EVENTS DURING THE 2017 SEASON OF CREATION
October 16, 2017 - Creation Care Photo Contest Blue Ribbon Awards. During the Season of Creation (Sept 1 – Oct 4), the Care for our Common Home Ministry sponsored a photo contest for middle and high school students. We received so many stunning pictures of nature in our local area. The perspectives of the shots of sky, water, plants and animals were very creative. Some of the photos were are on display on the bulletin board in the narthex. Blue ribbon winners received prizes. All the photos can be viewed on our website (click on links below to see prize winners and all entries). Thank you to all the students who submitted photos!
Sky Photos Water Photos Animal Photos Plant Photos |
October 1, 2017 - "Lord, I Want to See”: Viewing the World Through God’s Eyes. Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM led a special Prayer service and talk to cap off our parish Season of Creation celebration. It was refreshing to hear the Franciscan call to action that is embedded in Laudato Si' - connecting the care for the poor with the care for creation. Fr. Jacek spoke to the fragmentation that is prevalent in multiple areas of our global life, and encouraged us along the grace filled path to a more unified and peaceful earth.
Interfaith Creation Care Showcase.
SJN's Care for Our Common Home Ministry joined over a dozen Northern Virginia congregations to exchange ideas in this expo-style event sponsored by Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions and Interfaith Power and Light. Our display highlighted many of the activities we have undertaken to promote the 7th theme of Catholic Social Teaching - Care for God's Creation. |
Bird Walk #1. Bill Brown led a bird walk after the 9:00 am mass. Bill Brown, an avid bird watcher, helped us spot birds on the Parish grounds and along the paths behind the church. We ended up seeing some nice birds back up by the bee hives, including a big raven, which Bill said is quite rare here. It landed on the top of the cross above the bell tower - quite spectacular!
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September 16 - Eagle Scout Pollinator Garden Construction. Eagle Scout Derek White led a group of 26 in constructing a pollinator garden on the lawn below the east end of the lower parking lot. This troop is very big and a lot of Derek's friends came to help. The boys showed up starting at 9:15 am and were finished by noon. The boys celebrated with pizzas and cleaned up by 12:30 pm. Mark Gosselin, SJN facility manager, provided guidance to Derek throughout the project. CCH also provided support as part of our sustainable grounds and Sacred Spaces initiative. Future plans for this meditative space call for certification as a Monarch Way Station and installation of a bench and a bird bath/feeder,
September 1 - 2017 World Day of Prayer for Creation Walk. We kicked off the Season of Creation by participating in the 9 am daily mass, followed by an outdoor prayer walk where we honored God’s presence in His gift of creation. Christians around the globe came together to pray and care for creation. September 1 was proclaimed as the World Day of Prayer for Creation by the Orthodox Church in 1989, and many other Christian churches have joined since then, with Pope Francis most recently in 2015. Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew issued a rare joint message on this day of prayer for the Earth. Click here for the 2017 message. This is the first time the Pope and Patriarch have spoken together about Creation.