Season of Creation 2023

Background Information: The Season of Creation is an ecumenical celebration of the Church, celebrated each year from September 1st through October 4th. This celebration is a time for all humanity to renew their relationships with the Creator. In addition, we are called to celebrate our commitment to care for all creation and our common home.

The 2023 theme chosen for the Season of Creation is, “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” The ecumenical celebration is held each year from September 1st through October 4th. The Season of Creation always begins with the World Day of Prayer, and ends on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The theme for 2023 is drawn from the cry of the prophet Amos: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)

The Season of Creation is a call to come together in annual ecumenical celebration of prayer and action for our common home. During this celebration, Pope Francis’s message calls on all of us to, “…contribute to the mighty river of justice and peace in this Season of Creation.” He asks us to do this by “resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies ruling our societies.” In this call-to-action Pope Francis asks each one of us to advocate for public policies that support and protect the most vulnerable impacts of climate change on society. In this message, the Pope refers to the impacts of climate change as, “environmental degradation.” Without strong advocacy of society, environmental degradation will affect our assets to include, air, water, soil, and wildlife in our environments. The Season of Creation is a reminder to all people to pray, reflect, and act as people of God for our common home.

In Laudato Si,’ Pope Francis calls us to develop, “a loving awareness” of the common home we share and to act on the values we hold dear (Laudato Si, 220). Pope Francis’ message is clearly stated that the vision of the Laudato Si’ Platform’s goal is to empower communities, institutions, and groups to become the change they want to see in the world. In this seven-year action plan, the Pope outlined a collaboration between the Vatican and a coalition of Catholic organizations across the world, including the United States to take action and work to develop efforts of environmental sustainability and address the environmental crisis in caring for the earth and the poor. The Pope’s message in addressing the toll the environmental crisis is taking on the earth and the poor states, “I encourage those with political and economic responsibilities to act now with courage and foresight.” The Season of Creation is a reminder for all people to pray, reflect, and act as people of God for our common home.

The Season of Creation is a reminder to all people to pray, reflect, and act on the Laudato Si’ action platform and to carry forth Pope Francis’ message of People of God to care for our common home.

Resources:
Message from Holy Father Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Prayer and Creation, 2023
#SeasonofCreation 2023 theme launch
A Prayer for Our Earth, from Laudato Si’