From Prayer to Action: Building Peace with Creation

 The theme for the Season of Creation 2025 is “Peace with Creation.” It invites reflection on the ecological challenges facing the planet and calls for renewed commitment to justice, sustainability, and spiritual renewal.

Each year, from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, until October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Christians worldwide join in prayer and action to celebrate God as Creator and to reaffirm humanity’s role as stewards of the Earth.

In his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis described the Earth as “our Sister, Mother Earth,” who cries out because of the harm caused by irresponsible use of natural resources. He stressed the need for “ecological conversion,” a transformation of heart and lifestyle that goes beyond environmental awareness and embraces a renewed relationship with creation. This includes adopting sustainable practices, reducing waste, and seeing creation as a sacred trust rather than a commodity.

Biblical Inspiration: Isaiah’s Vision of Justice and Peace

This year’s theme draws on Isaiah 32:14–18, which envisions a world where justice and righteousness bring lasting peace. The passage reminds us that ecological peace requires action, choosing simplicity over excess, solidarity over isolation, and sustainability over exploitation.

Creation’s Song and Cry

Pope Francis has described creation as a “cosmic choir,” where all creatures sing praises to God. Yet, alongside this beauty, he acknowledges the lament of a world damaged by pollution, deforestation, and consumerism. The Season of Creation seeks to hold both realities, the harmony and the brokenness, and to encourage responses rooted in hope and responsibility.

Seeds of Peace and Hope

The symbol for 2025, the Garden of Peace, features a dove with an olive branch, recalling the story of Noah and the renewal that followed the flood. It highlights the possibility of new beginnings even in difficult times. In his message for the season, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the Earth should not be seen as a battleground for resources but as a gift entrusted to human care.

From Reflection to Action

The Season of Creation encourages concrete steps for individuals and communities, including:

1. Sustainable agriculture: Supporting local, organic farming practices that nourish both people and the planet.
2. Eco-friendly transport: Choosing walking, cycling, or public transit to reduce emissions.
3. Waste reduction and recycling: Minimizing consumption and reusing materials to protect ecosystems.
4. Education and ecological spirituality: Integrating environmental awareness into faith formation and community life.
5. Advocacy for climate justice: Engaging in policy change and civic action to protect vulnerable populations.
6. Community garden days and tree planting: Reconnecting with the soil and fostering biodiversity.

- Interfaith prayer services: Uniting diverse traditions in a shared commitment to creation care.

A Shared Responsibility

“Peace with creation” is not just a theme but a call to action, particularly on behalf of the poor and vulnerable who bear the brunt of environmental harm. As Pope Francis has reminded the faithful: “Everything is interconnected… genuine care for our own lives and our relationships with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and faithfulness to others.”

This Season of Creation is an opportunity for renewal, of hearts, communities, and the planet.