Dear <<First Name>> <<Last Name>>, This special edition of Headlines on the Season of Creation highlights some of the major initiatives and events organised by the Society of Jesus and our Ignatian Networks in various parts of the world. These are only a few but I am sure there were many more ingenuities to build greater bond with the creation and creatures that may not appear here. We want to thank everyone who joined in these efforts to interconnect with the creation with a deep sense of gratitude, a desire for inner conversion and a longing to commit to build a better world. Yesterday 4th October, on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis gave us the social encyclical 'Fratelli Tutti' (FT) on the Fraternity and Social Friendship. In his first 2 encyclical letters, Pope Francis focussed on the importance of our relationship with God (Lumen Fidei in 2013) and relationship with creation (Laudato Si’ in 2015). In Fratelli Tutti he emphasises our relationship with our brothers and sisters. He says, “This saint of fraternal love [Francis of Assisi], simplicity and joy, who inspired me to write the Encyclical Laudato Si’, prompts me once more to devote this new Encyclical to fraternity and social friendship. Francis felt himself a brother to the sun, the sea and the wind, yet he knew that he was even closer to those of his own flesh. Wherever he went, he sowed seeds of peace and walked alongside the poor, the abandoned, the infirm and the outcast, the least of his brothers and sisters” (FT #2). Xavier Jeyaraj SJ SJES - Rome SPECIAL EDITION - SEASON OF CREATION SJES – Global Ignatian Prayer Vigil ‘Breathing Together’ Together with a good number of Jesuit/Ignatian organisations and networks in a joint and collective effort- among others-the Ecclesial Network for Congo River Basin (REBAC), Ecojesuit, Ignatian Solidarity Network, Jesuit Conference of Canada and the USA, Jesuit Networking, Jesuit Services to Amazonia, and Justice in Mining- Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat-Rome organized the Global Ignatian Prayer Vigil for the Season of Creation titled ‘breathing together’. “The vigil was an amazing way of connecting people to the call of Pope Francis to care for our common home, along with the four Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) of the Society of Jesus”, noted Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj, Secretary SJES. It took place on the youtube channel of Jesuit Curia on September 25 at three different moments at 8 PM in Manila, 8 PM in Rome and 8.00 PM in New York in order to ensure greater outreach and to connect everyone in the world. There have been more than 15,000 views during and the following two days of the vigil. According to Fr. Dani Villanueva, coordinator of Jesuit Networking: “Technology allows us to achieve global dynamics that were unthinkable years ago. We are experiencing how to activate the Jesuit and Ignatian networks to foster spiritual communion as an apostolic body that prays, feels and discerns closely together.” The vigil will remain online in the youtube channel of the Society of Jesus in English and Spanish for anyone who wants to use it as a resource material. This can be a wonderful resource material in schools, parishes, youth groups etc., for creating awareness about the three lungs of the earth and to understand what is happening to these lungs and to the indigenous people living in those regions. Read more… NEWS Ecojesuit - The Common Good Series: SJES – Season of Creation Reflection Conversations for a more connected by SJES Secretary world Ecojesuit launches The Common Good “If nature survives, adivasis will survive Series (TCGS), monthly interview and if adivasis survive, nature will episodes highlighting different actions survive.” says Dayamani Barla, an happening in various institutions indigenous woman environment activist globally that are hoped to spark in India. Any indigenous person / inspiration for ecological action and community anywhere in the world might open opportunities for collaboration. say the same. ‘Jubilee for the Earth: TGCS features conversations with New Rhythms and new hope’ is the individuals leading initiatives on any of theme for this year’s season of creation. Ecojesuit’s six lead actions to highlight It invites us to renew our relationship the interconnectedness of people with the Creator and the creation across borders and to promote global through three Cs: Celebration, solidarity. Read more... Conversion and Commitment. Read more... Global – A Catholic Liturgical Guide for USA – ISN Campaign “Healthy habits Season of Creation 2020 for a healthy planet” This year the theme for the Season of The Ignatian Solidarity Network will Creation is Jubilee for the Earth. This mark the annual ecumenical Season of booklet prepared by Fr. James Hug SJ, Creation, standing alongside thousands introduces the Season of Creation and of Christians from around the world offers resources for celebrating each of during a celebratory month encouraging the Sundays of the season from care for our common home. As a September 1st, the World Day for leading partner in this global initiative, Prayer for Creation through October ISN has launched a campaign, Season 4th, the feast of St. Francis. It offers of Creation Challenge: Daily Habits for a penitential rite suggestions, prayers for Healthy Planet. The campaign the liturgy, scriptural reflections and encourages participants to hold space more. May these resources help you in their daily lives for climate action, celebrate the Season of Creation with choosing one daily concrete, simple the seriousness and prayerfulness it action to explore a radical new way of needs and deserves. The booklet is interacting with creation. [Register for available in English and Spanish. Read the challenge here.] Read more… more... USA – “Why Indigenous Leaders say Latin America – “Being guardians of their land is not for sale” on Jesuit God’s creation in these Amazonian Podcast lands", a strategic mission for Jesuits Paisley Sierra grew up in a community “The Amazonia is constantly threatened where clean water is scarce. Her by numerous depredatory activities that family’s water sources are threatened have an impact both on the natural by contamination from uranium mining habitats of flora and fauna and, and oil pipelines. Sierra lives in South especially, on many indigenous peoples Dakota, on the Pine Ridge reservation. and their cultures.” We are called to a As a member of the Oglala Lakota paradigm change, to a change of our Nation, Sierra believes that “water is way of life, to structural, systemic life.” But, the Lakota must fight for this transformations in the social, political, basic resource. On this episode of and economic orders. “To evangelize AMDG, guest host MegAnne Liebsch Amazonian peoples, entrusting them a talks to Paisley Sierra about her leading role in the care of this God’s gift community’s battle for land Listen to the to the world.” Read more…. podcast Australia – Celebrating the Season of Global: Season of Creation 2020: Creation Jubilee for the Earth with new rhythms, new hope The Australian Jesuit Province’s Reconciliation with Creation Committee For many people around the world, the is inviting people to celebrate the year 2020 may be considered a year of Season of Creation, with suggestions online meetings and virtual interactions. for a range of activities and prayerful However, with the coronavirus reflections. The Season of Creation pandemic exposing deep-seated starts with the World Day of Prayer for injustices in various levels of society, it Creation on 1 September and ends with is clear that more than anything, 2020 the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 needs to be a year of action. Taking October. Pope Francis is calling us to place during the Laudato Si’ Special ‘hear the cry of the poor and the cry of Anniversary Year, and with the urgent the earth’. Here are a few ways you can cries of the earth and the poor amplified mark the season. Read more… by the global crisis, Read more… Share Tweet Forward Copyright © 2020 Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can modify or update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. .