World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Written on: August 31, 2016

We are pleased to share this wonderful video from the US Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) which explains Catholic Social Teaching: Care for God’s Creation.

Please join us in prayer for renewed respect for the Gift of the Creation and its many diverse and beautiful parts-

Thursday, September 1, 2016

World Day of Prayer for Creation

According to Pope Francis, “The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation….”

Prayer Service– this resource was developed by the Education for Justice, Center of Concern and came to us through UNANIMA-International.org

Season of Creation– the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns has suggested continuing the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation forward to the Feast of St. Francis, October 4, creating a Season of Creation! We couldn’t agree more. Click here for a short video from Pope Francis

From Eco-Spirituality Resources– Sr. Terri, SHCJ shares our commitment to caring for creation. We are happy to share her wonderful resources for understanding the need for a World Day of Prayer for Creation and also ways to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation.

from: Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

A Prayer for Our Earth from Laudato Si’    

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.

We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace. Amen

“Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve  to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.”

(Earth Charter, quoted in Laudato Si’  par. 207)

Possibilities of action for living simply and sustainably are endless, but the ones below make a major impact. These actions interconnect with others, especially care of water:

Contemplate creation’s beauty, mystery, and interconnections, and rejoice in the divine presence living and acting in our world.  (Embrace a Contemplative Stance and Foster Cosmic Consciousness – Chapter 2013)

1. Vote for candidates proven to care for all creation, to resolve conflicts nonviolently, to assist the poor, and to increase love on our planet.

2. Lobby legislators on issues of importance for people and planet, e.g.:

• invest in renewable energy; stop subsidies to fossil fuels
• increase negotiating skills; stop expansion of weapons systems reduce inequality 
• foster organic agriculture; stop monocrops and toxic chemicals

3.Reduce extraction and use of fossil fuels:

• transition to renewable energy at home and work 
• reduce use of plastic, especially plastic water bottles and plastic bags
• reduce gasoline use by reducing car trips and staying below 55-60 on highways

4.Eat responsibly for the planet

• reduce factory-farmed meat consumption 
• Eat lower on the food chain e.g. some meatless meals
• increase fair trade, organic, and local produce and products (Cultivate relational integrity in all our interactions. Chapter 2013)

5.Protect trees

• reduce paper use 
• use 100% sustainable paper
• plant trees and/or support groups that do

6.Reduce use of electricity

• turn lights and fans off when not in use
• reduce use of a/c, dryer, iron

7. Reduce consumerism

• make do with what you have whenever possible
• share when possible
• buy recycled goods

8. Study and Prayer

• Read/reread Laudato Si
• Offer faithful witness as women in the Church

9. Reread and pray with the Earth Charter 

This entry was posted in Laudato Si' (LSAP) and tagged: BeeStill Studios, Brother Mickey McGrath OSF, Care for Creation, CRS, Eco-Spirituality Resources, Fr. James Martin SSJ, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Pope Francis, Season of Creation, SHCJ, Sr. Terri, UNANIMA-International, USCCB, World Day of Prayer