International prayer for care of Creation

The second Day of Prayer for Care of Creation on 1 September, initiated by Pope Francis last year, was marked around the world with services and programmes, leading into a “Season of Creation” which runs through to the feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October, writes Ellen Teague.

In Vietnam, some 1,000 Catholics from Phu Yen parish in Vinh Diocese prayed and conducted a peaceful march focused on the theme. They walked four kilometres around their parish carrying banners that read: “Catholics and followers of other faiths protect the environment,” and,  “Destroying the environment is a crime”. The marine environment in their region is severely polluted. Police observed the march but did not interfere.

The Philippines saw creation liturgies in many churches, combined with a call for Catholic institutions to boycott fossil fuels. Manila-based Columban priest Fr John Leydon, a co-convenor of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, said several church institutions in The Philippines are planning soon to announce a commitment to disinvest from fossil fuels in favour of renewables.

In Latin America, “Let us take care of the Earth, let us take care of life” is the theme of a campaign by Catholic Action Argentina, which started with prayer on 1 September and will call for more movement towards low-carbon lifestyles.

The Council of European Catholic Bishops’ Conferences has joined the Conference of European Churches and the European Christian Environ­mental Network in calling for a five-week observance of a “Time for Creation”, through upholding the common Christian faith in God the Creator and offering prayers for the “gift of Creation”. See Mary Colwell, page 10