Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
How are you enjoying the warmer weather? As for me, while I enjoy every aspect of the warmer weather, I really enjoy walking with my dog at beach whenever I can.
The sacred season of creation culminates on this Sunday, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (actual feast day is 4th Oct), the patron saint of ecology.
I recently learned that this year marks the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, a profound hymn reflecting his deep connection to nature and the divine. 800 years after St. Francis composed the Canticle of Creatures, his writing continues to be deeply relevant– including at the United Nations. In offering his praise in it, to the many dimensions of nature he witnessed around him, St. Francis also recognized their fragility. Today, as we try to preserve the world from the multiple and intersecting crises that threaten all of nature, his words resonate as a reminder of what is at stake. I believe it is so appropriate to finish the season of creation with the feast of St. Francis. See the last page of this newsletter for a glimpse of Canticle of the Creatures.
Please note there will be no service at St. Michael’s this Sunday. Since we will include animal blessings, we will have a combined service at Holy Cross at 10:30.
Arohanui
Yukiko
