2025 Season of Creation Events

The First  Mass for the Care of Creation

On July 9, 2025 Pope Leo XIV celebrated the first Mass using the new “Care of Creation” formulary at the Laudato Si’ Village in Castel Gandolfo. This Mass, now part of the Roman Missal, invites Catholics to integrate the beauty and urgency of environmental stewardship into their worship life. Surrounded by nature, the Pope called for a conversion of hearts—both inside and outside the Church—to embrace our shared mission of protecting God’s creation.

What can you do?

Faith and caring for our planet go hand in hand. Here are practical ways you and your parish can live out this connection:

At Mass and Worship

• Join special Creation Masses: Participate in services that celebrate our connection to God’s creation using new prayers and readings
• Experience creation-focused worship: Enjoy music, art, and homilies that help you see God in nature and understand your role as a caretaker of the earth

Hands-On Activities

• Prayer walks: Take meditative walks outdoors, combining prayer with appreciation for the natural world around you
• Community clean-up days: Roll up your sleeves for neighborhood cleanups, park restoration, or waterway protection projects
• Start a community garden: Help grow food for local food banks while learning about sustainable living

Spiritual Growth

• Slow down and notice: Take time to really see the beauty around you – from sunrise to the changing seasons – as a way to connect with God
• Learn from different generations: Join events where older and younger parishioners share wisdom about faith and environmental stewardship

Why This Matters

Pope Leo reminded us that when we truly look at creation with wonder and respect, we grow closer to God, to each other, and to the earth itself. This isn’t just about being “green” – it’s about living out your faith in a way that honors the world God entrusted to us.

Getting Started Ask your parish what creation-focused activities they’re planning, or suggest starting one yourself. Many parishes are looking for people who want to connect their faith with practical care for the environment.

The Church of St. Francis Xavier’s Environment Ministry, NYC created a free downloadable calendar to use with your family during Lent to encourage a greater connection to care for God’s creation.

Film Screening: We’re All Plastic People Now

St. Ignatius Loyola Laudato Si’ Ministry presented the documentary We’re All Plastic People Now, an Emmy Award-winning documentary introduced by Ted Danson and featured at the 2024 Santa Fe Film Festival.