The World Council of Churches calls Christians worldwide to observe the Season of Creation from Sept 1 - October 4, 2026. The Season of Creation is an ecumenical initiative that takes place annually from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Creation. This year's theme, "Living Waters", comes from Ezekiel 47:9 and 12 - a biblical vision of hope and ecological restoration. During the Season of Creation, we join together as sisters and brothers of a universal family celebrating in prayer and action how to renew our appreciation, our commitment, conversion and our care and activities to protect and bring new life to Mother Earth, our Common Home. For this presentation, I found much information from the Season of Creation website (seasonofcreation.org).
In Ezekiel 47, water flows from God's sanctuary, healing and renewing land, waters, and human responsibility toward creation. The prophet's vision unfolds amid exile and loss. Waterflows from the temple - at first a tiny stream that deepens, bringing life to dead areas and restoring ecosystems. To receive this new life, we must step into the waters ourselves - becoming part of God's river, joining creation's healing. By emerging ourselves into the water and actively safeguarding and working for the renewal of creation so that environmental healing and human well-being may flourish together.
The Season of Creation is in the spirit of truth a time to do a heart-filled assessment of the situation of Mother Earth which is suffering many abuses and misuses by we humans. This Season is a source of strength and communion encouraging us to truly hope and act justly with all of creation. We begin in a deep spirit of heartfelt gratitude, thanking our loving God for the beautiful gift of all creation.
Ezekiel's vision reconfigures the meaning of the Temple. In Israel's cultic tradition, the sanctuary was the place of sacrifice, where blood - the bearer of life - was shed for reconciliation. Blood signified both judgement and mercy, reminding the people that life was both costly and fragile. However, in Ezekiel the dominant image is no longer blood flowing toward the altar but water flowing outward from the Temple threshold. Holiness is expressed primarily through generative abundance. In the New Testament, the promise of the living water is fulfilled in the Holy Spirit. As Jesus was dying on the Cross a soldier pierced the heart of the Messiah, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, from which flowed living water with His precious blood. This precious water and blood still flows out upon the whole world from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Divine presence does not consume life: it releases it. Ezekiel does not reject sacrificial theology, but situates it within a wider horizon. Reconciliation with God results not only in restored worship but in renewed land, healed ecosystems and abundant life. Ethical implications follow naturally: if God's presence manifests itself as life-giving water, authentic worship cannot be confined only within ritual observance. Faithfulness must be measured by its impact on all conditions that sustain life. Care for creation thus emerges as a direct consequence of a restored relationship with God. Hope for renewal and healing starts in the place of prayer, worship and sacrifice. The tiny drop of hope begins in our own lives, in our repentance and transformation. Ezekiel is saying: in God's restored order, life is unbelievably abundant. John the Apostle later echoes Ezekiel, presenting the river and the Tree of Life as the final vision of cosmic, ecological and even political healing (Revelations 22:2). Ezekiel's vision of a river, is not meant to diminish the value of oceans and seas which are made of salt water and yet have also been created as living waters. Indeed, the oceans are home to much of the planet's biodiversity (Genesis 1:21).
However, as we look at our world today, we see there is a major crisis as regards the issue of water. Ezekiel's vision stands in sharp contrast to the reality of the water crisis we presently face. According to the United Nations UN News, 1.7 billion people lack basic hygiene services at home, and 2.1 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water - that is 1 in 4 people on the globe. Although access to drinking water is a human right for all, the water crisis is one of the major challenges as water becomes more and more unaffordable to the poor. It also has tremendous effect on non-human life that has no voice in political or economic systems. The symbol of water urges us to dive into the water crisis by allowing our hearts to be touched by the suffering of our brothers and sisters and those who suffer from environmental degradation.
Scripture repeatedly associates water with divine healing and renewal: Ezekiel himself is immersed progressively deeper into the river, echoing baptismal imagery and symbolizing transformation. Stepping into the river reminds us of baptism. Earlier in the book of Ezekiel, God promises cleansing, a new heart and a new spirit precisely through water. We are reminded of the water and blood that flowed for healing from Jesus' side. As we are healed and renewed - living water will also flow from us for the healing of others and of creation.
To begin this Season on September 1st Pope Frances offered us the wise advise to all "individual believers the fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handi-work which He has entrusted to our care and to implore His help for the protection of creation as well as His pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live". One of the most meaningful ways we thank God is through the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which means "thanksgiving". Laudato Si' proclaims through the Eucharist that whole cosmos give thanks to God (#236). To celebrate this sacred reality for the Season it is recommended to host an hour of care and prayer before the blessed Sacrament for creation in our Parishes.
Pope Francis designated the first day of the Season of Creation, September 1st, as the World Day of Prayer for Creation, calling every person living on this planet to pray and to care for our shared Earth. To aide us in our prayer, Pope Leo XIV approved and offered the new Holy Mass for the Care of Creation. Pope Leo shared, "on this beautiful day, I would begin by asking everyone, including myself, to take stock of what we are celebrating here amid the beauty of what might be called the 'cathedral' of nature, with so many plants and elements of creation that have brought us together to celebrate the Eucharist, which means to give thanks to the Lord." Pope Leo continued, "Our Mission to care for creation, to foster peace and reconciliation, is Jesus' own mission, the mission that the Lord entrust to us."
This day also reminds us of the strong connection between war and the degradation of our planet, which is seen in the waste of resources due to destruction and violence. The World Day of Prayer is another opportunity for us to connect with our Creator, God, and allow the Lord to redefine our relationship with the environment: from one of consumption and control and abuse, to one of care and protection.
Creation will find peace when justice is restored and when we examine the true meaning of freedom. If we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please rather the opportunity to do what is right. This means that we act, pray and change our attitude to reconcile with Creation and Creator, and follow His laws, in unity, metanoia, conversion and solidarity. To reaffirm our vocation as Stewards of Creation, individuals and families can counteract the throw away culture mentioned in Laudato Si' in our daily life. We need to try to identify the ways we can choose reusables rather than disposables, such as coffee mugs, reusable bags, clothes, napkins and commit to making a change during this Season of Creation. As a community we need to have more educational programs to reflect our vocation as Stewards of Creation. These programs are designed to God's peace and commitment for climate actions as a way to avoid climate despair and sow climate hope.
The symbol for the Season of Creation is Immersion in Living Water. This is a call for transformation - that Christians and others will be more immersed in living water from the throne of God, stepping in deeper and deeper, inspired by the Spirit of God to work together for the renewal of Creation.
As a community, people are called to have a prayer service in their Parish or Church and to join with other communities to reflect together on God's life-giving water flowing from the Temple of God. The vision invites human responsibility: recognizing ecological damage, embracing interconnectedness. The call is for transformation. Community sharing sources and education material help to foster climate justice and water stewardship - faith communities can hold prayer services and advocacy action to resolve ecological challenges. Past observances have included river clean ups, water blessings ceremonies and advocacy for communities facing water scarcity. This community prayer and sharing will help bring alive the symbol for 2026 which is Emersion in Living Water. The Season of Creation is a time to over come our fears and to step into the water of God's love - to be part of the River of Transformation, to see the literal healing and the blessings of the earth.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, who are so precious in your eyes... God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, God of mercy, may we receive your forgiveness and convey your mercy throughout our common home. Praise be to you! Amen.