The global Christian family has been called upon, to participate in initiatives of prayer, sustainability, and advocacy for the care and protection of creation, as well as safeguarding a place for all creatures. This was the position of Monsignor Bruno-Marie Duffe, Secretary, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Laudato Si. According to Msgr. Duffe, the Dicastery for the promotion of Integral Human Development invites Christians, to join the ecumenical family, in celebrating the Season of Creation, the annual celebration that takes place from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of creation, to October 4, the Feast of Francis of Assisi. He said: “As Pope Francis wrote last year, ‘We are particularly happy that the Season of Creation is becoming a truly ecumenical initiative.
Let us continue to grow in the awareness that we all live in a common home as members of a single family. “United around this year’s theme, “A home for all? Renewing the oikos of God”, the global Christian family will participate in initiatives of prayer, sustainability, and advocacy to care for our common home. This year’s symbol, ‘Abraham’s tent’ expresses our ecumenical call of radical hospitality, safeguarding a place for all creatures, human and non human, in the household (oikos) of God. He noted that last year, the Holy Father, Pope Francis officially invited the people to participate in this annual season, “To renew their faith in God of creation and join in prayer and work for the care of our common home.” Msgr. Duffe urged Catholics to assist in promoting the season in their parishes and communities. “This year, I humbly request your assistance in promoting this important moment in your local parishes and communities.
Promotional materials such as this “ecumenical invitation, to join the season” can be found on the season of creation website. We also encourage Bishops and ecclesial bodies to make statements to raise awareness about the Season of Creation, helping the faithful to realize that living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience (Laudato Si’ 217)”, he said. On the conclusion of Laudato Si Special Anniversary Year, he said: “Today, we conclude the Laudato Si Special Anniversary Year. It was a year of grace with so many initiatives undertaken around the world for the care of our common home. “We are so happy that the Laudato Si’ Year will lead to the multiyear Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
I invite you to promote the Laudato Si’ Action Platform during the Season of Creation by inviting communities in the seven sectors of families, parishes and dioceses, schools and universities, hospitals and healthcare centres, businesses and farms, groups, movements and organizations, and religious orders, to undertake the proposed seven year journey of integral ecology, joining in same approach “integral ecology”, “integral health” and processes of peace and fraternity.” He said the Season of Creation will be a moment for Catholics to lift up the voices of the most vulnerable, and advocate on their behalf. In his words: “This Season of Creation will also be a critical moment for Catholics to lift up the voices of the most vulnerable, and advocate on their behalf ahead of two important summits, the UN Summit on biodiversity (COP 15) in October and the UN Climate Summit in November (COP 26). He invited Catholics to join advocacy initiatives, such as the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition that call for bold action to protect creation in addition to other initiatives calling for new paths forward together.
