Diocese of Davenport

Welcome to the Diocese of Davenport’s Care for Creation Page!

Bishop Zinkula inaugurated the diocesan program of efforts to honor our commitment to caring for the totality of creation (all of us are part of creation!) with his letter announcing the Season of Creation (http://www.catholicmessenger.net/2022/08/season-of-creation-begins-sept-1/).    The Season of Creation is an annual period of praise, prayer and action that is celebrated world-wide by Christians of many denominations to celebrate the wonder of how the world was made and to reclaim the theology of why it was made.  The Season begins each year on September 1 with the World Day of Prayer and extends through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis.  This year’s theme is the Burning Bush of Exodus 3 and asks us to “Listen to the Voice of Creation.”

While the Season of Creation is our annual celebration and renewal of our commitment to caring for all of creation, this page will be the home page of our diocesan work to honor and implement the restoration of relationships that the Holy Father, Pope Francis spoke of in his encyclical in 2015, Laudato Si, literally, Praise Be to You.  The relationship he speaks of are between God and humankind, between all of the peoples of humankind, and between humankind and our common home, the Earth.  Care for our Common Home is the subtitle of the Holy Father’s encyclical.

This page, like our efforts, is a work in progress.  It will grow in detail as we progress along the seven year path to a full Laudato Si plan, and as more of us participate in the work.  This is not a diocesan effort in the sense that it comes downward from the chancery building (although there are plans for the building too) but rather one that is shaped by our individual, family and parish involvement.  Some parishes and individuals are already active and the ripples created by them will spread and interact with those of others.  This page will chronicle the efforts of all, provide resources for the continuing efforts again, of individuals, families and parishes, and provide opportunities for everyone to impact the content and direction of the plan.
 

Please come back often to see what is going on, and to provide your comments and suggestions!

Your involvement, ideas, comments, and your questions

Friends, we need your involvement, ideas, comments, and your questions.  Please use the form below to indicate your interest in care for creation, any special skills or experience you have, and any questions you have.  We will get back to you, and we may ask you to become further involved with us in this effort to respond to the Holy Father.