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Friends & Community Gather at Three Part Harmony (3PH) Farm’s Annual Fall Festival November 5th, 2024
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- Preparing garlic for planting
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- Preparing garlic for planting
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- Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI prepares garlic for planting
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- Gail Taylor, Proprietor & Farmer of Three Part Harmony & Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI find rest under a tree
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- Janice Cooke (middle) poses with friends
Final – 2024 Season of Creation – “To Hope & Act with Creation” October 1st, 2024
(By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
Reflection #7: September 29 – October 3
READ:
7th part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2024 Season of Creation (next page) “The Spirit of God has filled the universe with possibilities and therefore, from the very heart of things, something new can always emerge.” (Laudato Si #80)
REFLECTION:
Constant accompaniment. That’s the abiding nature of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis has continually referred to the Spirit throughout his message for this Season of Creation. In this time of polarization, what could ever come along to “radically change the way we think”? Francis writes that such a change would result from our listening to (“obedience to”) the Holy Spirit. We are called to leave behind “arrogant, intoxicated” notions of
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
ourselves, relating to Creation as “predators”. It would be radical to think of ourselves in the West instead as “tillers”. Can we avail ourselves to “the link between matter & spirit” that physics is revealing for us? My sense is: within that link is precisely the constant accompaniment of the Spirit. In response to such abiding, why not listen…and till?
READ FULL REFLECTION
ACTION: Listen to the Spirit … heed your “ecological vocation”. * Encourage and evoke the same from others. Why not become an ecological vocation director?! As far as tilling goes (working with Earth) … have some first-hand, conscious, direct (not virtual) experience of Earth this week: dig into actual soil, prepare a meal of mostly locally-grown foods, take a hike and feel the leaves of Autumn…
“Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it groans in travail. You also dwell in our hearts and you inspire us to do what is good. Praise be to you!” (Laudato Si 2nd closing prayer #246)
Week 3 – 2024 Season of Creation: “To Hope & Act with Creation” September 18th, 2024
(By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
Reflection #3: September 2 – 7
READ: 3rd part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2024 Season of Creation (below)
REFLECTION:
(Image by Almeida from Pixabay)
Hope. I ponder that with all the pushback Pope Francis has received, what he writes about hope in this Season of Creation is not removed from his own personal journey – with hope connoting: “remaining steadfast amidst adversity” and “not losing heart” in troubling times.
His reflection on hope leads Francis to ponder a medieval visionary who, despite violent times, proposed a new spirit of coexistence among peoples. Francis’ further writes that his own call for universal social harmony in Fratelli Tutii needs to be extended to Creation.
As such, Fr. Thomas Berry, the great, recent visionary, does not lose heart in setting forth the Ecozoic Era: a time of where humans and the rest of the natural world are mutually enhancing.
Let us choose life, then, so that we and the descendants of all species shall live. (cf Deuteronomy 30:19)
READ FULL REFLECTION
ACTION: I encourage you to remain steadfast…and even take on a new layer of hope. Each day this week sit with Thomas Berry as he illustrates the Ecozoic Era.
“Human life is incomprehensible and unsustainable without other creatures…” (Laudate Deum #67)
2024 Season of Creation: We Are The Seeds of Hope September 12th, 2024
2024: What is the ‘Season of Creation’? — By Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
Letter of the Superior General: 2023 World Day of Prayer
for the
Care of Creation
2024: Season of Creation Reflections: “To Hope & Act with Creation” by Maurice Lange, JPIC Director, Presentation Sisters
Learn more about the climate issues by visiting these websites:
Season of Creation
Invites you to use these resources and share them with your church, pastor or other regional authority to join the Season of Creation, and even spread the word to local media.
Laudato Si Movement
The Laudato Si Movement works within the Catholic Church to better care for our common home.
Catholic Climate Covenant
Catholic Climate Covenant inspires and equips people and institutions to care for creation and care
Creation Justice Ministries
Seeks justice for God’s planet and God’s people
Interfaith Power & Light
Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA) works with hundreds of congregations of all faiths across Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia to save energy, go green, and respond to climate change. Together, they are building a religious response to the climate crisis.
2024 Season of Creation: Join the Global Movement to Nurture Our Planet August 30th, 2024
The firstfruits of hope (Romans 8:19-25)
The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home, celebrated by Christians everywhere from September 1 to October 4. This year’s theme is “To hope and act with Creation.”
Oblate Scholastic Musonda Choto, OMI and Fr. Jack Lau, OMI prepare Sacred Heart Church, Oakland, CA for the Season as shown in these are photos.
