Looking Forward to the Season of Creation by Fr Chris Bologo
Last Tuesday, July 18, I phoned Sr. Evelyn Muonanu, a Daughter of Divine Love congregation religious with whom I had worked in the chancery of the archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria. She is on a study and mission trip in Rome, Italy. As we talked, she asked me about the weather conditions in California, and I replied that it was boiling. She told me the weather was scorching in Rome as well. We both concluded that the 2023 summer was hot in many parts of the world. We have all been reading and hearing in the news about the record-breaking weather in the United States including California.
I remember telling the congregation at mass last weekend that the heat wave and its effect on human beings was a testament to the words of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans in the second reading: “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22-23). In this weekend’s Gospel, as in all three readings last weekend, Jesus uses the image of non-human nature – the Parable of the Weed (Matt.13:24-43) – to teach human nature a religious lesson. This is another testimony that human and non-human nature are inseparable, and both look forward to their redemption by Jesus Christ.
On September 1st (World Day of Prayer for Creation) to October 4th (the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi), Christians will celebrate the 2023 ecumenical season of creation. This is a period to renew our relationship with our Creator and all Creation through Celebration, Conversion, and Commitment. In his message for the occasion titled “Let Justice and Peace Flow,” Pope Francis has invited us to resolve to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and public policies ruling our societies so that we can heal our common home for justice and peace to flow. Francis encourages us to embrace “the renewal of our relationship with creation so that we no longer see it as an object to be exploited but cherish it instead as a sacred gift from our creator” (Francis, May 13, 2023). He enjoins us to cooperate with God in his ongoing creation through positive choices: “using resources with moderation and a joyful sobriety, disposing and recycling waste, and making greater use of available products and services that are environmentally and socially responsible” (Francis, May 13, 2023).
St. Simon parish is planning to enroll in the Laudato Si action platform as a community so that we can set goals and play our own role in caring for our common home. Additionally, the parish will host an event co-sponsored by the Diocese of San Jose, Stewards of our Common Home and Bay Area Conference of Associates and Religious (BACAR) with guest speaker Paul J. Schultz, an associate professor in the Religious Studies department focusing on the Christian Theology of Creation at Santa Clara University. The title of his talk is “Living the Season of Creation Every Day: The Ecological Vision of Laudato Si”. The date of the presentation is September 16th, 3:30 – 4:45 pm.
On August 5th from 10 am – 2 pm, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is hosting an E–Waste Collection Event in the parish car park. I encourage you to look around your home and bring electronic items that you no longer use. It is best we recycle these electronics because when they end up in the landfill and never break down. E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. You can see the items accepted here.
A reminder that our parish Rummage Sale is back this year on September 15th and 16th. This is a wonderful event where we can re-use, repurpose and recycle items. Please bring items you no longer need in your home and they will be put in the sale. Items that do not sell are donated to local charities in need. I encourage you to join in this event and volunteer to sort or work on the sale days with your family and friends to be part of caring for our common home. You can read more about the St. Simon Rummage Sale here.
Finally, please consider this, if you would like to help spread the word in caring for God’s Creation and put ideas into action consider joining the new St. Simon Green Team. Contact Michelle Nealon, Outreach and Social Justice Chair here or email communciations@stsimon.org. Please, let us all join hands and care for our common home for the good of God’s entire creation.
God bless,
Fr. Chris