Every day the Oblate Community and Family in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales publish a short reflective morning prayer video, created by members. Please join in daily from where you are.
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI recently had a discussion with Br. Thomas Marchetti, OMI to explore his timely thesis on how the Catholic community in San Antonio, TX can increase their engagement in sustainability efforts.
The full title of Br. Thomas’ thesis is: “Investigating the Potential of Engaging the Catholic Community in Sustainable Interventions in San Antonio, TX.”
They discussed Br. Thomas’ passion for the the issue of sustainability, his process for gathering & analyzing data, and his plans for engaging with the community.
(Reflections by Maurice Lange, Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
We continue with our Reflections for this Season on Pope Leo’s latest letter and its theme: .
“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” — (Isaiah 2:4)
REFLECTION #5: What leads to human conflict and exploitation of Creation? Along with hearts needing to be renewed, Pope Leo points to “an ethical and cultural crisis, including the loss of a sense of limits…”
Thomas Berry further claims that (western) humans rage against Earth’s limitations.*
Allow the claims from Pope Leo & Thomas Berry to sink in……
Such loss + rage is on clear display in our misguided consumer demands. The current Administration as well as big tech mince no words in their rage against limitations.
ACTION: : Earth’s limitations – from the length of the seasons to the carrying capacity of landscapes – can actually evoke our nobility as humans. Living with a sense of place, living humbly and living in relationship with Earth make us grateful for Earth’s dynamic of generosity – which we partake in with every breath.
“The harmony between the Creator, humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations.”
(By Maurice Lange, Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
The world is celebrating the Season of Creation, that runs from September 1 to October 4. It is a time to pray, reflect, and take action for the gift of our common home.
This year’s theme, “Living Water,” is based on Ezekiel 47:9,12, which invites Christians to recognize water as a source of life and a precious gift from God. It also reminds us that our care for creation is deeply connected to our care for one another.
These reflections are inspired by Pope Leo’s 2026 letter for the Season of Creation. Each ponders 1 of 9 topics in Leo’s writing, with focus given to the 2026 theme of “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
“The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.” (Laudato Si #2)
READ: 4th part of Pope Leo’s letter for the 2026 Season of Creation (view PDF)
REFLECTION: How is your heart this Season of Creation? : Similar to the season of Lent, our observance of the Season of Creation has the ability to center us. Our special focusing these 34 days brings us to the heart. “…the human heart…the center of the person – the place where reason, desire, will and conscience converge.” Pope Leo points our attention to the condition of the human heart being linked to Earth’s degradation and war’s wounds. Such outward torment belies interior discord, division and distortion.
* What integral ecology project, initiative or ministry inspires & challenges you? * Where might you be feeling divided, distorted? * What are you attending to?
ACTION: What if our culture spent some percentage of its time on healing of the heart as it does on social media?! It is this healing or “conversion of heart” that Leo calls for. To assist us in this conversion, I encourage you to make time for prayer in this regard: sit peacefully with this recent, deeply meaningful Hiroshima/ Nagasaki prayer service – co-sponsored by our Presentation Sisters.
OMI JPIC was delighted to have two of our scholastics from San Antonio, TX join us for an extended period this summer.
The opportunity to hear their stories and how they came to their vocations was indeed enriching. More specifically, they assisted us in a number of projects here at 391 (Washington, DC Oblate Residence). They did so by enriching all our liturgical celebrations with new songs and new music and creating a refreshed liturgical environment.
They also helped us to understand more about the specific countries that they come from – Vietnam and Mexico – and to deepen our understanding of each place.
As we enter the Season of Creation, we celebrate the many blessings that surround us each day, at the vegetable garden here at 391, but also in the courtyard, which has a whole new and refreshed look with new flowers and new plants. Br. Pierre Nguyen Truong Nam, OMI and Br. Luis Enrique Gonzalez, OMI assisted with the planting.
READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS
