Season of Creation

The ecumenical Season of Creation runs from September 1st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and invites Christians around the world to pray and care for creation. 

The 2026 theme  Living Water is drawn from Ezekiel 47: 1- 12, which envisions God’s life-giving water flowing from the temple of God and reveals “divine healing that renews land, water, biodiversity and human responsibility towards the whole creation.” The 2026 symbol Immersion in Living Water invites ”Christians to a spiritual immersion – praying together while contemplating water from rivers... baptismal fonts, lakes and sea, inspired by the Spirit of God, working together for the renewal of Creation”. 

Creation Care Ministry suggests some possible ways to pray, learn and take action during the Season of Creation:

1. Join St. Joan of Arc parish as we celebrate the Season of Creation as part of the weekend masses on September 12-13;

2. Explore free online resources such as the ecumenical Celebration Guide, prayer card, and other resources at the Season of Creation website. Catholic Climate Covenant provides Homily Helps for all Season of Creation Sundays plus a list of resources including their Feast of St. Francis Eco-Spirituality Resource featuring art, prayers, reflections, programs and more. Laudato Si’ Movement also offers Catholic resources under the themes of Receive Living Water (prayer & contemplation), Encounter Christ along the River and Become Living Water (acts of hope).

4. Contribute to a more just and life-giving world by participating in one of the calls to action for this Season of Creation—access to clean drinking water. Despite some progress, in Canada there are still 40 active long-term drinking water advisories on public systems in First Nations communities, with 28 in Ontario. Canada did not meet its commitment in 2015  to eliminate “all long-term drinking water advisories on public water systems in First Nations communities by March 31, 2021”. In 2025 the Auditor General of Canada reported that 9 out of 35 long-term drinking water advisories were “in effect for a decade or longer” and that “First Nations communities do not have legally enforceable safe drinking water protections similar to what is in place in provinces and territories”. Visit Creation Care Ministry’s table in the hall after mass on September 26-27 to learn more and take action. “Yet access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival...” Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ #30. 

5. Protect water: The Canadian Catholic Bishops in their 2018 Statement on the Right to Safe Drinking Water encouraged Catholics to “make your voice heard to ensure that the federal government follows through on its pledge to provide clean drinking water on First Nations reserves.” While some statistics in this Statement are now outdated, the actions proposed by the Bishops for Catholics in Canada are still very relevant today and also include:

• Avoid bottled water whenever possible.

• Be conscious of your own water consumption and reduce it where possible; practical ideas on how to do this are available from various organizations and levels of government. (Note: See tips from the city of Toronto on how to use less water and protect the environment).

• Support, or get involved with, an organization that works to protect lakes and rivers in your area.

6. St. Joan of Arc parishioners—consider joining Creation Care Ministry:

New members are welcome! If interested, send us an email at creationcare1701@gmail.com.

“May God our Father who brought water from the rock sustain us in the desert.

May Christ our Lord who is Living Water refresh us for the work of restoration. And may the Holy Spirit carry us on currents of grace

until justice rolls down like waters

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amen.

2026 Season of Creation Prayer (excerpt)