2021 marks the 6th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment entitled Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home. This anniversary was celebrated throughout the world and in Rome in May 2021.
This year, as in previous years, the Season of Creation will be celebrated from 1st September to 4th October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of creation, to explore with parishioners the rich content of Laudato Si’ and decide on what actions should be taken locally to care for our common home.
The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since Pope Francis established 1 September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
The theme for the Season of Creation this year is “Restoring Our Common Home”.
Resources for the 2021 Season of Creation have been prepared by the Catholic Communications Office, the Bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace, the Laudato Si’ Working Group of the Council for Catechesis, Trócaire, and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. These will be updated on this website regularly and also at https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2021/07/21/season-of-creation-2021/
The resources may be adapted to suit the local needs of parishes and schools. The Season of Creation should, of course, be celebrated in a way that adheres to the Government Guidelines concerning the Covid-19 crisis in place during 1 September – 4 October 2021.
The resources include the following and may be downloaded by clicking on the relevant link below:
- Sunday Liturgy Notes for the Season of Creation 2021
- A weekday Prayer Service for the Season of Creation 2021
- An Earth Day Prayer Service
- Practical Actions for Parishes 2021
- Tree Planting Resource for the Season of Creation 2021
- Season of Creation Brochure Digital
- Season Of Creation Brochure for printing
- Acts of Love for the Season of Creation 2021
- Season of Creation Prayer 2021 which can be downloaded from www.catholicbishops.ie/2021/07/21/season-of-creation-2021/
Additional support is also available from:
- Trócaire through Jane Mellet, Laudato Si’ Officer, at mellett@trocaire.org
- Eco Congregation Ireland – https://www.ecocongregationireland.com
- The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) – https://catholicclimatemovement.global
After the Season of Creation there will be UN meeting on Climate Change in November of world leaders in Scotland (known as COP 26) and another UN Conference of world leaders on Biodiversity is scheduled to take place in China during Spring 2022.
In preparation for these UN meetings a petition known as the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition which has been endorsed by the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development and is now available at http://healthyplanetandpeople.org/ for dioceses, parishes, and individuals to sign.
It is envisaged that this petition with signatures will be presented by Pope Francis to the Presidents of these upcoming UN conferences.
Signing the petition is something that could be promoted at parish level by encouraging individuals and groups to do so.
The Diocesan Laudato Si’ Group met recently in the grounds of the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre and are preparing to initiate the use of the 2021 Season of Creation resources with tree-planting, promoting the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition, and developing links with existing care of the environment groups.
Some members of the Diocesan Laudato Si’ Group photographed following their recent meeting: Eileen Burke-Smyth, Sr. Margaret Gaffney, Bishop Martin Hayes, Patricia Keenan, Patsy Lee, Ann McCabe, Deirdre Meagher, Anne Minehane, Cora O’Connell, and Anna Ponikova.
PARISHES, SCHOOLS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE DIOCESE ARE REQUESTED TO MARK THE 2021 SEASON OF CREATION IN A MEANINGFUL AND TANGIBLE WAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 GUIDANCE IN OPERATION AT THE TIME.
You are also encouraged to send in photographs and a brief report on any events etc. organised in the diocese as part of the 2021 Season of Creation to admin@kilmorediocese.ie for publication on the diocesan website.
