Plastics Free July Prayer - Francesca

We pray for the environment and all of creation, the sky, land, sea and all living creatures…  Photo: Fr Alvaro MartinezWe pray for the environment and all of creation, the sky, land, sea and all living creatures…  Photo: Fr Alvaro Martinez

Plastic Free July is a time to reflect on our collective environmental footprints and to be connected with others in positive change.  Communities of faith have a special contribution to make as we live out the teachings of our tradition, which encourage us to help build a better society for all.  In his resource ‘Prayers of Hope in Times of Turmoil: A Catholic Season of Creation Year B,’ Columban Fr Charles Rue invites us to pray: ‘Jesus came to bring life to the full.  That believers live out their baptism as missionaries of hope attuned to this time of pandemic and ecological crisis.  We pray.’ 

Young people are taking up the Gospel call and urging us all to take notice and live in harmony with all of God’s creation.  A Year 11 student at Iona Presentation College in Perth prays: ‘Our earth is precious and is in need of gentleness and kindness…We pray for the environment and all of creation, the sky, land, sea and all living creatures…Help us to love, respect and restore creation. St Francis of Assisi, Pray for us. Amen.’ 

Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM is a team member of the Columban Peace, Ecology & Justice office in Australia.

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