Season of Creation 2022
DOWNLOAD THE SOC HANDOUT HERE (2 MB)
SEASON OF CREATION 2022
'Listen to the Voice of Creation'
1 September - 4 October
"I have heard their cry... I know their sufferings...
Come, now! I will send you...I will be with you."
"Listen to the Voice of Creation" is the theme and invitation of this year's Season of Creation. The season began on 1 September with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and will conclude on 4 October with the feast of Saint Francis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many have become familiar with the concept of being muted in conversations. Many voices are muted in public discourse around climate change and the ethics of Earth-keeping.
These are voices of those who suffer the impacts of climate change. These are voices of people who hold generational wisdom about how to live gratefully within the limits of the land. These are voices of a diminishing diversity of more-than-human species. It is the voice of the Earth.
WEEKLY THEMES
WEEK 1: 3-9 Sept
'Listen to the voice of creation'
Let us rejoice in the sweet song of all creation:
Let us be attentive to and fall in love with the wonder and perfection of God’s creation and His presence in the natural world. Let us realise the fragility of our common home and desire with all our hearts to protect and preserve it.
WEEK 2: 10-16 Sept
Lament our mistreatment of our common home:
Listen to the cry of the earth and all its creatures. We weep as we hear the anguished plea of creation. We grieve and mourn the loss of species – those whose voices have fallen silent.
WEEK 3: 17-23 Sept
Loving awareness that we are all connected:
We are part of the whole system – every living thing , big and small has its part in this wonderful interconnected and mutually dependent world. We need to unite with each other and with all creation.
WEEK 4: 24-30 Sept
Repent and modify our lifestyles and destructive systems:
Remember, return, rest and restore”. We are summoned to a new relationship with God and all in creation to be protectors of God’s handiwork. It is essential and not an optional choice.
CONCLUDE:
Take responsibility for our actions and take action:
Make a new covenant with humans and environment for justice. We need to act decisively in our own lives – to solemnly take action, and to call to account all the leaders of the world through advocacy and demand responsible action on the part of governments and authorities.
ACTIVITIES IN SEASON OF CREATION
PRAY - LEARN - ACT
ROSARY
WHEN: EVERY DAY at 6:00 pm
WHERE: Online Zoom link below
https://bit.ly/ConstantiaZoom
Our Daily Rosary Group will dedicate the rosary to the Season of Creation each day with special reflections and prayers on the weekly themes.
Everyone is invited to join.
CHILDREN
All children are encouraged to learn more about the issues of care for our common home, using the weekly themes as guidance.
Our Catechism classes will include the weekly themes in the classes as will our Sunday Liturgy for the younger ages.
Children are encouraged to write their petitions, prayers and resolutions on cards and attach to the Burning Bush on the altar in the church.
TREE PLANTING CEREMONY
WHEN: Sunday, 25 Sept
Everyone is invited.
The children are asked to help Father plant a tree in the parish garden. Everyone is encouraged to plant one at home too.
HOLY HOUR
WHEN: Thursday, 20 Sept at 6:30 pm
Join us for Holy Hour – Benediction and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the theme of the Season of Creation.
Read the prophetic story of Moses in Ex 3:1-12 -
“I have heard their cry… I know their sufferings… Come, now! I will send you.. I will be with you.”
NOVENA
WHEN: 23 Sept – 1 Oct
Please join in the St Francis Novena. We will pray it at each Mass and it will be shared with the parish WhatsApp groups.
If you would like to be added to the parish WhatsApp group contact Karen Parkin on 072 440 4532.
LITURGY
At all Masses through the month we will pray for our common home and for a conversion of all to sustainable lifestyles. We pray for world leaders to unselfishly take the actions required to save our precious planet.
ECOLOGICAL EXAMEN
GRATITUDE:
I give thanks to God for creation and for being wonderfully made. When did I feel God’s presence on creation today?
AWARENESS:
I ask for the grace to see creation as God does – in all its splendour and suffering. Do I see the beauty of creation and hear the cries of the earth and the poor.
UNDERSTANDING:
I ask for the grace to look closely to see how my life choices impact creation, the poor and vulnerable. What challenges and joys do I experience as I recall my care for creation? How can I turn away from throw-away culture and instead stand in solidarity with the poor and all creation?
CONVERSION:
I ask for the grace of conversion towards ecological justice and reconciliation. Where have all fallen short in caring for creation and my brothers and sisters? How do I ask for a conversion of heart?
RECONCILIATION:
I ask for the grace to reconcile my relationship with God, creation, humanity, and to stand in solidarity through my actions. How can I repair my relationship with Creation and make choice consistent with that?
PRAYER:
I offer a prayer for the earth and the vulnerable in our society.
CONTACT US
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Parish Office CALL 021 794 5185 or
EMAIL: materecl@constantiacatholic.co.za
BURNING BUSH
Today, the prevalence of unnatural fires is a sign of the devastating effects that climate change has on the most vulnerable of our planet. Human greed, desertification and land misuse lead to the disintegration of the ecosystems, the destruction of habitats, and the loss of livelihoods and species at an alarming rate. Creation cries out as forests crackle, animal flee, and people are forced to migrate due to the fires of injustice that we have caused.
On the contrary, the fire that called to Moses on Mt Horeb did not consume or destroy the bush. This was the flame of the Holy Spirit that revealed God’s life sustaining presence. This holy fire affirmed that God heard the cries of all who suffered and promised to be with us as we followed faithfully to deliverance from injustice. Moses was told to remove his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground in God’s presence. May this symbol move us to remove our ‘sandals’ of our unsustainable lifestyles, contemplate our connection to the holy ground where we live and listen for the voice of creation.
Take a card and write your prayer, promise, or petition and attach it to our Burning Bush on the altar. This is for Children and Adults!!
