The World Day
of Prayer for the Care of Creation is observed annually on September 1 to
encourage believers to pray for the planet and take action to protect it.
Established by Pope Francis for the Catholic Church in 2015, the day marks the
beginning of the Season of Creation, a month-long period of prayer and advocacy
for environmental stewardship that extends to October 4. Pope Francis adopted
the day for the Roman Catholic Church, coinciding with the release of his
encyclical letter Laudato Si': Care for Our Common Home.
Communities
are encouraged to engage in various forms of prayer, such as meditative nature
walks, liturgical celebrations, and reading scripture.
The day
promotes practical steps, including advocating for rapid decarbonization,
supporting a just energy transition to renewable sources, and preserving
natural resources.
It serves as a
time to reflect on the connection between social justice and environmental
protection, and the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on
vulnerable communities.
There are many
resources available for this Season focusing on care for the planet and to
advocate for it. Resources can be found online at: https://seasonofcreation.org/.