Season of Creation 2023: Let Justice and Peace Flow
Friday 1st September 2023Season of Creation returns for another year, inviting Christians across the globe to come together in prayer and action for the good of our common home.
Running from 1st September (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) to the feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4th October, this month-long celebration offers us time to reflect on the needs of our planet and what we can do in our communities to make a difference.
Taking inspiration from the Prophet Amos: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:23), this year’s theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow”.
This thought-provoking theme invites us to join Christians across the globe in working and praying together for justice to flow throughout our world, restoring peace to creation and all people.
How are we marking Season of Creation?
This year, we’re celebrating the Season of Creation by exploring our diocesan response to our global ecological crisis.
Over the coming weeks, we will revisit our Hearing the Cry: Responding with Hope document – a positive plan to take concrete action in our diocese, whilst exploring the faith-based motivation behind this action.
In addition, we will also be sharing key updates from a number of projects that show how this document is already making its mark across the diocese, as well as reflections and inspiring quotes across our social media channels.
Join us this Season of Creation
This Season of Creation, there are a number of ways you can get involved over the coming weeks.
From praying with us at home, to joining key events, or taking the first steps of action in your parish, we invite you to be part of this global call for justice and peace for our planet.
Explore the links below to take a look in your own time and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for regular updates.
Pray
Everything we do as Christians should be rooted in prayer and our environmental efforts should be no exception. This Season of Creation, we first and foremost encourage you to keep our planet and our brothers and sisters around the world in your prayers over the coming weeks. Explore the links below for our Diocesan Prayer for our Common Home and General Intercessions from the Catholic Liturgical Guide for Season of Creation 2023.
Diocesan Prayer for our Common Home
General Intercessions during Season of Creation
Explore our Diocesan Vision
This Season of Creation, we will be channeling our focus on our Hearing the Cry: Responding with Hope document to discover more about the role our diocese can play in healing our common home. Take a look at the links below to download full and summarised versions of this document.
Hearing the Cry: Responding with Hope – full document
Hearing the Cry: Responding with Hope – summary
Attend an event or join online
Another fantastic way to mark Season of Creation is by attending an event. This year, there are a number of events you might wish to join, here in our diocese, as well as further afield, and online. Please see below for details of these events and stay tuned for further information.
Diocese of Salford Season of Creation Service
Wednesday 4th October, 7pm
Parish of St John Fisher, Kearsley (Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt)
Further details to follow.
Bishops’ Conference Webinar
Tuesday 12 September, 7pm
Online webinar
To mark one year since the publication of The Call of Creation document, the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has organised a webinar to further discuss our ecological crisis and question how we can act – as individuals and communities – to protect our common home. Bishop John – as the Conference’s Lead Bishop on the Environment – will be speaking as one of the panelists, in addition to director of CAFOD (Christine Allen), Sr Margaret Atkins (theologian and writer), and Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania.
Click here to find out more about register.
Our Faith, Our Planet, Our Commitments
Thursday 14th September, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Manchester Museum
Click here to find out more and register.
Northern Dioceses Environment Group
Thursday 19th September, 6pm
Zoom
Sr Margaret Atkins, theologian and course leader at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria will be the main speaker at this inspiring event. Groups will hear from Sr Margaret as she explores more about the link between environmental actions and spirituality. Email m.scully@caritassalord.org.uk to find out more and register.
Sign our Care for Creation Promise
However important it is for us to keep talking about the environmental challenges we face, taking action must be key as we begin the process of healing and regeneration. Knowing where to start can be difficult but this Season of Creation, we invite you to make a commitment to restoring justice and peace to our world by signing our Care for Creation Promise.
Whether this is on behalf of your parish, school, community group, or simply for you and your family at home, signing our Care for Creation Promise is a powerful reminder of our role as stewards of creation.
Click here to download our Care for Creation Promise.
Taking the next step
If you’re looking for a more concrete way to take action this Season of Creation, there are myriad opportunities for you to make a real difference in your parish, school, and even at home.
Click here to read our Six Suggestions to Start your Journey
Tagged | Bishop John | Catholic Church | Diocese | Environment | Parishes | Resources
