杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Once again, Assisi is the place where prayers will be offered on Saturday, September 1, on the fourth World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation initiated by 杏MAP导航 Francis. In the General Audience on Wednesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis mentioned the event which, he said, 鈥渨e celebrate in union with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, and with the participation of other Churches and Christian communities鈥�. For the first time, this prayer event is ecumenical in nature, and kicks off the Season of Creation which lasts until 4 October.

World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios proclaimed September 1 as Creation Day for the Orthodox in 1989, followed by other Christian European Churches in 2001, and by 杏MAP导航 Francis in 2015. This year, for the first time, the for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in Assisi is ecumenical and coincides with the start of the Season of Creation. 鈥淚 am grateful,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said in the General Audience, 鈥渇or the various initiatives organized in different places by Churches, Institutes of consecrated life, and ecclesial organizations鈥�. The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 invitation is open to 鈥渆veryone to unite in prayer, on Saturday, for our common home, for the care of our common home鈥�.

Season of Creation

Christina Leaño Associate Director of the (GCCM) said in an interview with Vatican News that the GCCM is one of the groups facilitating the month-long Season of Creation. This Season begins in with the World Day of Prayer in Assisi and concludes on October 4^th. The GCCM鈥檚 website was launched a few years ago to bring together all the Season of Creation initiatives organized by member groups.

Vocation of creation care

Ms Leaño says that the 鈥渂eauty of the Season of Creation is that people have the freedom to express this part of our faith to love and take care of creation鈥�. She spoke of an event called 鈥淩ise for Climate Action鈥� on September 8 in which many environmental groups will participate. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way to publically witness to this vocation of creation care鈥�. The GCCM also encourages people to join in coastal clean-up efforts on the third Saturday of each month. Individuals around the world are joining through ecumenical prayer services, cosmic walks, and planting gardens.

Pilgrimage from Rome to Katowice

October 4 begins the GCCM organized where the 24^th UN Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place beginning on December 3. Pilgrims will speak with people along the way about the specific challenges they are facing due to climate change. They will be presenting the stories collected along the way to UN climate negotiators.

The Global Catholic Climate Movement

The GCCM was founded in 2015 in anticipation of the release of Laudato Si鈥� and is a network including over 650 Catholic institutions. Ms Leaño says that members 鈥渇eel called to bring Laudato Si鈥� to life and in particular to address climate issues".