Seeds of hope at Laudato Si' Circle in Villepinte, France

By Laudato Si' Movement

The parishes of St. Vincent de Paul and Notre Dame de l'Ascension in Villepinte, a city near Paris, France, kicked off the Season of Creation by celebrating the Feast of Creation. They spread the word about the activities of the Laudato Si' Circle that meets in the parish and what they are planning for the entire Season of Creation.

Laudato Si' Animator Sylvette Loubet was in charge of organizing the celebration and made sure that the participants were truly inspired by the theme of the season: “To hope and act with Creation”.

What is a celebration for Creation?

During the celebration of the Sunday Mass, parishioners participated by reciting together a prayer for Creation written by Pope Francis. A calendar containing an action idea for each day of the Season of Creation, lifting up hope throughout the month-long season, was distributed to each person.

The priest who celebrated the Mass, Father Olivier Jean Ferlin Fakiraniaina, a young man from Madagascar, was inspired by the Season of Creation for his preaching; and upon learning about the activity of the Laudato Si' Circle that meets in the parish to pray for Creation, he decided to join.

Impact of the faithful

After the mass, Sylvette spoke with some parishioners who were pleased with the way the celebration had gone. Although it is sometimes difficult to see how people are moved by such initiatives, “you often find out afterwards,” Sylvette says.

For her, people are moved and begin to act at home with little things, which, once we hear about it, “gives us a lot of hope,” she says.

“Last year we gave seeds to people at the end of the celebration and someone said to me, ‘You know, a flower grows.’ And he sent me a picture. Recently, she told me that the flower had given other seeds and she was giving them away to other people. Small actions like these show that people are becoming more and more aware," says Sylvette.

More Season of Creation activities

The Sunday celebration was the beginning of the Season of Creation agenda, which will continue in the parish until October 4.

On September 21, they will hold a prayer vigil, and on September 22 there will be a celebration of Creation at all parish Masses, with a walk and prayer in nature.

Finally, on October 5, the Season of Creation will close with a conference on St. Francis of Assisi and a Mass with a blessing for domestic animals. More information on the activities can be found on their Facebook page.