Boksburg (South Africa). On 29 August 2021, with an online meeting, the Province of Our Lady of Peace (AFM) started the celebration of the Season of Creation, ecumenical time of prayer and action for the Common Home, which takes place worldwide from 1 September to 4 October 2021.
The communities of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from Zambia, South Africa and Lesotho participated in the online meeting, organized by the Province Youth Ministry Team, to study together the theme of the year: A home for all? Renew the Oikos of God.
The reflection began with the biblical symbol of Abraham’s tent, chosen by the organizers of the world event, as an invitation to improve the quality of relationships with the Creator, with oneself, with others and with nature. The spirit of selfless welcome and sincere dialogue manifested by Abraham is an expression of a love that gives itself and generates human and spiritual experiences that arise from the awareness of living in the Common Home all together and without exclusion.
The program included sharing on topics from the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, led by Sr. Caroline Chitenta, FMA of the AFM Province, who had the opportunity to go in depth on the Document during her studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Education “Auxilium” in Rome. At the end, a moment of prayer took place together.
The FMA Communities of the AFM Province will continue to live the Season of Creation following the weekly scanning of the themes to be explored prepared by the JY Team, in addition to the proposal of practical actions in favor of the environment, to be carried out with the involvement of the Educating Communities. The conclusion of the initiative will be held on 4 October 2021, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with another province moment.
“Together with the brothers and sisters of different Christian confessions, let us pray and work for our common home in these times of grave planetary crisis”
(Pope Francis, General Audience 1 September 2021)
