Season of Creation: Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home

Season of Creation is an ecumenical initiative, promoted by the major Christian Churches, to promote prayer and action for the care of creation around the world, especially in the period between September 1 and 4 ‘October. It has its origins in 1989, when the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Churches, Bartholomew I, established September 1 as a Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Several Reformed Christian Churches were joined during the next years. Pope Francis joined the Catholic Church in this initiative in 2015, shortly after promulgating the encyclical Laudato Si ’. September 1st is the beginning of the liturgical year in Orthodox and  Eastern Christian churches and October 4 is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology.

An Ecumenical Board of Directors was created to encourage prayer and action for creation and to offer resources to Christians. In the Roman Catholic Church, coordination is articulated through the Global Catholic Climate Movement. The Season of Creation website offers a guide with proposals to celebrate the season and share experiences.