One of the agreements that we assumed at the Conference of Santa María de Guadalupe Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean was to participate this year’ celebration of the “Season of Creation” from September 1 to October 4. This year’s theme was “Walking Together” as brothers and sisters, and as pilgrims and protectors of the Creation. In his opening message for the Season of Creation, Pope Francis asked us to pay particular attention to water, and the global problems surrounding it.
The JPIC Commission of the Province made two videos to sensitize, organize and invite to our events; banners were also made with a unique logo of this celebration on them and distributed in all the parishes, convents, houses of formation and schools. Besides, a subsidy was distributed for the Eucharistic celebration and a holy hour for the creation, and another subsidy to reflect on the care and protection of the sister Water. Some photos were also edited with phrases from Laudato si’and with prayers for our sister, Mother Earth.
At the provincial level, we began the Season of Creation with the mass presided by the Provincial Minister Br. Juan Medina, OFM together with several other friars and the OFS of the region of el Señor del Sacromontein the Parish of San Juan de los Lagos in the city of Nezahualcóyotl. This year, many fraternities of the province participated in the event together with the OFS and the YOUFRA.
This year’s activities were Eucharistic celebrations, holy hours, Franciscan Crown, the way of the cross, all with the intention of integral ecology. The participants celebrated them in their churches, on the streets and even at homes, trying to reflect on the care of the sister Mother Earth as suggested in the encyclical Laudato si’. Also, there were some other simple but creative activities performed. For example, the participants recycled the sacks of flour, transformed them into shopping bags, decorated them with the logo of the Season of Creation hand painted, and decorated paint cans to turn them into waste bins which were given away to the fraternity. The friars installed PET recycling containers in their convent
This year’s activities were Eucharistic celebrations, holy hours, Franciscan Crown, the way of the cross, all with the intention of integral ecology. The participants celebrated them in their churches, on the streets and even at homes, trying to reflect on the care of the sister Mother Earth as suggested in the encyclical Laudato si’. Also, there were some other simple but creative activities performed. For example, the participants recycled the sacks of flour, transformed them into shopping bags, decorated them with the logo of the Season of Creation hand painted, and decorated paint cans to turn them into waste bins which were given away to the fraternity. The friars installed PET recycling containers in their convent.
Ecological marches were performed where the streets and community green spaces were swept away. Some marches in schools and convents also included the program of greening their gardens, etc. In other fraternities, there were workshops on recycling, herbal and traditional medicine, homemade water filters, organic compost for gardening. As a result, the novitiate house decided to grow vegetables in an organic way. Some sessions of special reflection on the care of our Common Home were organized for children, youth and adults in the parishes of the indigenous people. There were also held ecological conferences in some other communities. They organized programs on the encyclical Laudato si’which they broadcast on the radio in the town.
There were many more activities that I still didn’t get informed. This year’s Franciscan celebration of the Season of Creation was grand, and it raised awareness of our responsibility to take care for and protect our Mother Earth. I hope and pray that God will help us to take up this initiative with enthusiasm and become His instruments of God for the care of our Common Home.
Peace and all Good!
Br. Samuel López Padilla OFM
JPIC Animator, Holy Gospel Province