Jesuit Missions joined other Christian groups yesterday (Thursday, 2 October) for a special Mass and a series of reflections to celebrate the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures.
The event, which was held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Farm Street, London, also marked the winding down of this year’s Season of Creation, which ends tomorrow (Saturday, 4 October) on the feast of St Francis.
Joining Jesuit Missions in organising the event were Green Christian, Christian Climate Action, Farm Street Parish, the Laudato Si’ Movement, Pax Christi, CAFOD, Caritas Westminster, the Columban Missionaries, and the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ).
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, who said the Mass, noted it was intended for “the Earth” in honour of the evening’s celebrations, and he made several references to the late Pope Francis’s environmental encyclical letter Laudato Si’ during his homily.
After the service, the congregation spent time praying the Canticle together – led by Sr Mary Ann Francalanza from the FCJ – before visiting the church’s side chapels to reflect on the work of the organisations involved in the event.
Jesuit Missions has consistently campaigned for awareness around climate change and environmental damage, which have a disproportionate impact on its partner organisations in the Global South.
It produced a host of resources for Season of Creation, including a series of reflections from figures from across the Jesuit world.
Richard Solly, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer at Jesuit Missions, said: “Last night’s event was a beautiful celebration of unity in honouring all God’s Creation and reflecting on how we can be better brothers and sisters to all living beings.
“It was great to see so many displays in the side chapels to enable meditation on the Canticle’s themes and it was a wonderful way to conclude this year’s Season of Creation.”
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