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.

Green Convergence participates in this year’s Season of Creation celebration by offering this booklet to the parishes to help them be engaged in the environmental movement.

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 5 sections.

In Section 1, the first article gives the over-all perspective that situates the Season among the significant seasons that the Church observes; it points to the plan of God from the beginning of time. The second article adds that creation is continully unfolding and that we are called to cooperate with God in this as co-creators.

Section 2 offers a guide for the liturgical celebration of the Season. It weaves into the standard parts of Holy Mass appreciation and gratitutde for God’s bounty. The liturgy is further enriched by reflections, life focus questions and passages from Laudato Si.

This is followed by suggested prayers for other occasions.

Section 3 introduces several saints of ecology.

Section 4 enjoins the faithful to be environmentalists themselves through behaviors that conserve the earth’s resources and respect its ecology, one of them the creation and nurturance of gardens of native trees.

Section 5 features games that challenge our knowledge of Philippine biodiversity.

Download the soft copy of our booklet below.