Card. Gracias: ‘Be stewards of God’s Creation’

Cardinal Gracias in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation has invited all faithful to invoke God’s help for the protection of God’s Creation. The Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was marked on  September 1 and had special importance in this its third year.

Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops (FABC), in his message of Aug 16, had appealed to all Catholics to observe this day as a day of prayer so that we can become aware of our Christian vocation to be stewards of God’s Creation.

Quoting Pope Francis’  Encyclical Laudato Si', the Cardinal said that the Holy Father reminds us  that "the ecological crisis summons us to a profound spiritual conversation: Christians are called to an ecological conversation, whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ becomes evident in their relationship with the world around them."

“In prayer and in the Sacraments we encounter” he said, “Christ who gives us strength to overcome all hardships and challenges. In the midst of the present ecological crisis of climate change and global warming, we place our trust in the Lord who 'makes all things new.' (Rev. 21:5) It is through prayer we ask God for HIs grace and assistance.

On this occasion which coincided also with the first Friday of the month, the Cardinal requested all parishes to come together as a family to thank God for the abundance of blessings  they have received from the Creator.  They were also asked to  use the Holy half-hour prepared by the Archdiocesan Office of Environment.

The Day of Prayer for the Creation of the Creation was instituted by Pope Francis in 2015. The Orthodox Church has commemorated the Day since 1989. A Joint Message  this year was released on Friday morning from Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. (Mumbai Archdiocese)