PARISHIONERS from across Brisbane Archdiocese are being encouraged to respond to the call of Laudato Si’ by taking part in this year’s Season of Creation Vigil Mass.
The Mass celebration at St Stephen’s Cathedral on September 9 is a key event during the Season of Creation 2023 with the theme ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’, and comes at a time when the Church is promoting it’s Laudato Si Action Platform , as a way of caring for our common home and finding solutions to the ecological crisis.
At the Mass representatives from each parish are asked to bring a sample of water from their area (either sea, river or rain) and empty it into a common vessel to be blessed by Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge and then used to bless the congregation.
Parish representatives will be encouraged to take some of this communal water back to their church communities to enable the blessing to be received by all, and symbolising the sharing of peace and justice across the whole Archdiocese.
Catholic Earthcare, Evangelisation Brisbane and the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission are coordinating the Mass that will feature music written by Ballarat Jesuit Father Chris Willcock giving praise and thanks for God’s creation.
“The music was written specifically with Laudato Si’ in mind,” Brisbane archdiocese Justice, Ecology and Peace project officer Emma Beach said.
Ms Beach said one of the Australian Plenary Council objectives was for every parish to develop a Laudato Si’ plan – a document that could then be uploaded onto the Laudato Si Action Platform “to show their intent to move in the direction of that ethos”.
“After the Mass we will have a workshop specifically for those parishes that haven’t made a start and are wanting to get going writing a plan,” she said
“The workshop will focus on the steps to take to get a Laudato Si’ plan up and happening.”
Ms Beach said she was enthused to read that Pope Francis is writing a new document on the environment updating Laudato Si’ to cover current issues.
Laudato Si’ was published in June 2015.
“Climate change is so much more evident, it’s something everyone is aware of,” Ms Beach said.
“Before it was more about this is going to happen. Now we’re starting to be in the thick of it.
“People are far more aware (of climate change) because it affects their daily life. There’s still time to do something about it.”
The Season of Creation Vigil Mass to be held at Brisbane’s St Stephen’s Cathedral on Saturday September 9 starting at 6pm.
An ecumenical liturgy for Season of Creation will be held at the Lychee Lawn Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens on September 6. It starts at 12 noon.
