Stations of the Cross. Image: Shutterstock
On 19 February 2022, the Joti Educational and Cultural Centre of Hyderabad diocese in Pakistan organized the annual Lenten Preparation Programme, at which 49 participants from various parishes and schools of the diocese attended. The resource people for the day were from the Diocesan Ecology Commission, write Columban missionary, Fr Liam O’Callaghan.
The aim of the day’s work was to create a Stations of the Cross for the Care of Creation, combining the traditional devotion which commemorates Jesus’ last day on earth and the suffering he endured, with the reality of the environmental crisis today. It would then be offered to parishes, schools and institutions of the diocese to be used during the Season of Lent.
The participants were fully involved in creating the new stations, which include aspects of the traditional Way of the Cross, teaching from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and a theme connecting an aspect of the environmental crisis with each station.
We are happy to offer this new Stations of the Cross for the Care of Creation. We hope that it will be of help to you in your Lenten preparations for Easter, and also help to make the connection between the sufferings of Jesus and the sufferings of Mother Earth, our Common Home, because of pollution, climate change and environmental destruction. In doing so, we will be responding to the call of Pope Francis, that our faith must inspire us to care for our Common Home.
Download here: Stations of the Cross for the Care of Creation
‘Ecological conversion’ means a change in how we look at creation; and re-establishing a relationship of harmony with God, humans and all creatures. It means making changes in our daily lives, which will have a positive effect on the environment and all creatures.