News Archives » Our Common Home
Preparing for the 2023 Season of Creation – “Let Justice and Peace Flow” August 30th, 2023
By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & former Executive Director of the Oblates Lebh Shomea House of Prayer
“Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.” (Laudato Si #207)
READ: 1st first part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2023 Season of Creation (below)
REFLECTION: What is God’s desire? Pope Francis begins this Season of Creation by getting immediately to the heart of the matter: God wants justice to reign. Equating the kingdom of God to right relationship with God, humanity and nature, Francis makes clear that such righteousness, authentic justice and peace, is like a nourishing stream that does not fail. As we prepare to begin this annual Season, let us reflect on the ways in which we contribute to the stream and “let justice and peace flow”. And, for a thorough ecological examen: how do some of our perceptions inhibit such a flow? From where did we imbibe these “dam-Ing” perceptions? Let us live at the heart of the matter this Season of Creation and beyond.
(Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay)
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 play with the water imagery of this year’s theme. Like a stream that flows with new water, may this Season be one of new commitment for you. “We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.” (LS closing prayer #246)
VIDEO: JPIC’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform Report September 16th, 2022
Caring for our common home is essential to Missionary Oblate’s mission to the poor, because they are the ones most affected by the devastation to the planet.
The seven-year Laudato Si’ Action Platform offers a fresh opportunity for each of us to commit to complete sustainability in the spirit of Laudato Si. Oblates JPIC is promoting the following works from Oblates and allies in the province as a step toward integral ecology.
In the Spirit of Laudato Si: Missionary Oblates Connect Communities with the Environment September 7th, 2022
In his encyclical Laudato Si’– On Care for Our Common Home (2015), Pope Francis wrote, “Whether believers or not, we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone. For believers, this becomes a question of fidelity to the Creator, since God created the world for everyone. Hence, every ecological approach needs to incorporate a social perspective which takes into account the fundamental rights of the poor and the underprivileged.” View the Vatican’s Laudato Si Action Platform online.
The COVID 19 epidemic has shown that our lives and actions are inextricably linked to those around us, including the environment. The seven-year Laudato Si‘ Action Platform offers a fresh opportunity for each of us to commit to complete sustainability in the spirit of Laudato Si. Oblates JPIC is promoting the following works from Oblates and allies in the province as a step toward integral ecology.
Watch a video introducing OMI JPIC’s Laudato Si Action Report.
Use arrows below 
to scroll through OMI JPIC’s Laudato Si Action Report.
[pdf-embedder url=”http://omiusajpic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-JPIC-Laudato-Si-Action-Platform-final-9-22.pdf” title=”2022 JPIC Laudato Si Action Platform final 9-22″]
2022 Earth Day: Mother Earth is Crying Out for Help April 20th, 2022
BISHOP MICHAEL PFEIFER, O.M.I.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
On World Earth Day which we celebrate annually on April 22rd, “Mother Earth” is crying out for help to all of her “children”, all inhabitants of the planet to urgently care for her and repair the damage that is being done to the earth, which Pope Francis calls “Our Common Home — Our mother is crying out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her”. The earth can indeed be called a “Mother”, as she provides for what we need to live.
Image designed by Freepik
Earth Day is a time to appreciate the wonderful gift of planet earth and to commit ourselves, each and everyone around the world to assure her survival in the future. The theme of Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in Our Planet”. Together all nations of the world indeed must invest much more time, effort, and resources in our earth to ensure a green, healthy, equitable and prosperous future. More than ever, we need to act boldly, innovate broadly, and implement equitably. It is going to take all of us businesses, governments of the world, churches, schools, all citizens, both the young and the old to accomplish this.
The 2021 Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1-Oct. 4 September 1st, 2021
Season of Creation invites us to contemplate the theme, “A Home for All?”
Photo courtesy of Niko Photos, Unsplash
A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God is the theme of this year’s Season of Creation, which will be an opportunity to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together.
During the Season of Creation, Catholics join the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home to renew the Oikos of God.
To help with your personal reflections, Earthbeat @ National Catholic Reporter, will run a featured series every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the Season of Creation. Visit this page for their At Home in Creation Series.
Find additional resources at these links:
- Season of Creation Watch a video that explains…what is Oikos? https://youtu.be/h9YPN84q3S8
- Laudato Si’ Movement
- Laudato Si’ Action Platform
- Catholic Climate Covenant
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – JPIC Tips for living sustainably – download brochures in English & Spanish
- World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation – Prayer Service
