Season of Creation 2025

This year's Season of Creation has as its theme "Peace with Creation", inspired by the passage from Isaiah 32:14-18; "My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." In a world of challenges and division, marked by war and climate change, how can we as people of faith create and work towards peace with creation?

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.

We hope that the following resources will help you and your parish community to celebrate the Season of Creation 2025. The resources below are compiled by the Laudato Si' Working Group of the Irish Bishop's Conference. You can find further resources on the international website: www.seasonofcreation.org 

1. Sunday Liturgy Notes for Season of Creation 2025: This resource includes homily notes for each Sunday, prayers of the faithful, music suggestions, reflections and mass parts which highlight the call to "Let Justice and Peace Flow".
2. Mass and prayer for the Care of Creation: This resource is for celebration of the new Mass for Care for Creation on weekdays, ad experimentum 
3. Season of creation prayer 2025 (from seasonofcreation.org )
4. Ribbons of Peace – a short 10 minute liturgical moment that could be done within parish activities, at the end of the Sunday Mass or even at the start of parish meetings that occur during the Season of Creation.
5. Nurturing your family faith in nature: This resource from Trócaire is ideal for a children's group, youth group or any family or community setting where people can explore their relationship with God's Creation through reflection and activities.
6. Rubbish graveyard – a resource which helps to show people just how long it takes for items to biodegrade. You might create a space in your parish to display it. This is a helpful activity for children's liturgy or youth group. With thanks to An Tairseach Ecology Centre.
7. A blessing for animals: On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October ) parishes might like to invite people to bring their pets for a special blessing. This resource will help support this activity. "Praise be to you my Lord, with all your creatures." (Canticle of Creation).
8. An ecological rosary: Slides to accompany an Ecological Rosary from the Laudato Si' Movement.
9. Creation walk moments:  adapted from the booklet by Father Brian Grogan SJ, 'Creation Walk: The amazing story of a small blue planet'.  You may use this resource in your parish community by setting up 'moments' around the church, or around your parish, to convey the different stages of the story of our universe.  This resource will provide people with an opportunity to experience the wonder and awe of God's creation and to become familiar with the story of our universe.  Did you know that there is now a beautiful Creation Walk at Knock Shrine?  You might consider bringing your parish group to visit it.  You can read about it here.
10. Tree planting resource: engage your parish or diocese in tree planting initiatives this year.  Thanks to 'Easy Treesie' we have all the tips you need and prayers for a tree planting service.

Other Useful Resources:

• – Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April each year. This beautiful prayer service could be adapted for use at any time of the year, particularly during the Season of Creation. With thanks to the Care for Creation team in Balally Parish, Dublin.

The Season of Creation 2025 offers a timely opportunity for schools and youth groups to guide young people in prayer, reflection and hope-filled action as they journey into the new academic year. 

This year's theme, "Peace with Creation" speaks powerfully to the concerns of young people today – concern for the planet, for each other, and for their future. This theme is rooted in the words of the prophet Isaiah (32:14-18), which describe the lack of peace when justice is ignored and land is left desolate. These words challenge school and youth communities to consider how our lifestyles, choices and systems affect our world and the lives of others – especially the poor and vulnerable who cause the least harm to our Common Home, yet suffer the most from the effects of climate change. 

The supporting resources reinforce the idea that peace is not only about the absence of conflict, but also about living in harmony with all of Creation.

• Season of Creation 2025 Assembly (Primary Schools).pptx
• Ribbons for Peace (Primary Schools).pdf

• Ribbons for Peace (Post-Primary Schools).pdf
• Season of Creation 2025 Assembly (Post-Primary Schools).pptx​
  

Pope Francis' encyclical letter 'Laudato Si' - Care of our common home' is addressed to "every person living on this planet". Laudato Si' was published on 18 June 2015, in eight languages. At the time, many held great hopes that it would be a powerful voice of influence in three major UN moments, one of which was the UNFCCC Paris Agreement on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

What is an encyclical?
An encyclical is a letter circulated by the Pope to Catholic churches worldwide. It is sent directly from our Holy Father in Rome to Catholics all over the world and is often addressed to all people of good will, namely non-Catholics who may also want to read the document. Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si' - Care of our common home' is addressed to "every person living on this planet".

Where can I see the Laudato Si letter?
The encyclical letter 'Laudato Si' is published on the Vatican website - click here to view.