Care for Our Common Home | Bishop Farrell Library & Archives

The Season of Creation is a time where “Christians worldwide renew their faith in the God of creation and join in prayer and work for the care of our common home.” (Pope Francis, World Day of Prayer for Creation, 1 September 2020). It begins each year on September 1^st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and concludes on October 4^th, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is a time for prayer and ministry toward awareness, action, and transformational change as stewards of creation.

Screenshot of the Season of Creation Prayer for the year 2021. — The theme for the 2021 *Season of Creation* was *A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God*

In this moment, as we struggle to protect our planet, Pope Francis’s seminal encyclical Laudato Si’ offers a call to an ecological conversion, one that reminds us that we are an integral part of creation. Pope Francis calls the faithful and all of humanity to react to the globalization of indifference. Take on the challenge by reflecting on your role as an integral part of creation. How can you make an impact and contribute to the common good?

The Bishop Farrell Library & Archives in partnership with the Diocese of Hamilton Pastoral Offices has developed Care for Our Common Home: A Guided Reflection, a resource to aid in prayerfully reflecting on how we can act as stewards of creation. Passages from Laudato Si’ are considered alongside the beautiful and thought provoking imagery of The Saint John’s Bible, to emphasize themes of Family, Community, and Dignity of the Human Person; Divine Creation: Unity of the World; and Sciences and Technology. Suggested actions are provided to help extend the reflection from contemplation to service. The guide can be used independently or incorporated into supplementary programming.

Click Care for Our Common Home: A Guided Reflection to download the resource!

*Care for Our Common Home: Guided Reflection* explores the beauty of *The Saint John’s Bible* illuminations, while prayerfully reflecting on how we can act as stewards of creation.

Please visit Laudato Si’: Diocese of Hamilton to learn more about Laudato Si’ and our Diocesan commitment to ecological conversion.

You can also book virtual programming with The Saint John’s Bible or discover the services and resources available from our Pastoral Offices on the Diocese of Hamilton’s website.

Screenshot of the Diocese of Hamilton's Laudato Si Website — The Diocese of Hamilton’s online portal to engaging with *Laudato Si’* https://laudatosi.hamiltondiocese.com/ invites visitors to understand the important messages of the encyclical and use them to invoke change in their communities.

We encourage you to make use of Care for Our Common Home: A Guided Reflection to reflect on the significance of family and community; divine creation; and sciences and technology and how we can all work to care for our common home.