by St John Vianney parish
Our parish has celebrated the Season of Creation during the month of September for several years as part of our action plan to become a LiveSimply parish. This year marks our achievement of this award, with CAFOD’s commemorative plaques being awarded to both of our parish churches this month.
Our LiveSimply Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for the world You created for us to share. We ask you to give us the grace to work together, to live more simply, more sustainably, and in solidarity with the poor. Through Christ our Lord.
Reflection:
Ezekiel’s vision of ‘Living Water’ where “every living creature that swarms will live” (Ezekiel 47:9) invites us to see God’s life-giving grace and sacramental presence flowing into places of desolation, renewing both creation and human community.
In a world facing a severe ecological crisis, this river becomes a call to repent from systems that exploit land, water, and vulnerable people. Creation is not a commodity, but a communion of interdependent life entrusted to our care. (From the Living Water Celebration Guide, available at https://seasonofcreation.org/resources/).
This month we join the world’s ecumenical community to celebrate creation through our weekly liturgy.
Season of Creation Events in the Parish
Sunday 6th September – BLESSING OF OUR GARDENS
Our fruit trees and parish gardens will be blessed after the 9.30 Mass at Immaculate Heart Of Mary to mark our thankfulness for our church environment. All parishioners are invited to attend the blessing and come into the hall for tea/coffee afterwards.
Wednesday 16th September – OUTDOOR 12.00 MASS
The parish Mass will be held outdoors in front of the “Calvary” at Immaculate Heart church at 12.00 noon. This gives us an opportunity to pray and renew our commitment to care for the environment in which we live. (Pray for good weather!)
Weekend 19th – 20th September – GIFTS OF CREATION AT ALL MASSES
Please bring a ‘Gift of Creation’ to mass, e.g. flowers or cuttings, plants, packets of seeds, pictures or photographs etc which demonstrate the wonder of God’s Creation, and drawings, especially children’s, will be most welcome. Please place these gifts in the boxes at the entrance to either church before each Mass. They will be taken to the altar with
the Offertory procession.
Thursday 25th September – CELEBRATING LATER LIFE (CLL)
The donated Gifts of Creation will be distributed at September’s CLL Mass and lunch. What a wonderful way to celebrate God’s Creation!
Sunday 11th October – CELEBRATION OF HOSPITALITY AND BELONGING
After 10am Mass at St Paul’s Church