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News Archives » Laudato Si


2025 Season of Creation: Peace with Creation August 26th, 2025

Clergy in maroon robe

Bishop Michael Pfeifer, O.M.I.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo

The theme for this year’s Season of Creation is “Peace with Creation”. The Season of Creation is an ecumenical initiative that takes place annually from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, to October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Creation. The Biblical base for the theme, “Peace with Creation”, comes from Isaiah 32:14-18. During the Season of Creation, we join together as sisters and brothers of a universal family celebrating in prayer and action how to renew our appreciation, our commitment, conversion and our care and activities to protect and bring new life to Mother Earth, our Common Home. The Season is in the spirit of truth a time to do a heart-filled assessment of the situation of Mother Earth which is suffering many abuses and misuses by we humans. The Season of Creation is a source of strength and communion encouraging us to truly hope and act justly with all of creation. To begin in a deep spirit of heartfelt gratitude, we thank our loving God for the beautiful gift of all creation.

Pope Francis had designated the first day of the Season of Creation, September 1 st , as the World Day of Prayer for Creation, calling every person living on this planet to pray and to care for our shared Earth. To aide us in our prayer, Pope Leo XIV recently approved and offered the new Holy Mass for the Care of Creation. 

In his Homily, Pope Leo shared, “On this beautiful day, I would begin by asking everyone, including myself, to take stock of what we are celebrating here amid the beauty of what might be called the ‘cathedral’ of nature, with so many plants and elements of creation that have brought us together to celebrate the Eucharist, which means to give thanks to the Lord.” Pope Leo continued, “Our Mission to care for creation, to foster peace and reconciliation, is Jesus’ own mission, the mission that the Lord entrust to us.” In April 2025, Pope Francis announced that “Seeds of Peace and Hope” is the theme of this year’s World Day of Prayer. The metaphor of Seeds indicates there is a long-time commitment, while expressing hope that the Seeds of Peace may have a date when they may emerge in new life across all continents, as we pray and work for peace. This day reminds us of the strong connection between war and the degradation of our planet, which is seen in the waste of resources due to destruction and violence. The World Day of Prayer is another opportunity for us to connect with our Creator, God, and allow the Lord to redefine our relationship with the environment: from one of consumption and control and abuse, to one of care and protection.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT

 


Preparing for the 2025 Season of Creation – “Seeds of Peace and Hope” August 26th, 2025

(By Maurice Lange, Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)

Happy late Summer! As we approach the end of August, the annual Season of Creation is nearly here.
 
So that we may grow in our care for God’s Creation, we join with other Christians and people of goodwill in observing the Season of Creation which begins September 1 and runs through October 4. Pope Leo has written a letter regarding this Season and for the World Day of Prayer for Creation on September 1.
 
I have pondered Leo’s letter for 2025.  The theme for this year (chosen by Pope Francis) is “Seeds of Peace and Hope.” I see that Pope Leo’s prophetic words can be divided into nine areas for reflection.  Therefore, I’ve composed a series of 9 NEW Reflections for this Season of Creation. 
 
This first Reflection serves to prepare us for this Season, and is meant for these upcoming days August 25-31 

Hope would have us recognize that…we can always redirect our steps.” (Laudato Si #61)

READ: 1st part of Pope Leo’s letter for the 2025 Season of Creation

Green leaves among tree branches

REFLECTION: “…the promise of new beginnings…”. In this, the first letter from Pope Leo for a Season of Creation, he invites us to ponder the unexpected. In examining the theme for this year as chosen by Pope Francis, I’m struck by various parts of the phrase “Seeds of Peace and Hope”. Throughout the next several weeks we’ll be examining this theme along with each segment of Pope Leo’s letter.

Leo is probably still pondering the unexpected himself as he has come to know this in his life quite well! During this Season of Creation: what unexpected seeds of peace and hope may be germinating in unlikely places around us?

DOWNLOAD  FULL REFLECTION

ACTION: The Season of Creation begins September 1 and continues through October 4. Procure and keep a Season of Creation journal. You may wish to journal about the implications of sowing and caring for seeds of peace and hope. Notice blue “bachelor button” flowers blooming along roadsides this month!

“(Ecological) education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life.” (LS #213)

  • Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE

READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS

  • COMING SOON – Week 2: 2025 Season of Creation Reflection



Extending Our Deepest Gratitude, Hugs & Prayers to Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND  July 31st, 2025

 
We congratulate Sr. Maxine on her retirement after 20+ years shepherding the Oblate La Vista Ecological Ministry in Godfrey, Illinois.
 
IN HER OWN WORDS:

As some of you may already know, I am transitioning from this ministry at La Vista Ecological Learning Center into the future, I want to paraphrase my favorite John Burroughs’ quote. I begin with his words:
“If I had my life to live over again and I had my choice of celestial bodies, I am sure I should take this planet, and I should choose these men and women for my friends and companions. This great rolling sphere with its sky, its stars, its sunrises and sunsets, and with its outlook into infinity – what could be more desirable? What more satisfying?…one might ransack the heavens in vain for a better or more picturesque abode”.

And now, my version:

“If I had my life to live over again, and I had my choice of ecological ministries, I am sure I should pick La Vista Ecological Learning Center, and I should choose these many faithful volunteers, passionate participants, and responsive eNews readers for my friends and companions. The novitiate land with its vista from the bluffs, with its Nature Preserve and Pollinator Garden; this office with its memories of innumerable discussion groups, programs and meetings, where is there a more desirable place? The opportunity to work with the JPIC Office Team led by Fr Séamus Finn, OMI to teach and learn with OMI novices from around the world, and to connect with so many Oblate priests and brothers, what could be more enriching and satisfying? Marking each season for twenty years with equinox and solstice celebrations, what could be more grounding and enjoyable? I might ransack our rare and precious planet in vain for a better ministry and more wonderful colleagues.”
 
With an abundance of gratitude,
Sister Maxine Pohlman, SSND

In Action: OMI Come & See Program, Bangladesh June 24th, 2025

In the Spirit of the Laudato Si, Fr. Valentine Talang, OMI, Fr. Pius Pohdueng, OMI and 14 young men who have expressed an initial desire to become Oblates and are following the OMI Come & See Program 2025, planted trees on OMI property at London Punjee (village), Lokhipur, Bangladesh.
 
Fr. Valentine was appointed moderator of the week’s Come & See Program.
 
Through this program the OMI Bangladesh Delegation recruits college and university students to become Oblates.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in: News


Students from Zambia Explore “What Is Happening to Our Common Home” June 17th, 2025

(Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director La Vista Ecological Learning Center)

Fr David P Chisha, OMI, a novice at Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in 2018, remembered learning about the impact of plastic pollution on people and planet during that year. Now a priest at Sancta Maria Mission in Zambia, he decided to invite me to share this information with parish youth; so, on May 12th we met via Zoom to discuss what is happening to our common home around the issue of plastic pollution.
Fr Chisha chose this as our topic because in Lukulu, Zambia it is common practice to throw plastic bags and bottles on the ground since waste management is not in the picture yet. We discussed the impact of this common practice, and when I mentioned that globally an enormous amount of plastic ends up in rivers and ultimately in the ocean where it breaks down into microplastics and is eaten by fish which are then eaten by humans, the young people resonated. Lukulu is located on the Zambezi River which flows into the Indian Ocean, and fish are an important part of their diet.
 
When we considered what they could do about plastic pollution, they recalled Fr Chisha encouraging them to take a basket to market as people used to do instead of accepting a plastic bag. Raphel, one of the participants, decided it was worth looking “old-fashioned”; in addition, if someone comments, he plans on sharing the reason for his behavior! Alice, also a participant, intends to bring this issue to school to see if she can make a difference there. And Fr Chisha has already begun his efforts by creating “The Voice of the Future”, a podcast on environmental issues with parish youth as guests!
 
(Click on the link to watch their first podcast about plastic: https://www.facebook.com/sanctamaria.mission/videos/451320151375694)
 
In Laudato Si, Pope Francis asked, “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” It was heartening to be with the youth he was concerned about, and it was also encouraging to be with youth and their priest who passionately care for our common home in the spirit of Pope Francis.
 
(Image 1 L to R: Raphael, Julian, Alice, Father David Chisha, OMI via Zoom)

(Image 2 Photo by Kabwe Kabwe: Pexels)
 
 

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