Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez
Ahead of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1, Archbishop Pérez encourages prayer and action during the Season of Creation, which runs through Oct. 4, calling on communities to plant “seeds of peace and hope.”
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“The Universal Church celebrates the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1. That date marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, set aside by the Church until October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, to reflect on the goodness of God’s creation and the responsibility for humanity to honor and protect it.
Pope Francis began this celebration in 2015 after publication of his encyclical Laudato Si. This year, the late Pope’s concerns over threats to the world’s environment and their effects on the poor were echoed by Pope Leo XIV. In his message for this occasion, the Holy Father reflects on its theme this year: “Seeds of Peace and Hope.”
In our own communities, we are called to plant seeds of peace in the deserts of human suffering. We are called to sow seeds of hope in the wastelands of indifference to climate change and environmental degradation. This day calls us to a conversion of heart in how we speak with truth and act with justice for the protection of the Earth and the well-being of our brothers and sisters.
In this Season of Creation, I ask you to consider three actions:
- Reaffirm our vocation as stewards of creation by committing to reduce waste and choosing reusable items. You can learn more about local initiatives at Ecophilly.org.
- Thank God for his gift of creation by offering a prayer at mealtimes, and remembering this intention during Eucharistic adoration.
- Ask for God’s help in our actions of stewardship, and seek his forgiveness for the ways in which we have failed to care for our common home.
By the grace of God, may the seeds of peace and hope that we plant bear good fruit and flourish into a forest of rest and renewal.”
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez
Archbishop of Philadelphia
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