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2025 Season of Creation: “Seeds of Peace and Hope” Reflection #2 September 2nd, 2025
(By Maurice Lange, Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
“Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.”(Laudato Si #246)
READ: 2nd part of Pope Leo’s letter for the 2025 Season of Creation (view PDF)
Image by Alexa, Pixabay
REFLECTION: “…a spirit from on high will be poured out on us…”. Like those unexpected seeds that blossom next to roadways, Pope Leo tells us that we too are seeds: of peace and hope. With God’s help I’ve created several fertile gardens over the years. With first some imagining and then digging, that which was seemingly lifeless sprang into fruitfulness. (Well… the addition of a little manure helped as well!) So too, God’s Spirit is poured onto us for fertilization. Those gifts within us which lie dormant are enabled to bear much fruit. The possibilities within our seed-ness are realized: the building of God’s reign of justice and peace
ACTION: Sept. 1 was the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation. Just as the life within seeds is coaxed forth by soil, warmth and moisture…we pray for the creation of positive and healthy environments, so that the goodness of many people may be evoked.
“The current global situation engenders a feeling of instability and uncertainty, which in turn becomes ‘a seedbed for collective selfishness’ … …a change in lifestyle could bring healthy pressure to bear on those who wield political, economic and social power.” (Laudato Si #204,206)
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Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE
READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS
- Week 1: 2025 Season of Creation Reflection
- Week 2: 2025 Season of Creation Reflection
- Week 3: 2025 Season of Creation Reflection – COMING SOON
2025 Season of Creation: Peace with Creation August 26th, 2025
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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.
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)
“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
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?
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)
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Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE
READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS
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COMING SOON – Week 2: 2025 Season of Creation Reflection
Extending Our Deepest Gratitude, Hugs & Prayers to Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND July 31st, 2025
In Action: OMI Come & See Program, Bangladesh June 24th, 2025
