By Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Ph.D.
The Season of Creation (SOC) is a time for all Christians to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion and commitment together.
This time of reflection and action begins on Sept. 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Notably, this year marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death.
The global theme of this year’s Season of Creation is “Immersion in Living Water,” based on Ezekiel 47:9-12. As our Church celebrates the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis, our diocesan Creation Care Ministry is especially embracing the saint’s fraternal relationship with “Sister Water,” whom he describes as “so very useful and humble, precious and chaste.”
Each week, our materials, social media postings and in-person events explore a different impacted waterway in our diocese. Find event listings and recommended catechetical and liturgical resources in an electronic folder at bit.ly/SOC26Resources, a case-sensitive link. All are invited to follow along, to reflect on our collective relationship with Sister Water, and discern how to improve our care of this gift of creation.
Five key waterways
The stories and histories of our five chosen local waterways call us to recognize ecological damage, embrace interconnectedness, and actively work for the renewal of creation so that environmental healing and human wellbeing may flourish. Family-friendly bulletin inserts/weekly activity sheets in English and Spanish are included in the electronic resource folder to guide you along this journey exploring important themes of Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si’” in the company of Sister Water. The waterways and themes are as follows:
- Week 1 — The Colorado River and the Cry of the Earth
- Week 2 — Los Peñasquitos Lagoon and the Voice of Biodiversity
- Week 3 — Chollas Creek and Community Empowerment and Resilience
- Week 4 — Lake Wohlford and the Voice of Indigenous Peoples
- Week 5 — The Tijuana Estuary and the Cry of the Poor
In addition, several events are scheduled during the month, ranging from our annual student art contest, to blessing a critical waterway, to hikes and clean-ups, to cozy reading time and prayerful discussions. They are listed here and on the diocesan Creation Care webpage. You might also just spend a day with loved ones at the beach, the lake, or pray in gratitude for our relatively easy access to safe drinking water.
Mass for the Care of Creation
As Pope Leo XIV has designated 2026 as the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis, our Season of Creation Mass on Sept. 5 this year will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Vista, making attendance a possible pilgrimage experience. For details on how to meet the Jubilee pilgrimage requirements, see the diocesan information page at https://sdcatholic.org/jubilee-year-of-st-francis/. Registration for the Mass is requested.
Bishop Pham will be our Mass celebrant, and we are hopeful the USCCB’s finalized language for Pope Leo’s new Mass for the Care of Creation will be approved in time for us to celebrate it. The service will be bilingual and held in the parish’s beautiful outdoor worship space. A Laudato Si’ awards dinner follows. Please share your faith community’s Laudato Si’ action at bit.ly/LSAction25-26; no action is too big or small.
Finally, we ask all to please bring your parish/school/household Laudato Si’ action plans to the Mass. You are also encouraged to bring produce or cut flowers (in a vase) from your parish, school or backyard garden. The flowers will adorn the worship space, and the produce will be donated to a local foodbank. This action launches Bishop Pham’s new “Common Home Common Ground” initiative to sow beauty and grow food for our community through encounter with the earth, making good use of the Catholic land we steward.
Contact Christina Slentz at cslentz@sdcatholic.org with questions or for assistance.
‘Season of Creation’ Events:
Sept. 1, 6 a.m.: Sunrise on the SOC: The Colorado River and the Cry of the Earth; bit.ly/SunriseSOC
Sept. 5, 6 p.m.: Season of Creation Mass and Reception with Bishop Michael Pham, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Vista; bit.ly/SOCMass26
Sept. 12, 9 to 11 a.m.: Los Peñasquitos Lagoon and the Voice of Biodiversity, Hike and Cleanup; bit.ly/PenLagoon
Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to noon: Chollas Creekside Park, Stewardship Learning Event, Community Empowerment and Resilience; bit.ly/ChollasCreeksideEvent
Now through Sept. 21 (11:59 p.m.): SOC Youth Art Contest (grades 4-12). Submit your “Living Water”-inspired drawings, colorings or paintings by Sept. 21. Register now at bit.ly/SOC_ArtContest_2026.
Now through Oct. 4: Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, commemorating the 800th anniversary of his death. Lead a celebration at your parish or school.
Oct. 5:
A community read, “Watershed Discipleship: Reinhabiting Bioregional Faith and Practice,” Ched Myers; Zoom discussion, 7 p.m.; link at bit.ly/SDCCPage.
