Each year from September 1 to October 4, we are encouraged to join in a worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home – the Season of Creation. It is a special season where we celebrate God as Creator and acknowledge the continuing unfolding of Creation. All people around the globe are called to share in this through their love and care for the gift of all that is created. As we know, our well-being is interwoven with the well-being of the Earth.
This year, the theme for the season is “Peace with Creation”, with the Symbol for 2025 being the Garden of Peace.
The symbol is characterised by a dove carrying an olive branch bringing life to the Garden of Peace.
In the Biblical story of the flood, the dove plays the role of the blessed messenger: The dove sent out by Noah returns to the ark with a fresh olive branch in its beak, signalling that the flood is receding.
The flood story begins with “the earth is filled with violence” (Genesis 6:13), and so the return of the dove with the olive branch came to be known as a sign of new peace. In our time, this call for peace echoes strongly in so many parts of our fragile world.
Many resources are available for use in our ministries and workplaces. You can access them here. [https://seasonofcreation.org/]
- If you have a garden at home or onsite in your workplace, consider making it a focus during this Season of Creation. If not, there may be opportunities to create a ‘virtual’ garden of peace, an oasis or reflective space where you can go amid your personal and professional busyness.
- At the start of a meeting, you could invite your colleagues to reflect upon and share their insights into the Season’s theme and biblical symbol.
- As a leader, you could create opportunities for sharing the cultural, religious or traditional Creation stories which are significant for your ministry colleagues and those whom your ministry accompanies on a daily basis.
Our MMC Values of Compassion, Hope, Hospitality, Justice and Respect underpin the mutuality of our relationships with God, each other and our common home. To care for our Common Home is a Work of Mercy. May we be attentive to the opportunities which come our way to engage wholeheartedly in this Work of Mercy during the Season of Creation. May we recognise the ‘olive branches’ being offered in our spheres of influence.
Annette Schneider rsm.
Pentecost painting (2024) by Magda Lee, Gracie Mosquito and Imelda Gugamen (Balgo Community).