This year our Ukrainian Catholic Church is once again hosting the program entitled the Season of Creation. The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action to protect God’s creation. It is celebrated by Christians of all traditions, and the leaders of various churches have encouraged the faithful to participate. The season begins on September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation, and runs through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology in many Western traditions. September 1 was proclaimed as a day of prayer for creation (World Day of Prayer for Creation, or Creation Day) by Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I for the Orthodox in 1989, and was embraced by the other major Christian European churches in 2001and by Pope Francis for the Roman Catholic Church in 2015.

On behalf of Bishop Bryan Bayda, I would like to extend a warm invitation to you to join us all on Thursday, September 19th, at 7:00 pm at Steve Patola Park, 1235-20th Street West, Saskatoon, for the celebration of the Akathist Prayers in Praise and Care for God’s Creation.

Following the prayer service, we will have an opportunity to listen to Bishop Mark Hagemoen from the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, representing the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Rabbi Claudio Jodorkovsky from the Congregation Agudas Israel, Sandra Harper from the Indigenous community, Minister Karen Fraser Gitlitz from the Unitarian faith and various youth on the Theme of Healing Mother Earth, Reconciling with Each Other.

After the outside prayer service led by Rt. Rev. Janko Kolosnjaji from St. George’s Cathedral, we will meet for a panel discussion in the hall followed by coffee right next to the park at St. George’s Senior Citizens Club. This facility will be decorated with educational posters, and a new initiative – environmental product displays operated by local entrepreneurs and businesses. The displays and booths will facilitate viewing and stimulate informal dialogue from 6:00 pm through to the end of the evening’s activities. For more information please contact Lesya Sabada –  l.sabada@usask.ca.