SEASON OF CREATION

Justice and Peace Issues

The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a season, extending the celebration from September 1 until October 4.Fittingly, this year’s theme is “Peace with Creation” with the symbol “Garden of Peace”, inspired by Isaiah 32:14-18.GLOBAL PRAYERJoin the Laudato Si Movement for their launch service on Creation Day, September 1 at 9 am ET. Registration not required. Simply join the prayer service that is being livestreamed.SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIESIn 2025, the Catholic Church is celebrating two significant anniversaries related to environmental stewardship and faith:10th Anniversary of Laudato Si’This year marks the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on the environment, which calls for an integral ecology that honors both the natural world and the dignity of every human person. In the spirit of Laudato Si’, we are committed to advancing a culture of care for our common home, tackling the climate crisis, and fostering a deep respect for the earth’s resources and ecosystems. 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home” in which we are encouraged to care for the planet we share;800th Anniversary of the Canticle of the CreaturesThis year marks the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures: St. Francis of Assisi’s poetic reflection on creation as a mirror of God’s love. His legacy, as patron saint of ecology, continues to guide and inspire us to work towards healing the natural world.SEASON of CREATION WEBSITEMore resources, including webinars and prayer services, sample promotional materials, and the official Season of Creation social media channels, are available online. Click on this link to access all these materials.

The group sponsors anti-gun Lenten programs focusing on fasting and prayer. Other times of the year the sisters promote campaigns to wear orange, a symbol of the anti-gun movement. Fasting against gun violence is a spiritual practice promoted by the sisters, who would like to see it become a part of American parish life.

Nuns Against Gun Violence says that in fasting, those who participate are offering “a small sacrifice in solidarity with all those suffering from gun violence.” Last Lent, members began their fast on Ash Wednesday with a noon online prayer, Scripture reading, silence, and a reflection, a practice they will continue.

Fasting is “a public prayer that purifies not only the one fasting but the entire community, preparing us to stand our ground against the powers and principalities,” the group noted in a 2024 press release. Whether via prayer, social action, or both, the sisters remain committed to overcoming the apathy and indifference about what they see as a clear and present danger in our midst. In its appeal for their Lenten fast against killings, Nuns Against Gun Violence asks those participating to do more than pray. “The loss of life and continuous toll of grief and trauma on individuals, families, and communities compel us to take action to change our society to protect life,” the group noted.

By combining prayer with action, Nuns Against Gun Violence’s hope is that, one day, prayers will no longer be needed to mark the deaths of youths and that the listing of victims in any routine week in America will be empty. The sisters have a long way to go.

Associates

Prayer Requests

Ways of Giving

Holy Union Music

Holy Union Videos

Sr. Paul Rita's Art Gallery