(ANS) – The universal Church is gearing up to celebrate the Season of Creation 2025, a significant time of prayer and action for the care of our common home. This ecumenical event begins on 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, and concludes on 4 October, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. The Season of Creation invites all Christians to renew their relationship with God and all of creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment. This year’s theme, “Peace with Creation,” highlights the urgent need to cultivate harmony with the environment and our fellow human beings.
The Salesian Family has embraced the Season of Creation as an important aspect of its mission. Salesian communities and institutions worldwide are busy planning and preparing activities to mark this special time. Reflecting on the importance of this occasion, Fr. Rafael Bejarano Rivera, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, stated:
“General Chapter 29 has pointed out that integral ecology is a privileged field of educational and pastoral work. This is very true, as young people are deeply concerned about environmental challenges and the impact these issues have on their lives. The Season of Creation is a significant moment in the year for us to strengthen the ecological dimension of our youth ministry.”
Speaking about the theme “Peace with Creation,” Fr. Bejarano further remarked: “It is heartbreaking to witness the wars and conflicts raging in so many parts of the world today. The theme for the Season of Creation 2025, which focuses on peace, is highly relevant to our times. As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’, ‘everything is connected.’ Protecting the environment, working for justice, and promoting peace are interconnected values that are essential for the formation of ‘Good Christians and Honest Citizens’ today.”
In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2025, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the urgency of environmental justice: “Environmental justice – implicitly proclaimed by the prophets – can no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal. It is an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment. It is a matter of justice – social, economic, and human. For believers, it is also a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed. In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation, and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity.”
The Don Bosco Green Alliance (DBGA), the Salesian Congregation’s platform for integral ecology, plays an active role as a member of the Season of Creation Steering Committee. Fr. Savio Silveira, Coordinator of DBGA, has encouraged Provincial Youth Ministry Delegates to organize meaningful celebrations across their provinces. He shared: “Several ideas and resources on how to observe the Season of Creation are available on the official website. I urge all communities and institutions to use these materials to inspire prayer, reflection, and action for the care of creation.”
The Season of Creation 2025 offers a unique opportunity for Christians worldwide, including the Salesian Family, to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the environment, promoting justice, and fostering peace – values that lie at the heart of the Gospel and the mission of St. John Bosco.
Source: ANS – “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana”