The Season of Creation is a global, ecumenical event that takes place yearly from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation to October 4, the Feast Day of St. Francis. The theme for this year is “Listen to the Voice of Creation.”
In this special season, we recall Jesus’ words in the Gospel: “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one” (John 17:22). This is our moment to unite with Christians worldwide in bold action and prayer for the earth. We are all called to be one so that the world may believe (John 17:21). Pope Francis reminds us that we are living in a climate emergency, so let us unite with our Christian sisters and brothers to respond with the urgency and commitment our times require.
A few tips to keep in mind as you plan and organize your ecumenical event:
- There is no correct recipe for holding an ecumenical event. As you think about organizing it, remember that the most important aspect is to cultivate the art of encounter, connecting with friends or acquaintances you may already know from different denominations, and creating a space of fellowship, transparency, and respect.
- Make a list of friends, family, fellow parish members, neighbors, co-workers, and use this list to create a realistic attendance goal. You could ask a few close friends or family members to help with outreach for the event and logistics the day of – it’s great to work in a team!
- Do outreach to your community to invite them. The single most effective way to get attendees is word of mouth. Whether it’s talking to people on the phone, in person, or making an announcement at Mass – talking with people is an excellent way to get others to attend your event. Parish bulletins or e-blasts, fliers, social media posts and texts are additional tools for spreading the word.
How to invite religious leaderships to participate
Here’s how you might invite a religious leadership to participate in this event.
Schedule a time to meet in person, over the phone or on Zoom. It may also work to discuss this in passing – but we recommend that you ask first if the person has a few minutes to talk with you, and spend a few minutes connecting, before sharing about the initiative.
When you meet, you could say something like this:
I have been studying Laudato Si, and I am feeling called to engage others in caring for creation, as Pope Francis invites us to do.
This year, the United Nations is having two very important meetings. Our world is hurting, and leaders need to address the biodiversity and climate crises. There’s a big risk they will not commit to ambitious action that’s needed to protect our planet. But it’s not too late. If we act together, we can challenge world leaders to care for creation.
Which is why I’m hosting an ecumenical event during the Season of Creation. As you may know, Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment. It is an annual ecumenical season from September 1 – October 4 where we pray and act together as a Christian family for our common home.
It would be very meaningful if you could attend and speak briefly about why our faith instructs us to care for creation.
The event will take place at [date and time], at [location]. Can you join us?
Sample promotion email
Dear friends,
The Season of Creation is approaching – on September 1 – and I would like to invite you to a very special event our parish is hosting.
Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment. It is an annual ecumenical season where we pray and act together as a Christian family for our common home.
This year’s theme is “Listen to the Voice of Creation.” You can find more details about this year’s season here or on the official website.
On [date, time, location] we will host an ecumenical event to learn together how to listen to the voice of creation. It is an opportunity to pray for creation, learn, and take action together to encourage world leaders to address this crisis.
Please rsvp to [your email address] by [this date]. Light refreshments will be provided.
With hope,
[your name]