Religious Education and Social Justice

The Season  of Creation

On 1st September, the Catholic Church commenced celebrating the Season of Creation. The Catholic Church has celebrated this day, in conjunction with the Orthodox Church, since 2016. Pope Francis created this opportunity for us all to join in prayer to safeguard creation.

How do we show respect for Creation? The earth and all life on it are part of God’s creation. We are called to respect this gift. We are responsible for taking care of the world we live in and for sharing all the wonders and resources the earth gives us. 

Our changing environment prompts us to stop and think about how we live on our planet. We are called to respond and to adopt new ways of living as Pope Francis highlights in his encyclical, Laudato Si': On the Care for our Common Home.

The Catholic Social Teaching, Care For Our Common Home (Stewardship of Creation), focuses on caring for our environment. 

At Corpus Christi School one way we practice this Catholic Social Teaching is by supporting our Wrapper Free Food Policy as we teach the children the importance of limiting the amount of excess packaging that is used. All wrappers that are brought to school must be taken back home for disposal. Families are very good at supporting this Social Justice initiative. Our playground is free of rubbish that ultimately would end up in the waterways and oceans. This is just one way we are responding to the Pope's call to show respect for Creation.

The Season of Creation, closes on 4th October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Let it be a time when we take the opportunity to pray for the wellbeing of all creation. But more, let it be an opportunity for an ‘ecological conversion’ in each of us. We know what to do. We need the will and the commitment to do it.

A Prayer of Gratitude for Creation

God of the universe,

We thank You for Your many good gifts -

For the beauty of Creation and 

its rich and varied fruits,

For clean water and fresh air, for food and shelter, animals and plants.

Forgive us for the times we have taken the earth's resources for granted

And wasted what You have given us.

Transform our hearts and minds

So that we would learn to care and share,

To touch the earth with gentleness 

and with love,

Respecting all living things.

We pray for all those who suffer as a result of our waste, greed and indifference,

And we pray that the day would come when everyone has enough 

food and clean water.

Help us to respect the rights of all people and all species 

And help us to willingly share your gifts

Today and always. 

Amen.

 Fiona Murdoch, Eco-Congregation Ireland

Jane Wilkinson

Religious Education Leader