C&SI - Season of Creation 2023 - 27 Aug 2023 (S03E40)

On this weeks podcast we are joined by Jane Mellet (Trocaire) and Rose O'Connor (Limerick diocese) to talk about the Season Creation 2023. This year’s theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow” taking inspiration from the Prophet Amos who declares: “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24).

We have our usual run through the liturgical odds and ends including saints of the week and of course our reflection on the Sunday gospel (Matthew 16:13-20) where the question posed by Jesus to the apostles is very much the question to be posed to each and every Christian today - "Who do you say I am?"

Season of Creation 2023 #SoC
The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since Pope Francis established 1 September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.

This year’s theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow” taking inspiration from the Prophet Amos who declares: “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24). And so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

Resources mentioned on the podcast are listed below. A lot of the resources link to each other.

• Laudato Si page on the Irish Conference of Bishops
• Season of Creation resources from Irish Conference of Bishops
• Trocaire website for Season of Creation 2023
• Season of Creation international website 

For our more local listeners in Limerick:

• River Walk (ecumenical event on ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’) Sunday 10th September 3pm to 4:30pm.  Beginning at King John’s Castle, over Thomond Bridge to Treaty Stone & St Munchin’s Church, down Clancy Strand, on to Sarsfield Bridge, on to Arthur’s Quay, finishing at St Mary’s Cathedral. (No charge)
• ‘God in a Leaf’ bookclub. Three-week programme with input each night from author Brian Grogan SJ. Information here (scroll down the page).
• Blessing of Pets – feast of St Francis of Assisi. Blessing of pets in the garden by St Lelia’s Church, 11am Wednesday 4th October.
• For parishes, resources for prayers of the faithful, a template for tree planting, a creation walk, and a green policy have been circulated to the usual parish contact points as well.