Green Convergence Celebrates the 2020 Season of Creation

The Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar is divided into several meaningful periods: Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. These seasons are meant to celebrate the birth, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They reveal how God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to show us how to live, love, and serve others

Redemption, Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, definitely was an expression of total love of the Father. However, long before Jesus came along, God had been revealing this love through His Creation. From the Big Bang 15-20 billion years ago that formed an infinite number of galaxies, stars, planets, moons and other celestial objects to the formation of our planet 4.7 billion years ago to the origin of life 3.7 billion years ago to the moment He breathed life into the first human.

For the human race, the stage had been set for his use, enjoyment and appreciation. Before him had been the evolution of the Earth from a molten mass of inanimate molecules to the formation of the varied features – mountains, plains, oceans, rivers – to the organisms that were suited to their specific settings of soil, water, and air. The grandiose biodiversity was a reflection of the Almighty’s own glory. God was revealing Himself to us through this creation. And most of all, He gave us the intelligence and consciousness to be able to make use of all these for our growth in knowledge, joy and actualization of our human potential individually and collectively.

The Season of Creation is a time for reflection of God’s omnipotence and love. But it is also a time to reflect on how we have shown our gratitude or ingratitude through our use or misuse of His bounty. Sadly, the state of nature today seems to manifest our indifference and worse, our selfishness, as we see the state of the environment today. From deforestation to air and water pollution to toxic substance, to nuclear contamination and the most urgent global crisis – global warming and its flip side, climate change, it is imperative that we take stock of our systems, actions, and world views and take a wiser course if we are to preserve the Earth’s grandeur, God’s creation.

Lord,

the lofty mountains proclaim Your greatness;
the fields of grain reveal Your goodness;
the teeming seas announce Your benevolence;
the tiny leaf is witness to Your omnipotence;

the mighty forests reflect Your glory;
the brilliant flowers bare Your beauty.

In the song of birds,
in the chirp of crickets,
in the cry of babies, we hear life.

In the warmth of sunshine,
in the kiss of the wind,
in the smile of friends,
we feel Your love.

Lord, You so loved, the world that You gave us this beautiful world that gives nurturance of body and spirit. Give us the commitment to care for Your Earth, to pass on this commitment to our families, friends and neighbors so that our children will inherit a planet that will still yield their sustenance, so that they too will know You through Your creation, so that generation after generation will sing Your praises forever.

This booklet hopes to help Catholics celebrate the Season of Creation. It is divided into 8 sections:

Section I gives the historical background and context of the celebration of the Season of Creation in the Catholic world and especially in the Philippines today.
Section II offers a guide for Liturgical Celebrations during the Season of Creation. Scripture Readings and Liturgical Resources are presented for all the Sundays that fall within the Season. The Liturgy Resources consist of a brief summary, Points for Reflection, Life Focus Questions, Passages from Laudato Si, and Related Prayers of the Faithful. Votive Mass for Creation is prepared specifically for September 1, which is the World Day of Prayer for Creation, but can be adapted for use at other times. Furthermore, the Season is being extended to Oct. 11 which is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, in recognition of the fact that indigenous peoples have been the best guardians of the earth’s ecosystems.

Section III introduces a guide for examination of conscience and suggested environmental prayers for other occasions.

Section IV features poems related to the environment and pandemics.

Section V highlights several saints of ecology.

Section VI enjoins the faithful to demonstrate environmental conversion in their lifestyle.

Section VII features games that challenge our knowledge on Philippine biodiversity.

Section VIII are Filipino versions of an ecological mass and examination of conscience.