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How can we observe and celebrate Creation Day?
Every Christian, no matter where s/he is on September 1 – at home
or on transit, at work or at school, in the hospital or on holiday - is invited to reflect a) on the meaning and purpose of
creation b) on her/his own existence as a creature within a creation of beauty and pain c) on the love of the Creator that
sustains His beloved creation. On September 1, s/he can examine her/his ecological con-science regarding sins against God’s
creation. On September 1, s/he can make resolutions for a personal eco-logical conversion.
All dioceses, parishes, basic ecclesial communities, religious congregations, houses of formation, convents,
semi-naries, schools, universities, offices, and factories are invited to organize a major activity on Creation Day to launch
a local program observing Creation Time and celebrating God’s creation.
Creation Day and Creation Time con-clude with a prayer service or a liturgical service, e.g. a creation vesper
or a ritual like ‘Encircled by Creation’ that include penitential rites, praises, petitions, and thanksgiving,
recited and/or sung.
What are some meaningful ways of celebrating Creation Day and Creation time?
During Creation Day and Creation Time, parishes, basic Christian communities, schools, religious orders,
households, and other organizations are invited to organize special activities:
a) catechetical programs emphasizing creation and its ecological dimension that relate to the faith of the
church and the individual faithful;
b) pastoral services – like devotions, novenas, various liturgical services and prayers – designed
to lead to a greater creation awareness and the formation of an ecological conscience;
c) educational programs, - field trips to sustainable communities that live and teach a creation-centered
Trinitarian faith praxis based on the New Story of God’s emerging creation;
d) local and regional sustainable, en-vironmental, conservation, and reha-bilitation projects that are in
harmony with the 4 Rs – refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle. Begin by learning how to se-parate garbage according to the
4 Rs and composting biodegradable garden and household refuse.
e) organize lectures on issues that concern the faithful, e.g. about biogas, reforestation, climate change,
organic gardening and farming, solar power, and similar topics that interest the faithful.
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