September is Season of Creation Month
During Advent, use an Advent Calendar (prepared by the Laudato Sí movement) to count down the days till Christmas – have everyone share one thing they are grateful for before opening each door or practice works of mercy on the journey towards Christmas. Visit our Advent Guide web page for more information about what you and your family can do at your home and your community.
Stewards of Our Common Home
Laudate Deum
Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortations – A follow up Document by the Pope after Laudato Sí.
Laudato Si’
The encyclical Laudato Si’ is considered part of the Catholic Social Teaching tradition. Although there are many previous statements by popes and bishops on the question of our place in creation, this is the first social encyclical in the Catholic Church to address the complex social and ecological crisis in a direct and specific way. quoted from CAFOD – Laudato Si’ explained (cafod.org.uk)
Laudato Si’ Platform
Bishop Cantú on Laudato si’ Platform
- Bishop’s Message on Laudato Si’ Action Platform
- Statement from Bishop Cantú: On this Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, I call your attention to an issue that has been a growing concern for the Church for decades and which Pope Francis has more recently highlighted, calling us to both reflection and action. This past June we marked the fourth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, in which he invited all persons to care for “our common home,” the planet God created for humanity to inhabit. Pope Francis expressed the need for an “ecological conversion” — that living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue, to a Christian life (LS 217). All Christian communities have an important role to play in ecological education (LS 214). Full Statement.
- Laudato Si’ Reflection 2022
Enroll into the Laudato si’ Platform
Laudato Si’ – Resources
Reflection (Study)
- Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis Laudato Sí, 2015
- Letter from California Bishops, 2019 English | Spanish
- The Emmaus Walk – A Response to Living out Laudato Si (PowerPoint)
Communion (Teach)
Resources for Parishes
- Laudato Si – Schedule of Activities May16-24
- Laudato Si’ Study Guide
- Laudato Si’ 1-pager
- Liturgy and Preaching resources
- Querida Amazonia Study Guide
- Social Media Templates and Logos
- Laudato Si PDF Postcards | English & Spanish
- Spanish “Care for God’s Creation Discussion Guide“
- Care for Creation in Action
Resources for Teachers and Catechists
- Laudato Si Video for Elementary School Children
- Laudato Si Video for High School Students
- Video children’s book Drop by Drop on access to water
Mission (Act)
Season of Creation
Join the river of justice and peace
The urgency grows and we must make visible peace with Earth and on Earth, at the same time that justice calls us to repentance and a change of attitude and actions. Our prayers, sermons and liturgies must call for justice not only for humans but for all Creation. Justice, allied with peace, calls us to repent of our ecological sins and to change our attitudes and actions. Righteousness demands that we live in peace, not conflict with our human neighbors, and building right relationships with all of Creation. Prophet Amos cries out “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice. – seasonofcreation.org
Season of Creation Resources
SEASON OF CREATION 2023 EVENTS
Saturday 9/16, from 2pm to 6pm, St. Simon Parish
- Ecology Fair & Speaker, is hosting a talk on The Ecological Vision of Laudato si’ provided by Dr. Paul Schutz from Santa Clara University. There will also be an Ecological Fair and Mass celebrated at 5:00pm. St. Simon Parish is at 1860 Grant Rd, Los Altos. Please register.
Saturday 9/ 23 – California Coastal Cleanup Day.
- Register with the CA Coastal Commission and participate in the cleanup of a local waterway.
Saturday 9/ 23 from 9AM – 12PM Season of Creation Mass & Reception Saturday,. St. Thomas of Canterbury
- Learn how parishes and organizations in the diocese are working on the goals of the Laudato si’ Action Platform. Please register
Saturday 9/30, from 9:30am to 11:30am, St. Francis of Assisi Parish
- Season of Creation The Ecological Vision of Laudato si’ at Living the Season of Creation Every Day: The Ecological Vision of Laudato si’. Explore the Catholic response to the ecological crisis that affects our earth and all life. Please register.
SEASON OF CREATION 2023
Season of Creation – ecumenical
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home. About – Season of Creation
“This Season of Creation will be an opportunity to pray, reflect and act together as the People of God for our common home. Like tributaries joining forces to become a mighty river, the ecumenical family will come together on a synodal path of care for our common home through justice and peace.”
– Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Pope Francis announcements
Creation Day 2023 Message of Pope Francis for Creation Day 2023 – Laudato Si’ Movement (laudatosimovement.org)
The Catholic Church as part of this ecumenical movement/celebration
- Message of Pope Francis for Creation Day 2023 – Laudato Si’ Movement (laudatosimovement.org)
Care of Creation Video Resources
Season of Creation:
Earth on your Plate presentation
Laudato Si’:
From Vision to Practice
