News Archives » Season of Creation
A Journey with Trees during the Season of Creation October 3rd, 2024
By Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
The journey began when the Novitiate groundskeeper along with a volunteer for the Oblates’ Nature
Preserve observed the unusual size of a stately Basswood tree on the front lawn of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Godfrey, IL, one all of us passed by for many years without taking notice. But they did, and we decided to nominate the tree to be certified as a “Big Tree Champion”, winning it a place on Illinois’ Big Tree Register.
The next step was to measure the tree and have our measurements checked by a “verifier” sent by the University of Illinois Extension, who sponsors this program. During his visit, the verifier noticed a row of Black Locusts along the drive which appear to have been planted as a windbreak. Recently, our groundskeeper had also noticed those trees and after doing some research, he discovered that very likely it was the Civilian Conservation Corps, nicknamed “Roosevelt’s Tree Army”, that planted those trees almost 100 years ago! Black locusts and white pines are among the kinds they planted, and white pines are also obvious on the Novitiate land. So, we measured and verified one of the largest Black Locust and nominated it as well.
We waited with excitement to find out if both trees were large enough, including height, circumference, and canopy spread, to be certified as state champions. It wasn’t long before we heard from Justin Vozzo, Specialist in Forestry and Coordinator of Illinois’ Big Tree Register, that both trees will now appear on the register as State Champions. To celebrate, we focused on the trees at our Autumn Equinox celebration on September 21st (see photo). Participants expressed gratitude for the Oblates who have taken care of this land and these trees for decades, giving them the chance to grow and serve the ecosystem in so many ways and survive long enough to become champions!
More important than this recognition by the State, however, is the importance of Big Trees for the ecosystem. Justin Vozzo shared his thoughts about the value of the program: “The Illinois Big Tree Registry program provides a unique opportunity to get people excited about trees, the benefits they provide, and the challenges they face. Many of our champion trees are awe-striking, and when people see them, they want to learn more about these incredible organisms. All trees provide valuable services including reducing stormwater runoff, removing pollution from the air, and protecting crops from wind damage to name a few. However, trees face many challenges which prevent most from ever becoming champion-sized. For example, pesticide drift, construction damage, and extended droughts all stress trees and can even lead to their death. It is important that we try and reduce and minimize these effects on all trees so that we can all benefit from the services they provide. No one knows which tree might be a future champion, maybe hundreds of years from now, but one can almost surely say that in the future, our champion trees will be affected by what people did or did not do to support them”.
This year’s Season of Creation will long be remembered as one that aligned us more deeply to the importance of caring for creation at this precarious time on our rare and precious planet.
- Visit La Vista Ecological Learning Center’s website to learn more about their programs
- Visit the National Register of Champion Trees to find one in your area: https://www.americanforests.org/…/champion-trees-registry/
Celebrating the Season of Creation at Sacred Heart Church: Oakland, CA October 2nd, 2024
Contributed by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI
International World Day of Peace for a city wide clean up “From Creek to Bay.” We joined with 35 other groups from all over the city, over 500 volunteers! For our part, we collected over 250 Gallons of trash.
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 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)
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Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE
READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS
What is the Season of Creation? August 27th, 2024
Pope Francis calls for a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
By: Bishop Michael Pfeifer, O.M.I, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
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The Season of Creation is an ecumenical monthlong moment of prayerful reflection and celebration which began several years ago and calls us to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During this Season we join together as sisters and brothers of a universal family in prayer and action to renew our appreciation, our commitment, and our care and activities to protect and bring new life to Mother Earth, our Common Home, as we thank our loving God for the beautiful gift of all creation.
The theme for this Season of Creation is “To Hope and Act with Creation” and it is also the theme designated by Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer of Creation which takes place on September 1st , the first day of the annual Season of Creation, which will end on October 4th , the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis is the Patron Saint of ecology and is beloved by many Christian and other denominations. Pope Francis in the statement Laudato Si calls Mother Earth, our Common Home, that we will pass on to the next generations. Pope Francis’ World Day of Prayer focuses on thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for the beautiful gift of all of creation, and asking God’s continuing blessings on this wonderful gift.
The Laudato Si Movement points out that in accord with this year’s theme of Hope, the symbol is the first fruits of hope inspired by (Rom 8;19-25) which is to produce new life. The biblical image pictures the Earth as a mother groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8;22). Saint Francis understood this when he referred often to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. In so many ways the present moment we live sadly shows that we are not fully relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator but most often as a resource to be used selfishly and not to protect, to enrich, and renew this wonderful gift. “Creation is groaning” (Rom 8;22) because of our selfishness and our unsustainable actions that harm her.
