By Prema Chowallur SCC
The ‘Season of Creation’ from September 1st to October 4th 2021, is around the corner for worldwide Christian communities. Thousands of Christians from six continents will be getting together to celebrate a time of restoration and hope; a jubilee for our Earth, and to discover radically new ways of living with creation. The entire Christian family will be uniting to pray and take action for our Common home.
The theme for the year 2021 is, “A Home for All. Renewing the Oikos of God”. On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of ‘Laudato Si’, the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development invites every Christian, to join the ecumenical family in celebrating the ‘Season of Creation’.
Last year, the Holy Father, Pope Francis officially invited the faithful to participate in this annual Season, “to renew our faith in the God of creation; and to join in prayer and work for the care of our common home”. During the virtual meet of ‘Global Catholic Climate Movement’ (GCCM), now known as the Laudato Si Movement (LSM), each of us were requested to assist in promoting the values of ‘Laudato Si’, the social encyclical, primarily-the Ecological Conversion in our local parishes and communities to make the celebration meaningful.
The Spirit of life dwells in every living creature and calls us to enter into a relationship with him. Discovering this presence leads us to cultivate the ‘ecological virtues’-LS Chapter 2: Para. 88. Keeping this in mind, several individuals, parishes, dioceses, organizations, and religious congregations have begun to plan for the event to celebrate it meaningfully. Many have already made action plans to implement them during the Season of Creation. Spiritual activities and implementation of several other activities e.g. planting rare saplings and plants that are on the verge of extinction, butterfly gardens, promotion of bee hives, protection of insects, birds and animals, practicing the 4R formula (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse) activities that will reduce the carbon footprint and increase their carbon handprint-caring for tree groves, following the policy of ‘plant one and care for more’; and advocacy with the local government, are significant activities among them.
COVID-19 and the pandemic have taught us several lessons in the midst of losing our loved ones. Varieties of virus and bacteria are emerging and taking new forms, which show that the climate and atmosphere is supportive of them to survive. Scientists had predicted these dangers, and they were apparent for a generation. Now the facts are speaking loudly. Many have committed themselves to fight the battle against climate change, while the pandemic is defying the intelligence of humankind.
“The environment is part of a logic of receptivity. It is on loan to each generation, which must then hand it on to the next.’ An integral ecology is marked by this broader vision”- Pope Francis, Laudato Si’– Para.159. Our ancestors handed over to us a clean environment. What are we going to hand over to our children? This is the biggest question that troubles us today.
‘Prithvi Parivar’– the CCBI Commission for Ecology has planned to make September 19th, midway in the Season of Creation, a COMMON DAY with concrete actions in line with the Season of Creation’s theme – A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God. If you wish, you can make a 1 to 3 minute video, of any Eco-activity or experience you are involved in, or are living; and send it to the JPIC Coordinator or to Prithvi Parivar directly if you like.
Many have decided to mark the inauguration of the Season of Creation on 1st September with an organized Prayer Service, outdoor. Let your heart decide. Let every Christian listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the Poor, and take a step forward to heal the Earth and all its creatures. Here’s wishing each of you a happy, blessed and fruitful Season of Creation.