1. Rosary for the well-being of the Creation of Mother Earth
2. Contemplation for 15 minutes 
3. Laudata Si  30 minutes 
4. Contemplation for 1 hour 
5. Caring for the Common Home.

Our Common Home, the Earth

The period of September 1 to October 4 is recognized as the “Season of Creation” to remind us of who we are, and with whom we are in relationship. We have slowly come to the realization that Creation is suffering and dying, and we have lost touch with that whole awareness of “who we are, and with whom we are in relationship”. The “Season of Creation” is an ecumenical liturgical season celebrating the generous and awe-inspiring time. According to the guidelines given by the General Team and the Provincial Leadership Team, we the Ashadeep Novitiate community, started the celebration from 1^st September onwards. This celebration made us to be more attached to the Creation and we were fully aware of our Mother Earth. We were especially conscious of the reality that creation is made up not only of the non-human, but also the human, and our reflection during the Season brought us to recognize more fully those vulnerable persons and the poor of our society. Being united with Creation we experienced the presence of God and His mercy and love. We had special prayer recited both in the morning and in the evening for the protection of mother earth. This season made us to contemplate and realise that each and everything is unique and precious in the eyes of our Creator. We took care of our earth by planting many plants, cleaning up the ground, cleaning our surroundings and our house. It helped us to be grateful to God and to respect mother earth. We concluded the celebration of the ‘season of creation’ by an awesome prayer service conducted by Sr. Rose Joseph. Prior to the prayer we got ready with our chapel, and we decorated the alter in a unique way. We displayed the eco-system in a miniature form representing the water, soil, plants, vegetables, fruits and fruit trees, the sun, the moon, and the stars and so on which created a conducive atmosphere for this concluding prayer service. We sang appropriate hymns, Psalms, and other Scripture readings, and had reflections from the Encyclical Laudato Si’. We realised our sinfulness and our behaviours that contributed to the suffering of creation and asked pardon and prayed for His mercy. We were also filled with gratitude and were enabled to praise and thank the Lord for the beauty of nature. We could appreciate and heartly love the animals, insects, plants, birds, and all other creatures than self-centred humanity and their greed. This gave us great lessons to make constant effort to grow in our lives and our responsibility to our Earth. We ended our celebration by watching a movie of St. Francis named “Brother Sun and sister Moon”. Though the ‘season of creation’ ended on 4^th October, we continue to celebrate this creation with gratitude and to care for it with reverence and love. 

“God created everything with intrinsic goodness”. In the year “Season of Creation “we were more aware about the global changes, of the universe, after the covid-19 Pandemic. We spent more time in reading and reflecting about the season of creation. We cleaned our surrounding little by little every day. As a result, our compound looks   clean and tidy. We also gave more importance to the plantation of the few fruits trees of mangoes and papayas. As these plants need to be planted in deep down to the earth, likewise we too want to be deeply rooted in God. So that as a member of SCJM Congregation, we may bear much fruits of love, peace, joy and happiness. And also support each other in our day to day lives. 

To be united with our Mother Earth, we too have planted some vegetables in our garden; Beans, spinach, radish, tapioca, garlic and chilli etc. 

We   ended our “season of Creation with evening prayer. 

Sr. Bimla & community

Vitex Peduncularis –It is a medicinal plant. Each part of this tree is used for different diseases. This tree also is taken care with vermicompost. We always use it for our kitchen garden too.

Vermicompost – It is a highly nutrient rich organic fertilizer and manure for healthy and fast growth of plants. It is produced by composting organic matter, utilizing micro- organism and specific earth warms to get high quality and product. In Bhilaipahari we are making and using only vermicompost and not using pesticide and chemical based manures which is very harmful and destroys our Mother Earth.

Introduction

Dear Sisters, this evening we have gathered here around the altar of the Lord, the Creator of Heaven and Earth to celebrate the “Season of Creation 2021”. The “Season of Creation” started on 1^st September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and it will end on 4^th of October, the Feast of St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology.

            The theme of today’s celebration is – “A Home for All” – Renewing the “Oikos of God”.

The Scripture says that in the beginning God created each and everything. After creating each thing, each creature, He said it is good. At the end He created human beings as the crown of His creation in His own image and likeness. God blessed them all and then He gave human beings the authority over all the creatures and all other things upon the earth to take care of them.

  So, God created this Earth as “A Home for All” where all lived in perfect peace and harmony with dignity. As the time passed, we human beings have failed to carry out our mission as co-creators of God. We have broken the relationships, disfigured the face of the earth, destroyed the nature for our selfish motives and have forgotten our Creator.

Thus, the negative consequences of these are-ecological crisis, all kinds of natural calamities, pandemics and imbalance in the nature. And who are the sufferers? It’s we.

Today we are here to look into ourselves, our relationships with God and ecology. Thank God for all his blessings, ask pardon for our failures in taking care of the creation. And take resolution to mend our relationships with God and His creation. And renew the “Oikos of God.             

Prayer

God our creator of life, at your word, the earth brought forth plants yielding seed and trees of every kind, bearing fruit. The rivers, mountains, minerals, seas and forests sustained life. The eyes of all looked to you to satisfy the needs of every living thing and throughout time the earth has sustained life. Through the planetary cycles of days and seasons, renewal and growth, you open your hand to give creatures our food in the proper time. In your wisdom, you granted a Sabbath, a blessed time to rest in gratitude

For all that you have given, a time to liberate ourselves from vicious consumption, a time to allow the land and all creatures to rest from the burden of production but these days our living pushes the planet beyond its limits. Our demands for growth and our never ending cycle of production and consumption are exhausting our world.

During this Season of Creation, we ask you to grant us courage to observe a Sabbath for our planet. Strengthen us with the faith to trust in your providence. Inspire us with the creativity to share what we have been given. Teach us to be satisfied with enough. Send your Holy Spirit to renew the face of creation.

Lord hear our prayer.

Concluding prayer

God of creation, how majestic in splendor you are in your creation! How mysterious are your designs with which you sustain every living thing in this universe. The more we stay with the nature the more we become wonderstruck. You have made us the crown of creation and entrusted us, the care of the created things. Grant us we pray thee, the strength and courage to care for the earth and preserve it. The alarming rate of decline, depletion and degenerations of some natural things on our earth, threatens us. Yet we believe that you have given us power to mend our ways and build our relationship with you and your creation. We look to the future with hope and pledge to take all the necessary steps to do our part. God Immanuel be with us and show us the way. Amen

We started the day with gratitude to our Creator for sustaining our life with every gift in the nature.

“We praise you; Lord you have made the world and all its marvels. Yes, we praise you Lord,” was the right and meaningful hymn we sang daily to praise and thank God for our ‘Oikos’. In order to show our solidarity with our Mother Earth we concentrated on three areas:-a) Cleaning up of the surroundings of different departments b) Care for the plants and livestock c) Responding to the cry of the poor of our neighborhood.

We took great care in cleaning up all the areas of different departments which were not given much attention to and all sisters were interested to do their share of the task. We have started to make use of every area of our garden and cultivate a variety of vegetables in an organized manner and also bought a cow and a pair of piglets. We also distributed some seedlings of vegetables and saplings to a few of our co-workers who have some portion of land to plant them. We daily offered our intentions for the vulnerable –the people who are suffering from Covid and various sicknesses, the vulnerable and the jobless.

Sisters were able to do a few kind and charitable acts during these days. Around ten very poor families were identified and given ration (rice and pulses). We also found a benefactor who is ready to sponsor the education of a poor student studying in our Balwadi School. This celebration brought us great joy, enthusiasm and sense of belonging to our dear Mother- Oikos of our loving Father.

During this joyful season of creation we, the sisters of Hulhundu community, celebrated it in various ways. From the beginning of the season, 1^st September itself, we started a special prayer for mother earth which we recited daily.

We also conducted prayer services on various themes such as: 

• The impact of environmental disaster on human beings, especially the poor and Mother Earth. We were touched by the plight of the farmers, sitting and gazing at their dry field in desperation, the poor people going from place to place searching for drinking water, the famine stricken people, especially the children, the refugees and the migrants.

• The joyful mysteries of the Rosary for the care of creation with special prayer and reflection for each mystery. It highlighted how a generous ‘Yes’ of Mary, our Mother brought life to the world, to each of us through Jesus; how incarnation inspires us to see God more clearly in all his gifts, like the beauty of nature, the food we share, the water we drink, the air we breathe. It gave us a renewed sense of interconnectedness with all God’s creation and our shared responsibility for safeguarding it. As we prayed the Rosary in silent contemplation, we prayed that we may listen to the voice of every person, young and old, and care for our Common Home.

• The Creation Story from Genesis: the perfect order of everything in the Universe when it was created; how God paid attention to the minutest details while creating it and how he entrusted it to the care of humankind. It increased our love and respect for the Creator as well as for our Mother Earth. We ended the prayer service praising the Creator, joining the psalmist by praying the ps.104.

In the Schools too, the sisters together with teachers and students, cleaned the surroundings and planted new trees and various flower plants, and thus made use of this occasion to explain and educate our students the meaning and purpose of this special celebration. It heightened their awareness of the relatedness and interconnectedness to one another and to Mother Earth, our Common Home, and the responsibility to take care of the Earth in saving the environment, water, soil, preventing air pollution and protecting all forms of life.

Plants of the earth, the flowers and trees, the whispering wind and sweet music of the birds the air, the fish of the sea, and the whole of creation sing with joy. Season of creation is not only the annual Christian celebration of prayer and action for our common home. But also it is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and His creation.

Through celebration, conversion and commitment together, praying and caring for creation on 20th of September we seven sisters from Gurap community celebrated the season of creation. Each sister took different responsibilities. We started the day with prayer service conducted by Sr. Martina and Sr. Nilu in the green ground under the blue sky. We experienced one with the whole creation, thanking and praising together to Almighty God. Then we went to flower garden there under the guidance of Sr. Felicita we, uprooted, trimmed wild grasses and cleaned the garden. We too got the opportunity to plant some plants like mango, banana, guava, Neem, karanj etc. Gave support to the very young plants, We too appreciated the big and small trees which give fresh oxygen to breathe and keep ourselves alive, fruits, shed and also firewood. And made up our mind to protect from insects, monkeys etc. We became aware of the gifts we have received from the creation .We felt the joy of working together and taking care of the plants.

In the evening we had adoration and meaningful prayer about the season of creation. The small chapel was decorated beautifully by Sr. Julia and Sr. Roshline. Appropriate hymns, reading. reflections given by Sr. Martina, and symbols such as mud, water, seed, plant, leaves, flower and fruit were offered which helped us to pray, respect for the nature and experiencing God in each and everything. God has made the universe with great power and by out stretched arms. We have to respect everything God has created, nothing is to be rejected. Now we have deeper understanding about creation and meaningful ways to connect with God. How wonderfully we are connected with God and creation. We are grateful to God that from His communion of love he created planet. We were inspired anew by the closeness to nature which spontaneously leads us to give thanks to God the Creator.

Sr. Nilu Hembrom.

Today we are so grateful and thankful to God for our mother Earth and the whole creation, where we live together with other living beings and share our life with them. We are fortunate to be the part of this creation. We are blessed to have our every need from our Mother Earth. In the form of prayer we express our gratitude towards our creator. May He be glorified forever. May the whole creation bless the Lord.

Education doesn’t mean only reading and writing but to learn the importance and values of every each little thing God has created. On 29.09.2021 it was a great event in the history of Fatima H/S Manjirabari, Jiapani. On this day our students and staff took a daring step to make school campus a GREEN CAMPUS by planting 10 tree plants. Before planting all us took an aoth to care and save our planet.

We SCJMs join our hostellers and staff members in caring and serving the common home. We feel proud to extend our helping hand to our beloved mother and trying to soothe the hurt and wound of the Earth by our loving and gentle touch. 

Other living beings are also equally impotent. They too play a big role in our life. They are not our enemies but good friends. They too need to be taken care of.

Praying with the nature:- God reveals himself in the nature. we the sisters along with our two co-workers admired the beautiful nature around us, the trees, the tender leaves, green grass in the ground, the sun, the clouds and thanked God for his wonderful creation. Then we prayed the rosary together. As Sun gives light we prayed for all, that we may experience the light of life in our lives. Being inspired by the trees we prayed that everyone would be rooted and grounded in Christ and experience the fruitfulness as expressed in Psalm1:3 “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruits in its season and its leaf does not wither.”

Planting trees and taking care of them:- In order to save the planet earth our “ common home” we join hands with our Pope Francis and make a promise to plant more plants and trees to save the environment. By planting more and more plants and taking care of them we would like to promote a healthy lifestyle on this planet.

Taking care and admiring the beauty of creation:- Flowers are one of the most beautiful gift given to us by nature. They attract and give joy to everyone. so we are taking care of them and admiring the beauty of creation.

Nourishment for the plants:- Compost manure is being prepared by us in the community by using rotten vegetables, fruit peals, kitchen wastes and leaves. This increases the porosity of soil, nutrient richness of soil, it also drains excess water from clay soil. Composed manure thus obtained, is rich with nutrients and minerals that is needed for plants and trees.

As a community we reflected on the theme Season of Creation shared the thoughts to make them in action. At first we went around in the compound admiring the creation of god and God Himself. Heard the cries of the poor. The sick old and abandoned God created this world where all live in peace and harmony. This is broken today and we see that it is our responsibility to build it up. Make the world as a home to live comfortably.

We have taken the following steps to bring this a reality.

• Use water sparingly
• Save electricity by not using unnecessarily
• -Keep the surroundings clean
• -Save the soil from flowing out with rain water by planting plants.
• Kitchen wastes will be disposed in dumping box
• We use simple healthy food.
• Avoid use of plastic bags. Carry bags when go for shopping
• We will give ecological education to the students.
• Help one another and the students to see God’s presence in nature and in all creation
• Love everyone as brothers and sisters
• Help the poor and needy. We need to feel the pinch of poverty.
• Control air pollution by proper disposal of garbage.

In response to the circular of Sr.Lucy Jacob our superior General, our community (SCJM community)Jamshedpur  had the annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home (the season of creation celebration) on 3^rd september2021 on the given theme ‘A Home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God”.

On this day We had a beautiful and meaningful prayer service focusing on different aspects of creation. The oikos of God that is  at the verge of total destruction, the cross roads that are before us today with the exploitation of the earth ,the choice that is laid before us, and subsequently the hope that we are called to sow in this common Home by our individual and collective effort to restore the integrity of creation and the new life that can be given to the future generation by our attitudes, and conversion of heart to build a new world by living a new way.

Whole community found this energizing and an enlivening experience.

The chapel was decorated for the occasion depicting the destruction of the earth on one side with it’s aftermath and the green fruitful earth that we want to leave for our next generation was seen on the other side. We prayed as a community for the grace to walk towards this newness. At the end of  the prayer service, we were each given a candle to light and put under the light of Christ symbolically in order to  bring life and light in the world, to show our care for our ‘ common home’.

We were happy to spend time in the garden on the same day cleansing, uprooting weeds, planting new trees, some caring for the rabbits etc. This is a regular exercise in the community on Sundays when we are comparatively free from our responsibilities in the hospital. We were united with our mother earth and the creation in a special way. The community enjoyed this celebration of ‘season of creation’, to care for our common home. It renews our relationship with our creator Father  and all His creatures including us who occupy this oikos of God.

As a community we decided to have a meaningful prayerful service on the theme. On 1^st October, the chapel was tastefully arranged, bringing out the natural beauty of the creation with different types of plants along with flowing river in it.

Our prayer service began with the beautiful soft music inviting us to enter into the prayerful mood with a sense of gratitude which was followed by well prepared introduction and reflection. After which a lighted candle was placed on the altar reminding us of the presence of the creator God. A symbolic fruits of the earth such as mud, seeds, flowers, fruits, white rice and eggs were offered while the congregation joined the choir singing praises to the Almighty God through the hymn “Shristi hai teri kavita”

Soon followed the litany of penitential prayers realizing our own selfishness and greed and asking pardon for the harm caused by human beings. After which the word of God was read from the book of Wisdom 11/24-26,12/1  In response we joined the psalmist in glorifying our Creator God and sang with choir “ All creation bless the Lord

Then gospel of Mathew13/1-3, 31-33 was read. Then We spend few moments in silence pondering on the word of God and let those words sink into our hearts, while the power point presentation on scenery was displayed. After which we made the intercessory prayers. Lastly we had the concluding prayer. Our prayer service ended with the hymn- O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder (L-28)

There was a whole hearted participation by all the sisters. The background prepared in the chapel helped us to be in touch with the creator God and be ever grateful to him for His abundant blessings showered upon us. All the sisters were very much happy with the prayer service.

Creator of All,

We are grateful that from your communion of love you created our planet to be a home for all. By your Holy Wisdom you made the Earth to bring forth a diversity of living beings that filled the soil, water and air. Each part of creation praises you in their being, and cares for one another from our place in the web of life.

With the Psalmist, we sing your praise that in your house “even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young.” We remember that you call human beings to keep your garden in ways that honor the dignity of each creature and conserve their place in the abundance of life on Earth.

We know that our will to power pushes the planet beyond her limits. Our consumption is out of harmony and rhythm with Earth’s capacity to heal herself. 

In this Season of Creation, we pray that the breath of your creative Word would move our hearts, as in the waters of our birth and baptism. Give us faith to follow Christ to our just place in the beloved community. Enlighten us with the grace to respond to your covenant and call to care for our common home.

In our tilling and keeping, gladden our hearts to know that we participate with your Holy Spirit to renew the face of your Earth, and safeguard a home for all.In the name of the One who came to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Praise be to you our Lord, through our sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs”

Creator God, you have generously blessed us with an abundance of gifts in this Earth.. Help us to share in that generosity by ensuring that your gifts will be available for the poor and for future generations

God of all, you gladden our hearts with the beauty of your Creation. May we always prove to be worthy stewards of your gift.

Nature is one of God’s beautiful creations.  Through nature God is able to teach us, speak to us and provide for us. For this reason we can find in scripture that we humans are called to protect all of which He has created.

As for celebration of the “season of Creation” we have special prayers included in our morning prayer such as “prayer in union with creation and Pray for the earth”. The sisters were engaged in cleaning and clearing of the campus as far as possible. We also cleared some of the mango trees from cobwebs and dry leaves as well as cleaning of the flower pots from weeds and giving them enough good soil and fertilizer from the kitchen waste.   We enjoy the fruits of the earth very much.

Here in Pugru   community we take care of the following:- Chickens and birds in our campus, animals like Dogs and cat.

As we are well aware that the ecological crisis of our time persists at dangerous levels along with its closely related syndrome the Covid -19 pandemic. we have taken some step to make A Home for All as community and Ministries.

Community –

• We pray daily for the people who are affected by the natural calamities.
• We have simplified our life by sharing our things with the poor and needy.
• We use the water sparingly.
• We have planted the saplings in our Garden and around our compound.
• We take care of the plants every day during the gardening.
• We feel joy when we see the greenery around us and thank God for his creation.
• Ministries
• With the student we have started to clean around the school.
• Students were taught to plant the tree saplings also given classes to how to protect our common Home.
• Giving awareness to the people not to use plastic but use the thing which is made with papers and juts.
• Giving awareness programs how to protect the forest
• Likely consequences of not respecting and cultivating the oikos of God are as follows. Natural calamities, Covid-19, volcano ,Famine, Starvations, pollutions