Season of Creation begins with a powerful message from Pope Francis.

"May we feel challenged to assume, with prayer and commitment, our responsibility for the care of creation. May God, “the lover of life” (Wis 11:26), grant us the courage to do good without waiting for someone else to begin, or until it is too late."

Pope Francis, Sept. 1, 2019

Check out many recently listed Toronto events inviting your participation in this Season of Creation.

Pope Francis promotes the Season of Creation and calls us to “choose life”

“We are beloved creatures of God, who in his goodness calls us to love life and live it in communion with the rest of creation.”  Pope Francis, Sept. 1, 2019

In his September 1^st message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis promotes the Season of Creation for the first time in an official statement, calling it a season for praying, adopting simpler lifestyles and undertaking prophetic actions. He emphasizes “We have caused a climate emergency that gravely threatens nature and life itself, including our own” and urges all to “choose life".

After highlighting the movement of young people around the world calling for concrete action, Pope Francis prioritizes raising the awareness of political leaders. Particular attention is given to the approaching United Nations Climate Action Summit, where “governments will have the responsibility of showing the political will to take drastic measures to achieve as quickly as possible zero net greenhouse gas emissions and to limit the average increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius with respect to pre-industrial levels”.

Read the entire message from Pope Francis here.

Season of Creation and Other Upcoming Events in Toronto

Season of Creation Activities in the Archdiocese of Toronto—find the following events listed on their website here.

• September 7: Season of Creation Prayer Service, following 5:30 p.m. Mass at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 1701 Bloor St. W., Toronto.
• September 10, 1 to 2 p.m. EST: Development & Peace webinar to launch the “For Our Common Home — A Future for the Amazon; A Future for All” campaign. A panel, including Archbishop of Regina Donald J. Bolen, will discuss the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon. Please register online.
• September 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: International Climate Strike at Queen’s Park. Development & Peace will gather at Lime Ridge Monument at 10:45 a.m. See more information.
• September 28, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Ecumenical Season of Creation Celebration at St. Joan of Arc Parish, 1701 Bloor St. W., Toronto. Pray, learn and gather for Taize prayer, Indigenous teaching (by Native Peoples' Mission) and fellowship to reflect on the web of life and the part we play in it. 
• October 2, 1 p.m.: Webinar to launch the Canadian chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement. Keynote:  Anne-Catherine Kennedy, Development & Peace Program Officer for Brazil and Colombia, will speak about the Synod on the Amazon. Information and webinar registration.
• October 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Feast of Creation St. Basil’s Parish, 50 St. Joseph St., Toronto. An ecumenical prayer service organized by Archdiocese of Toronto, Native People’s Mission, Mary Ward Centre and Global Catholic Climate Movement. Download the poster.

The Archdiocese of Toronto will also host a federal election debate on October 3, 7:30 - 9:15 p.m., at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre:  TV journalist Don Newman will moderate the debate where candidates from the major political parties discuss issues of concern to Catholics, including the environment. For more information and registration to attend this free event, go here.

Also on October 3, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) will host a pre-election townhall gathering Shaping a Just Canada:   Based on CPJ’s recently published  2019 Election Bulletin, this non-partisan event will explore key issues leading up to Canada's federal election, such as poverty in Canada and ecological justice.

Location: Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON

For more information and registration to attend this free event, go here.