Season of Creation celebrated with joyful spring Mass in the Blue Mountains

By Mary-Jane Chemuel, 22 October 2024
Season of Creation Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, Blackheath. Image: Jazz Chalouhii/Three Two One Photography/Diocese of Parramatta.

 

The Season of Creation was in ushered in on a fresh and sunny spring day in the Blue Mountains, as Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv concelebrated Mass with Fr John McSweeney at Sacred Heart Parish, Blackheath. 

The Season of Creation ran from 1 September (the first day of spring) to 4 October 2024. The Season of Creation was celebrated in parishes across the Diocese of Parramatta to reflect on the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. 

Bishop Vincent welcomed all to Mass, highlighting how the location and beauty of the Blue Mountains resonated with the Season of Creation. 

“It is here that we are powerfully reminded of our connectivity with creation, indeed we are a part of nature,” Bishop Vincent said. 

“It is only by developing and nurturing that vital relationship with God’s creation, that we can hope to have a harmonious and sustainable existence as we begin this season of creation.” 

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv concelebrated Mass with Fr John McSweeny at Sacred Heart Parish, Blackheath. Image: Jazz Chalouhii/Three Two One Photography/Diocese of Parramatta

Bishop continued in his homily, “Let us pray that we may become catalysts for global action in the way that Pope Francis has so prophetically challenged us in his encyclical Laudato Si.  

“May we have the courage to move to the new future where God beckons. May we show the alternative pathway of hope, justice, and sustainability against the ingrained culture of denial, fear, and defense of the status quo.” 

 A morning tea, fresh produce market and tree planting activities followed Mass. 

Children planting vegetables in the parish’s Community Kitchen Garden. Image: Jazz Chalouhii/Three Two One Photography/Diocese of Parramatta.

The Season of Creation is of particular importance to Sacred Heart Parish, which is a member of the Caritas Earth Care program. As such, the parish endeavours to adopt sustainable practices on its church sites to reduce its ecological footprint and cultivate a deep love and care for God’s Creation and our common home.   

Sacred Heart has actioned the seven Laudato Si’ goals through activities such as hosting recycling collection programs, food drives, and updating systems in the parish to be more energy efficient. The actions and activities are guided by the calls of the seven goals of Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical, Laudato Si’ (Praise be to You).   

Parishioners shared a wonderful spread of homemade goods at morning tea following Mass. Image: Jazz Chalouhii/Three Two One Photography/Diocese of Parramatta

Sister Jacinta Shailer, Member of the Good Samaritan Order and Teacher of Creation Spirituality said, “I enjoyed the liturgy very much because it had a great unity to it… you felt the whole spirit of joy and joy of creation in the whole church.” 

“We need to have just a deeper understanding of the whole of the meaning of the divine within creation so that our whole spiritualty can be enlivened, enriched, and nourished and we can become better Christian people in this world, especially toward the poor and those who need our care.” 

Paul Harris, Diocesan Pastoral Council Member and Parishioner at Sacred Heart Blackheath added, “The message I have to others about taking care of God’s creation is to really just get out and look, see real flowers, smell the perfume, touch the earth and really be at one with creation… just immerse yourself in God’s greatness.” 

You can watch the Mass and highlights video on our YouTube channel. 

View images from the Mass here or below:

2024 Season of Creation Mass - Blackheath

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