United in faith and purpose, members and religious leaders with Archbishop Peter Loy Chong comes together to plan a prayer service centered on peace with creation and humanity. We need to act, pray, change and reconcile with creation and creator in unity and solidarity. - Photo: Pescila Magdalin
On 1st of September, I was honoured to receive an invitation from Archbishop Peter Loy Chong to invite other faith leaders/representatives to participate in an interfaith meeting on the Season of Creation 2025 theme of "Peace with Creation," drawn from Isaiah 32:14-18, emphasizing that restoring justice and right relationships is necessary for a peaceful world and a flourishing environment. The Interfaith meeting was aimed at planning a prayer service in the month of September, and the members attended were from Shri Sanatan Dharm, Fiji Muslim League, Methodist Church, Then India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI Sangam), Anglican and Catholic Church. At the meeting everyone was prepared to witness the hope and action to work together with and for creation. More faiths will join the next meeting on Tuesday 9th September 2025 to unite and care for our common home.
Interfaith Collaborations and values. While rooted in Christian tradition, this message of stewardship, ecological justice, and interconnectedness resonates with other religions, encouraging all faith communities to unite in prayer, reflection, and action to care for the planet and address environmental degradation.
The Season of Creation, while initiated by Christians, serves as an opportunity for interfaith dialogue and collaboration on environmental issues.
- Shared Values:
The concept of creation as a gift and the human responsibility to care for it is a common theme in many faiths. Respect for nature, ecological justice, and the well-being of all living things are values that can be found across various religious traditions, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
- Interfaith Collaboration:
Leaders from many faith traditions have encouraged participation in the Season of Creation, recognizing the universal importance of environmental care. This global event provides a framework for people of different faiths to come together, share their unique spiritual perspectives on creation, and act in solidarity.
- Focus on Justice and Peace:
The 2025 theme, "Peace with Creation," encourages a focus on healing relationships—between humans, with God, and with the natural world. This aligns with the broader understanding of justice and compassion found in many religious teachings, which often connect environmental health with social equity and peace for all beings.
Message of "Peace with Creation"
- Inspired by Isaiah 32:14-18:
The prophet Isaiah describes a desolate wilderness and a fruitful field, illustrating how a lack of justice leads to environmental devastation. The message for 2025 is that a restored and thriving Earth is possible when justice is restored.
- Call to Action:
The season is a reminder that caring for the Earth is a moral imperative, requiring practical changes in personal lives, communities, and societal structures.
- Hope for Restoration:
Despite the damage caused by human actions, the theme carries a message of hope, emphasizing the expectation of a peaceful and restored Earth through repentance, solidarity, and unified action.
- Integral Ecology:
The message of the Season of Creation reflects the broader concept of integral ecology, which recognizes the interconnectedness of all life and the need to foster right relationships for a more just and peaceful world. (Peace with creation and humanity).
Pescila Magdalin
Columban Interreligious Dialogue Coordinator, Fiji.
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