The Season of Creation, an ecumenical initiative, began on September 1, 2023, the World Day of Care for Creation, and ends on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
The theme this year is “Let Justice and Peace flow like a mighty river.” Read Pope Francis’ message for this Season of Creation Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation [1st September 2023] (13 May 2023) | Francis (vatican.va) in which he calls attention to heartbeats: “our own and those of our mothers and grandmothers, the heartbeat of creation and the heartbeat of God. Today they do not beat in harmony; they are not harmonized in justice and peace.” And he calls on us “to stand with the victims of environmental and climate injustice, …to put an end to the senseless war against creation” and to “join hands and take bold steps to ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’ throughout our world.”
With each temperature record broken around the globe, with each destructive fire and torrential downpour and flooding, and each field of crops dried up, and another town burned to the ground, the voices for caring for creation have grown stronger. God’s Creation is crying out for our care.
So we come together for the Season of Creation to lift up that care, and show that our hope comes from caring for our common home together, as a community of faith.
We start the Season with an Ecumenical Prayer Service organized by the Season of Creation team on the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation: Friday, September 1, 9AM EDT with the following individuals:
Vanessa
Nakate
Ugandan Climate Justice Activist, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
Cacique
Dadá Borari
leader in the Maró Indigenous Territory, Brazil, protagonist in The Letter
Rev. Dr. Marie
Ropeti-Apisaloma
Samoan-born theologian, minister, and author, PhD in Theological Studies from the Pacific Theological College
If you’ve seen the film “The Letter”, you will recognize Cacique Dadá. Check the website Season of Creation for the link to the prayer service and resources to create your own event during this Season.
Season of Creation Mass
Metro NY Catholic Climate Movement, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of New York and the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, will celebrate a special Season of Creation Mass for Care of Our Common Home on Saturday, September 9, at 5:30 PM at St. Ignatius Church, Park Ave.@ 84th Street. Fr. Brian E. McWeeney, Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the Archdiocese of New York will preside. You are all invited!
A reception will follow. All are welcome to hold up and celebrate our caring for creation as people of faith. An RSVP is appreciated for the reception: [email protected] so we have some idea of how many are coming. See attached flyer. Pass it on to others who are concerned about care of creation.
Season of Creation Living Laudato Si’ Series
The Holy Name of Jesus – St. Gregory the Great Parish Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee invites you to join us in celebration of the Season of Creation with a series focused on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. Each session includes prayer, Scripture reading, a brief presentation of a chapter of Laudato Si’ followed by a group discussion and an Action opportunity.
There will be a light meal offered each session. Admission is free.
DATES: TUESDAY EVENINGS SEPTEMBER 12 THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2023 TIME: 6:30PM – 8:00PM LOCATION: FRANCISCAN COMMUNITY CENTER (FCC) * 214 West 97th St. (between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave) RSVP TO PARISH OFFICE: 212-749-0376 EXT. 112
Please leave a message for Jackie with your Name and Phone number stating whether you will attend the “Season of Creation” program Series or only on a specific date(s). This enables us to plan for the light meal and session materials.
Keep an eye out for Luke Henkel, a Laudato Si’ Movement staff person who decided he didn’t want to fly to NYC for the Climate March and instead is Pedaling for the Planet – riding his bike from Chicago to NYC in a two-week trip.
Follow him on Instagram: You don’t have to have an account. Click on the photos to read the text.
Faith and Food
The Sisters of Charity of New York and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth invite you to the first talk in a four-part series: Faith and Food with James Ennis of Catholic Rural Life on September 11, 2023, 6:00-7:30 PM EDT.
Ennis will explore how faith should inform the ways we see food and land. He will invite us to examine our role as consumers in working toward food justice and share concrete action steps that we can take.
There is no need to register. Just click on the ZOOM link a few minutes before the event.
Meeting ID: 874 6289 9010
Passcode: 0mYybu
Join the March to End Fossil Fuels
On September 17th, the march will line up at 1 PM from Columbus Circle going south on Broadway to 52nd St, then head east on 52nd to 1st Ave, and close with a rally at 1st Ave and 49th Street around 4:30 PM. This is a permitted march. Let’s join with people of faith to give witness to our commitment to a sustainable environment for all and a thriving future for our children and the generations to come. Email Metro NY Catholic Climate Movement at [email protected] for updates.
National Migration Week Interfaith Prayer Service
In honor of National Migration Week (September 18 – 24), the Archdiocese of New York is hosting an online Interfaith Prayer Service on Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. Representatives of five different faiths will offer prayers and migrants will share their personal stories.
Opportunity to Volunteer
Join the Archdiocese of New York in preserving the Lord’s creation. Learn more about volunteering on our Green Team during a “Working Together” Zoom workshop on Tuesday, September 26 at 12:30 PM. Link below!
Practicing Sacred Reciprocity: Insights from Thomas Merton and Robin Wall Kimmerer
Imagine and embody a more just, sustainable, and fully flourishing future for our environment and our common home.
Saturday, September 30
2 – 4 PM
Corpus Christi Church
All are welcome, admission is free.
World Day of the Poor
On Friday, November 17, 2023, there will be an event to mark the World Day of the Poor at the Church Center for the United Nations. To attend this event in person, please RSVP by November 3, 2023, to [email protected] and include any dietary restrictions,
Sponsored by Fordham University’s Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development (Fordham IPED), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Internationalis.
Art for Laudato Si‘
All are invited to an art exhibition inspired by Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment. This show is co-sponsored by the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development and Laudato Si Action Platform.
Archbishop Hughes Center
32 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
The opening of the gallery will take place on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 7 PM – 9 PM, after which the show will run until Sunday, December 3. The gallery is open from 12 PM – 7 PM.
Events Prior to the 2023 Season of Creation
Vigil for Peace: Remembering the Atomic Bombing of the City of Hiroshima and the City of Nagasaki
August 5th-8th, 2023
Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary
325 E 33rd St,
New York, NY 10016
The Community of Sant’Egidio hosted a Vigil for Peace: Remembering the Atomic Bombing of the City of Hiroshima and the City of Nagasaki at The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. Participant prayed for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons on the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary was open to all, including friends, groups, communities and families with children, for individual prayer and shared services. Review the service here.
Building Science Principals Training
Join this class on building science principals, Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 11, 2023 through August 17, 2023, 6 PM – 8 PM. This training will cover:
- Energy Efficiency & Air Movement
- Mechanical Systems & Lighting
- Building Anatomy & Data Collection
- Insulation, Ventilation and Construction