Laudato Si’ Working Group of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and Trócaire, the overseas development charity of the Catholic Church in Ireland, have published the 2024 Season of Creation resources on the theme: To Hope and Act with Creation. The Season of Creation runs from 1 September to 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is the patron saint of the environment and ecology.
There is now a full page of resources available on the Bishops’ Conference website catholicbishops.ie. These resources are specifically developed to support parish Care for Creation groups, Liturgy Groups, Parish Pastoral Councils and youth groups. The resources include:
- a guide for the five Sundays of the Season of Creation with suggested homily notes, content for prayer of the faithful, ideas for music and activities to bring this year’s theme to life in every parish;
- a colourful leaflet with helpful tips on biodiversity, a ‘rubbish graveyard’ display, a Creation Walk, a service for the Blessing of Pets on 4 October.
The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Church, particularly since Pope Francis established 1 September in 2015 as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season is marked throughout the Christian world to celebrate the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.
Launching this year’s resources Jane Mellett, Church Manager for Trócaire said, “we hope that this content and material will help parishes communities to celebrate the Season of Creation 2024. The resources have benefited from valuable feedback from the Laudato Si’ Working Group, and from Trócaire, and can be accessed here”
Ms Mellett concluded, “May this Season of Creation inspire us all to live ‘our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork’ (Laudato Si’, 217).”
In their joint statement for the Season of Creation 2024, Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury said, “future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home. We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert for our children.”
ENDS
