Environment in the spotlight during feast of Creation
News
The annual Archdiocesan Mass of Creation, held at St Helen’s Park, Prospect, on 5 September was celebrated in line with the new Mass formulary released by Pope Leo and the Vatican.
The Mass was organised by the Council for Integral Ecology as part of the annual Season of Creation celebration, and was attended by about 60 people.
The Council’s chair, Sanjay Mohanaraj said it provided a unique experience for attendees to immerse in the richness and wonder of the surrounding environment.
“This year we celebrated the Season of Creation theme of ‘Living Water’, inspired by the vision in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47: verse 1-12,” Sanjay said. “This scripture passage highlights God’s lifegiving water flowing into dry and damaged places, bringing healing, renewal, and new life to all creation.
“The theme invited us to recognise our deep connection with the Earth, respond to ecological damage, and take action to protect and restore water systems, so that both people and the planet can flourish.”
Archbishop Patrick O’Regan was joined by Fr Michael Trainor, Fr Mannes Tellis and Deacon Tee Ping Koh, who concelebrated with him.
At the beginning section of the Mass, water was presented by three members of the Council for Integral Ecology, and poured into a large water bowl.
“This water was then blessed by Archbishop O’Regan and the ‘Sprinkling Rite’ was undertaken- where attendees were blessed with holy water,” Sanjay said.
“At the conclusion of Mass, this water was transferred into smaller bottles and distributed to attendees to celebrate the theme of “living water” and as a reminder of our baptismal promise of being made new in Christ and our shared responsibility to protect the Earth’s waters. Attendees were invited to take the gift and be a source of living water for others on their journey.”
Prior to the Mass, Archbishop Patrick O’Regan was gifted a knitted ‘climate action’ scarf made by a member of the Council for Integral Ecology, Sr Mary-Ann Casanova rsj.
The patterns and colours of the scarf represented the average global temperature since 1919 and the progression of global climate warming from cool to warm. Across the nation, scarves are knitted as part of the ‘Knit For Climate Action’ project which started in 2020 when Common Grace put out a call for Christians across Australia to knit scarves that tell the reality of our warming climate.
What started as a simple creative idea grew into a movement for change, weaving together individual stories of concern for God’s creation into a collective cry for urgent climate action in Australia. In the years since, scarves have been gifted to federal parliamentarians and international leaders to raise awareness and encourage them to take swift action on climate change.
Following the Mass, a shared picnic lunch was held and an ice-cream cart was provided to gather everyone in fellowship and celebrate together in community.
“Though impacted by wet and windy weather at times, the event was still an ecologically spiritual one, and ironically fitted the
living water theme quite aptly,” Sanjay said.
“The Mass was further enhanced by the beautiful music provided by Oblate Youth SA, with some people moved to tears during the Mass.”
