Care for Creation
“We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.”
~ Pope Francis
Our Catholic faith teaches that we are stewards of God’s creation. We are called to respect our environment and all the life on it. As we face an urgent and complex environmental crisis, we are called to act on behalf of the earth and the poorest communities around the world who are most affected.
Season of Creation
The Season of Creation is celebrated from September 1 to October 4. Pope Francis established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the Roman Catholic Church in 2015, and in 2019 started celebrating the Season of Creation as well. Throughout the month-long celebration, we join our brothers and sisters in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home. Learn more.
In 2015, Pope Francis wrote an encyclical, Laudato Si “Praise Be to You” focused on care for our common home. In this letter, he criticizes human behaviors that degrade our environment and lead to global warming, while explaining how our care for the planet is intricately connected to caring for the poor. He urges everyone to take “swift and unified global action.” Pope Francis wrote a follow-up encyclical, Laudate Deum “Praise God,” in 2023 expressing frustration for the lack of action and laying out a plea to take action on the climate crisis.
Action Platform
To help Catholics take tangible action that addresses today’s urgent ecological crisis, the Vatican developed the Laudato Si Action Platform. This global initiative outlines action plans across 7 sectors: Families, Parishes and Diocese, Educational Institutions, Healthcare, Organizations, Economic Sector and Religious.
Our local response
The Archdiocese of Seattle is currently developing an archdiocesan-wide action plan to bring awareness, education and action to local parish, schools, and ministries.
Upcoming Events
St. James Cathedral
804 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA, USA1st Annual Mass for Creation
Join Archbishop Etienne for the Annual Mass for Creation, a Mass marking the beginning of the new Season of Creation. ...
Resources
- Ten Years of U.S. Catholic Engagement on Laudato Si’
- Laudato Si' Action Platform (humandevelopment.va)
- Laudato Si' Movement (laudatosimovement.org)
- Laudato Si' Action (piattaformadiiniziativelaudatosi.org)
- We're all part of God's plan(et) (godsplanet.us)
- Laudato Si Introduction
Contact
Terri Nelson
Director of Integral Human Development
206-274-3103