Ten years ago Pope Francis wrote the encyclical in praise of God’s creation. The theme of the encyclical found instant popularity because of its timeliness and appropriateness for our world. This magnificent work invites everyone to participate in realizing the importance of the whole of creation and in preserving it for future generations by ceasing selfish behaviors and by collaborating with others to transform attitudes and to commit more fully todoing our best to respect and protect all life.
On October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Daughters of the Holy Spirit of the Putnam Province , together with the DHS throughout the world, celebrated and praised God for the wonders of Creation and prayed for the conversion of our hearts at all levels so that we may work incessantly to protect our world and all living things.
The gathering in Putnam began with warm greetings, delicious and seasonal mid morning snacks and a call to prayer focusing on earth as a gift of God to us and urging us to pray for our Mother Earth. A couple videos enhanced the theme and underlined other creatures praise their creator as they live out their lives and their rituals.
Time for personal and joint reflection and sharing led into the concluding prayer that evoked the various world communities that suffer from our abuse and for those who are in a position to help but choose not to.
Everyone present was invited to dance and sing their resounding alleluias to bring this “laudato Sí experience to conclusion.
A special moment helped to underline what this day was all about: two monarch butterflies came to birth during the prayer and were released soon thereafter . What a powerful and beautiful symbol of new life! LAUDATO SÍ!
After a simple meal of homemade soups and breads and Sr. Michèle’s famous “dirt” birthday cake, all participants were invited to create a tree from pieces of cloth each had brought with her. The Laudato Sí tree now stands on display in the gathering room, aka Grande Salle at the DHS Center in Putnam.
The Birthday Party ended with a raffle and five lucky winners going home with their treasures.