Season of Creation | Archdiocese of Baltimore

POPE SPEAKS: Pope Francis calls the environment a “wonderful gift” that God places in our hands. Watch the video above.

Pope Francis has designated a “Season of Creation” from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

“It’s a favorable time to praise God for all his creatures & to be responsible given the cry of the Earth,” the Holy Father said in a Sept. 1 tweet.

What are you doing to protect the environment? How is your parish or school involved? How are you celebrating the Season of Creation?

Tell us about it by emailing George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org. Share your stories on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Facebook and Twitter pages, using the #SeasonofCreation and #IamCatholic hashtags.

To see what the U.S. bishops are doing to protect the environment, click here.

Take the Pope Francis Pledge to Protect the Environment!

Read Laudato Si', the pope's encyclical on the environment

NEWS & COMMENTARY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

September 12, 2019
Pope calls for global alliance to better educate young people
Pope Francis said the challenges facing humanity and the Earth are so urgent and important that he has invited world leaders, educators and young people to come to the Vatican next spring to launch a global alliance for building a new, more humane future.
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September 1, 2019
Repent, convert, pray, give up fossil fuels, pope says
"Now is the time to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, toward forms of clean energy," Pope Francis said as he marked the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
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August 26, 2019
Pope, bishops urge action to save burning Amazon rainforest
Describing the Amazon rainforest as "vital for our planet," Pope Francis joined the regions bishops in praying for action to extinguish the massive fires burning there.
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August 9, 2019
In new interview, pope explains aim of synod, warns against nationalism
The upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon is an "urgent" gathering, not of scientists and politicians, but for the church whose main focus in discussions will be evangelization, Pope Francis said in a new interview.
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July 11, 2019
Praising God for gift of creation leads to respect for it, pope says
The pope said the current situation in the South American rainforest “is a sad paradigm of what is happening in many parts of the planet.”
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March 21, 2019
To protect Earth, change lifestyles, say church, indigenous leaders
Participants at the Washington gathering looked at some of the data showing what can happen if places such as the Amazon keep experiencing deforestation at the current rate.
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July 18, 2018
Names & Numbers: Schools embrace environment; ‘Men in Black’ winners on basketball court
The latest installment of Names and Numbers features schools embracing to the environment, honors for a Baltimore hospital leader, musicians from a local high school and more.
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June 7, 2018
Pope applauds patriarch’s call to protect the planet, protect people
Pope Francis said that when he was on the Greek island of Lesbos, "while enchanted by the scenery of the blue sky and sea, I was struck by the thought that such a beautiful sea had become a tomb for men, women and children who had for the most part sought only to escape inhumane conditions in their own homelands."
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April 25, 2018
Holy Cows: Partnership in Howard County aids those in need in Baltimore City
Part of the shrine’s acreage was leased for farming that used pesticides. Upon re-evaluating, the friars determined that the current usage was not cohesive with the message of the Franciscans on being stewards of the land.
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February 17, 2017
Archbishop Gregory opens Mid-Atlantic Congress with keynote address on creation
The evidence seems to be incontrovertible that human beings are not tending the world as God created it, the archbishop said.
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July 20, 2015
California governor says ‘Laudato Si’’ was necessary wake-up call
Elections, like profit reports, have regular short-term rhythms, which is why Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on the environment was so “appropriate and absolutely essential” for waking people up to the dangers of climate change, said California Gov. Jerry Brown.
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July 5, 2015
Defining moment: Glossary of terminology used in Laudato Si’
In his encyclical on ecology, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," Pope Francis coined several new terms.
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