The Season of Creation 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment in history. This year marks ten years since Pope Francis issued Laudato Si’, his prophetic encyclical on care for our common home, and ten years since the Paris Agreement, a landmark global commitment to address the climate crisis. These anniversaries invite us to look back with gratitude, but more importantly, to look forward with renewed courage and conviction.

A Message to Jesuits and Collaborators

In a recent message originally shared through JCAM News, Fr. Daniel Mwamba Mutale, S.J., PhD, Executive Director of JCTR, addressed Jesuits and collaborators across Africa and Madagascar. He reminded us that the theme for this year, “Peace with Creation,” is a profound call to prayer, reflection, and bold action.

Drawing inspiration from Isaiah 32:14–18, he urged us to envision a Garden of Peace where justice and harmony flow together—where ecosystems are protected and communities flourish in dignity. For Africa, a continent marked by both ecological vulnerability and social longing for peace, this message carries particular weight.

Justice at the Heart of Peace

Fr. Mutale emphasised that true peace with creation cannot be separated from justice. As the impacts of climate change intensify—droughts, floods, displacement, and food insecurity—many African nations also carry the crushing burden of sovereign debt repayments. Resources that should support health care, education, or resilience are instead drained away to creditors.

He called on the Jesuit network to join broader movements advocating for debt relief, fairer financial systems, and increased support for vulnerable communities most affected by climate change.

Living the Season of Creation

The Season of Creation is not just about reflection—it is about embodied faith. Fr. Mutale encouraged practical steps such as:

• Prayer and Worship: Celebrate the Eucharist for the Care of Creation and integrate creation themes into community prayer and reflection.
• Community Action: Engage in tree planting, waste clean-ups, and reduce single-use plastics as visible acts of ecological commitment.
• Education and Awareness: Use media, workshops, and storytelling to raise awareness of ecological and social challenges.
• Advocacy: Stand boldly for systemic change that honours the dignity of both people and planet.

A Call to Walk Together

As Fr. Mutale concluded, this Season of Creation is a time to be united in faith, inspired by hope, and driven by justice. Guided by Laudato Si’ and the spirit of Jubilee, may we together cultivate a Garden of Peace where creation flourishes and humanity thrives in harmony with the Earth.