CEDoW schools have marked the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the Season of Creation with prayer, liturgy and actions that demonstrate a strong commitment to raising awareness and caring for our common home.

The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is an annual event celebrated on 1st September and begins the Season of Creation that runs through to 4th October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. This is a time when the planet's 2.2 billion Christians come together to pray and care for God's creation. It's a time to reflect on our relationship with the environment and the ways in which our lifestyles and decisions as a society can endanger both the natural world and those inhabiting it, both humans and other creatures.

Pope Francis Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Here's how some of our schools have celebrated...

At St Thomas More Ruse students participated in a prayer and a responding activity. Teachers were given the opportunity to choose an activity for their class to participate in, some classes cared for creation outside by collecting rubbish and watering plants, others created a prayer or an art work. All students were reverent and participated prayerfully. A wonderful day to celebrate God's great Creation and our unified approach to caring for it.  

Stella Maris Shellharbour created a video reflective response that showed how the school community engages in ecological actions that care for creation.

St Michael’s Thirroul celebrated with each class going out to their beautiful new outdoor prayer space for a prayer lead by their Leaders of Faith Team. Each class received a small plant to place on their class prayer space to remind them to care for God’s creation. It was an extremely special and moving way to celebrate this special day.

St Justin's Oran Park celebrated through class liturgies, a commitment to garden maintenance, and by announcing the winners of their "Name the Garden" competition. The winning name came from 2 students in year 6, Massimo and Michael.

St Justin's Laudato Seeds
Not just in word but in seed.

Massimo came up with Laudato Seed, a play on words of Laudato Si' and Michael thought of the tag line "not just in word but in seed" after the school's Patron Saint prayer. The school is currently looking at getting professional signage done. The boys won a mini garden of parsley to take home and they were thrilled.

The Year 6 Environment Team at St Anthony's Picton led the school in a beautiful liturgy celebrating the day. It was also an opportunity to present the St Francis of Assisi Awards to those students who have demonstrated a commitment to caring for all of God's creation.

At Our Lady Help of Christians Rosemeadow the school community celebrated the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation through a liturgy. During the liturgy, each grade contributed to a display that represented the world God Created for us all to enjoy.

The students at Holy Family Ingleburn marked the Season of Creation by creating a Thumbprint Prayer Tree. Every class went out to the prayer garden and participated in a prayer for creation and then each child painted their thumbprint onto the tree symbolising their commitment and connection with the global family and with the created world.

At St Patrick's Port Kembla the Year 5 students led the school in a special liturgy and the Year 4 Garden Ambassadors had a great time getting their hands dirty in the garden.