News Archives » maurice lange
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 Reflection – “To Hope & Act with Creation” September 3rd, 2024
(By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
These reflections are inspired by Pope Francis’ 2024 letter for the Season of Creation. Each ponders 1 of 9 topics in Francis’ writing, with focus given to the 2024 theme of “To Hope & Act with Creation.”
“We need only take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling into serious disrepair. Hope would have us recognize that…we can always redirect our steps.” (Laudato Si #61)
READ: 1st part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2024 Season of Creation (below)
(Image by Almeida, Pixabay)
REFLECTION: : How did we come to have faith? Pope Francis begins this Season with a basic question that prompts serious reflection. What is your response? In examining the theme for this year’s Season of Creation, I’m struck by various parts of the phrase “To Hope & Act with Creation”. Throughout the next several weeks we’ll be pondering this theme along with each segment of Francis’ letter. Three cheers for the Holy Spirit who gifts us with faith and evokes our creativity! During this Season, let us, along with Creation and our God of love, co-create a world of justice, a world at peace.
ACTION: The Season of Creation begins September 1 and continues through October 4. Procure and keep a Season of Creation journal. Ponder the implications of how truly hoping and acting “with Creation” might challenge, enhance and deepen your Christian calling.
“All it takes is one good person to restore hope!” (LS #71)
-
Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE
READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS
2023 Season of Creation – “Harmonize Our Hearts” September 7th, 2023
(Image by Shirley Hirst from Pixabay)
By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & former Executive Director of the Oblates Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
“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)
READ: 2nd part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2023 Season of Creation (READ FULL REFLECTION)
REFLECT: Pope Francis calls us during this Season of Creation to dwell upon heartbeats: our own as well as those heartbeats which give us life: our mother’s… Creation’s…God’s… A pilgrimage place (like Lac St. Anne in Canada) is healing…and also inviting of an individual/group to go to the heart of the matter. Francis focuses us this Season by inviting us to journey with him on a pilgrimage. We are called to harmonize our hearts (our perceptions and lifestyles) with the heartbeat of Creation, that which gives life. Where do our hearts beat in harmony with Life? What influences in our society allure us away from such a harmony?
ACT: As we begin this year’s Season of Creation, we must admit how out-of-sync our Western hearts are with the rest of the natural world. Is there a link between such disharmony and our Western addiction to screentime (and derived dopamine)? * During this Season of Creation, create a plan to limit screentime. (And thus, have time and attentiveness to harmonize your heart with that which truly gives life.)
“In the heart of this world, the Lord of life, who loves us so much, is always present.” (LS #245)
Reflections in this series:
Oblate Community Supported Garden Highlighted in Award-Winning Local Newspaper January 8th, 2009
Interest in fresher, healthier foods has made CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture projects) increasingly popular. The Oblate CSA at La Vista in Godfrey, Illinois was highlighted recently in an informative article on the fast growing movement.
