘moments’ around the church, or around your parish, to convey the different stages of the story of our universe. This resource will provide people with an opportunity to experience the wonder and awe of God’s creation and to become familiar with the story of our universe. Did you know that there is now a beautiful Creation Walk at Knock Shrine? You might consider bringing your parish group to visit it. You can read about it here.
- Tree planting resource: engage your parish or diocese in tree planting initiatives this year. Thanks to ‘Easy Treesie’ we have all the tips you need and prayers for a tree planting service.
- Video reflections: These video reflections can be used as part of liturgies, parish meetings during the season or linked to your parish website and social media pages. With thanks to Vivek da Silva from the Laudato Si’ Working Group.
Other Useful Resources:
- A River Ritual: This is a resource for a ritual to be celebrated by a river or stream. This resource was created for a previous Season of Creation, however it can be adapted for use at any time. Did you know that every Irish diocese has a river or sea access point? It seems appropriate to offer a ritual prayer that we could celebrate near water. We hope that this opportunity to gather out of doors in “the cathedral of nature” will be a support and inspiration for all involved.
- Brother River Meditation: A three-minute reflection of nature sounds and visuals. This could be used at the start of a liturgy or a meeting to help people reflect
- Earth Day Prayer Service – Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April each year. This beautiful prayer service could be adapted for use at any time of the year, particularly during the Season of Creation. With thanks to the Care for Creation team in Balally Parish, Dublin.