Season of Creation
Welcome to the Season of Creation 2024
The Season of Creation is celebrated annually by Christian Churches around the world as a time of prayer and action for the safeguarding of our common home through responsible stewardship. The ecumenical season begins on 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation and ends on 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi.
To Hope and Act with Creation
This year’s theme is ‘To Hope and Act with Creation’.
In the letter of Paul the apostle to the Romans, the biblical image pictures the Earth as a Mother, groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8:22). Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. The times we live in show that we are not relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, but rather as a resource to be used. Source: Season of Creation
Read Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2024
Resources
You are invited to participate in the Seasons of Creation through prayer and reflection, sustainable living and advocacy.
Prayer and reflection
Pray with Jesuit and Ignation Spirituality Australia (JISA) Season of Creation Contemplations. A time for you to pause and immerse your senses in the sacredness and interconnectedness of all God’s creation. There are five weekly contemplations to connect with a conference of stones, winds, waters, trees, and birds.
Pray the Ecological Examen Reconciling God, Creation and Humanity – an Ignation Eco-Examen virtual experience.
Read A reflection on the Season of Creation by Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ as he invites us to address the urgent threat of global warming as a society.
Sustainable living
Calculate your carbon footprint using an online calculator.
Engage locally with the City of Boroondara’s Sustainable living workshops and events. Learn more about Living for our Future program and upcoming workshops and webinar recordings. Sign up to receive workshop and event updates.
Taking action
Download the 2024 Ecological Justice Calendar by Catholic EarthCare Australia. This Ecological Justice Calendar highlights key environmental justice days/weeks throughout 2024 with links to supporting resources.
Get involved with ClimateWatch, an active community of citizen scientists making a real difference to the future of our planet. Download the ClimateWatch App to be involved in collecting and recording data to understand how changes in temperature and rainfall are affecting the seasonal behaviour of Australia’s plants and animals.
What is Climate Change?
Learn more about Climate change with the United Nations Climate Action. Read more…
Laudato Si'
In 2023, Pope Francis released Laudate Deum, a follow-up environmental document to the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’.
Read Laudato Si’
Read Laudate Deum
A summary of Laudato Si’ has been compiled by the Laudato Si’ Movement. Read more…
Further reading
Find out about the The Laudato Si’ Movement that was inspired by the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’.