Creation Season
In 1989 Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitros I proclaimed September 1 as the Orthodox Day of Prayer for Creation.
Subsequently, the World Council of Churches (WCC) extended the celebration until October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. In turn, in 2015 Pope Francis made the Season of Creation official for the Roman Catholic Church.
Learn more here.
Laudato Si: OnCare For Our Common Home
The encyclical, dated 24 May 2015, was officially published on 18 June 2015
In it Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility.
Top Ten Takeaways by James Martin SJ https://youtu.be/a_lqFTYLc_4
Links to more information and activities:
Two Minute Summary of Laudato Si
http://www.focus.org/blog/posts/summary-of-laudato-si-pope-francis-encyclical-environment-quotes.html#toc
cafod videos
Catholic Relief Services offers a set of links.
http://www.crs.org/pope-francis-climate/
The St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor
is a solemn commitment made by Catholic individuals, groups and institutions to honor God’s creation and serve poor people by doing the following:
PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s creation and protect the poor and vulnerable;
LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change;
ASSESS how each of us —as individuals or within our families, workplaces or other organizations—is contributing to climate change ;
ACT to change our choices and behaviors contributing to climate change and;
ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact the poor and vulnerable.
Adaptable ideas for families caring for creation
http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2015/04/teaching-care-for-creation/
Here is some earthly advice from Good Ground Press
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/14eabfb5ffa9ea29
catholic social teaching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNcBCPVbYDU