This year, we experienced a bolder sense of momentum and unity across the Christian family.
Pope Francis in Season of Creation event at the Vatican
Season of Creation event in the Philippines, photo Diocese of Cubao
Pope Francis in Season of Creation event at the Vatican
Season of Creation event in the Philippines, photo Diocese of Cubao
Grassroots momentum
About 1,250 events, including almost 350 climate strikes, were held to celebrate the season. Here is a very small sampling of events from around the world:
- creation services in Bahía Blanca, Argentina and Toco, Trinidad and Tobago
- climate strikes in Ferrara, Italy, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and São José dos Campos, Brazil
- diocesan events in the diocesan creation care day in Calabria, Italy and the launch of diocesan environmental commission in Keningau, Malaysia
- tree-plantings in São José dos Campos, Brazil, Cape Town, South Africa, and Avissawella, Sri Lanka
- interfaith prayer services in Italy organized by the Council of Christian Churches of Verona: Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, Waldensian and Methodist Evangelical Church, and Lutheran Evangelical Church
- interfaith roundtables and concerts in France
- sustainable food events at the Feast of St. Francis potluck in Connecticut, USA and at the sustainable food bank in Bogotá, Colombia
- educational events in Delta State, Nigeria, Biviers, France, Paraíba, Brazil, and Poland, where 48 events were held for St. Francis Sunday to educate local leaders about the connection between Catholic teaching and Poland’s smog crisis.
- interfaith educational events on the “attitude of gratitude and responsibility” in Budapest, Hungary
Grassroots momentum
About 1,250 events, including almost 350 climate strikes, were held to celebrate the season. Here is a very small sampling of events from around the world:
- creation services in Bahía Blanca, Argentina and Toco, Trinidad and Tobago
- climate strikes in Ferrara, Italy, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and São José dos Campos, Brazil
- diocesan events in the diocesan creation care day in Calabria, Italy and the launch of diocesan environmental commission in Keningau, Malaysia
- tree-plantings in São José dos Campos, Brazil, Cape Town, South Africa, and Avissawella, Sri Lanka
- interfaith prayer services in Italy organized by the Council of Christian Churches of Verona: Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, Waldensian and Methodist Evangelical Church, and Lutheran Evangelical Church
- interfaith roundtables and concerts in France
- sustainable food events at the Feast of St. Francis potluck in Connecticut, USA and at the sustainable food bank in Bogotá, Colombia
- educational events in Delta State, Nigeria, Biviers, France, Paraíba, Brazil, and Poland, where 48 events were held for St. Francis Sunday to educate local leaders about the connection between Catholic teaching and Poland’s smog crisis.
- interfaith educational events on the “attitude of gratitude and responsibility” in Budapest, Hungary
Archbishop Chong at Season of Creation event
Global leadership
Christian leaders from around the world used prophetic language to call on the faithful to participate in the Season of Creation.
ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Council of Churches called on their 580 million followers to make sure their voices were heard at the United Nations for the Climate Action Summit.
The three religious bodies also called on leaders gathered at the UN summit to address climate change. “Our care for God’s creation cannot afford more delay.”
Seventeen faith leaders penned a letter, encouraging Christians across the globe to come together and protect the “web of life,” this year’s theme for the ecumenical season.
The diverse international group featured leaders from an array of faith traditions, including the Church of England, the Greek Orthodox in Zimbabwe and Angola, and the Episcopal Diocese of California, USA.
For the Roman Catholic Church, Mons. Bruno Marie Duffé, the secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, issued a letter inviting bishops and pastors to celebrate.
A wide range of bishops across the globe followed that invitation by publishing statements in support.
Pope Francis contributed ground-breaking leadership to the season. The first-ever papal message on the Season of Creation opened the season, and the first-ever papal Season of Creation event closed it.
Global leadership
Christian leaders from around the world used prophetic language to call on the faithful to participate in the Season of Creation.
ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Council of Churches called on their 580 million followers to make sure their voices were heard at the United Nations for the Climate Action Summit.
The three religious bodies also called on leaders gathered at the UN summit to address climate change. “Our care for God’s creation cannot afford more delay.”
Seventeen faith leaders penned a letter, encouraging Christians across the globe to come together and protect the “web of life,” this year’s theme for the ecumenical season.
The diverse international group featured leaders from an array of faith traditions, including the Church of England, the Greek Orthodox in Zimbabwe and Angola, and the Episcopal Diocese of California, USA.
For the Roman Catholic Church, Mons. Bruno Marie Duffé, the secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, issued a letter inviting bishops and pastors to celebrate.
A wide range of bishops across the globe followed that invitation by publishing statements in support.
Pope Francis contributed ground-breaking leadership to the season. The first-ever papal message on the Season of Creation opened the season, and the first-ever papal Season of Creation event closed it.
Season of Creation climate strike in the USA
Hundreds of climate strikes were held all over the world. The faith divestment movement reached new heights, with the divestment from fossil fuels of 22 more Christian institutions.
The announcement included 15 new Catholic commitments–among them the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, and Caritas agencies in Italy, Singapore, Australia, and Norway. It also included seven Protestant institutions–among them the United Reformed Church in the UK, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, and the United Reformed Church Synod of Wessex, UK.
Faith institutions constitute the greatest number of entities in the global divestment movement.
Hundreds of climate strikes were held all over the world. The faith divestment movement reached new heights, with the divestment from fossil fuels of 22 more Christian institutions.
The announcement included 15 new Catholic commitments–among them the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, and Caritas agencies in Italy, Singapore, Australia, and Norway. It also included seven Protestant institutions–among them the United Reformed Church in the UK, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, and the United Reformed Church Synod of Wessex, UK.
Faith institutions constitute the greatest number of entities in the global divestment movement.
Season of Creation prayer service in Ecuador
Solidarity across traditions
The season is an ecumenical celebration, and church communities across the Christian tradition led events.
The Christian family found unity in our shared values of honoring the Creator and protecting creation through life-giving events, such as an Anglican animal blessing in New South Wales, an interfaith prayer service in the U.S., and an Evangelical retreat in Angola.
Solidarity online
For those who wanted to reflect more deeply on the topics of the season, the Season of Creation steering committee organized two webinars.
An ecumenical online prayer service closed the season on 4 October with reflection from Bishop Mark MacDonald, Anglican Church of Canada’s first National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop.
A mid-season webinar explored why biodiversity matters to Christians.
Solidarity across traditions
The season is an ecumenical celebration, and church communities across the Christian tradition led events.
The Christian family found unity in our shared values of honoring the Creator and protecting creation through life-giving events, such as an Anglican animal blessing in New South Wales, an interfaith prayer service in the U.S., and an Evangelical retreat in Angola.
Solidarity online
For those who wanted to reflect more deeply on the topics of the season, the Season of Creation steering committee organized two webinars.
An ecumenical online prayer service closed the season on 4 October with reflection from Bishop Mark MacDonald, Anglican Church of Canada’s first National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop.
A mid-season webinar explored why biodiversity matters to Christians.
Season of Creation reflection in Italy
About the season
It is observed each year from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis.
An ecumenical steering committee suggests a theme for each year and provide free resources to help Christian communities celebrate.
The suggested theme of this year’s celebration is the “web of life”.
Season of Creation reflection in Italy
About the season
It is observed each year from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis.
An ecumenical steering committee suggests a theme for each year and provide free resources to help Christian communities celebrate.
The suggested theme of this year’s celebration is the “web of life”.