Across the Americas, people are finding ways—big and small—to reconnect with creation, honoring both the Earth and the sacred rhythms of life. From the cornfields of the United States to the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro, from the Cathedral in Argentina to gatherings in El Salvador, these stories show that being at peace with creation is as much about community as it is about individual reflection.
Walking Among the Cornfields: Southern Indiana, United States
“The pilgrimage offered both a physical journey and a spiritual invitation—to meet new friends, reflect on creation, and experience the sacred in ordinary landscapes.”
On September 6, 135 pilgrims set out on foot through the cornfields of Southern Indiana, following paths with a long history of devotion as Pilgrims of Hope for Creation. Led by Sr. Jean Marie Ballard, pilgrims paused every mile for prayer and reflection, while speakers shared insights from their own Camino experiences. Some visited a nearby shrine along the route; others prayed different rosaries together. This pilgrimage transformed ordinary roads into sacred pathways, reminding participants that the journey itself can be an act of care for both community and creation. These walks were part of a larger series of Pilgrimages of Hope for Creation happening across the country, uniting communities worldwide in prayer and ecological awareness.
A First Catholic Mass for the Care of Creation: Neuquén, Argentina
“Monseñor Croxatto inspired the faithful to reconcile with God, with others, and with nature.”
Also on September 6, the Mary helper of Christians Cathedral in Neuquén, Argentina celebrated its first-ever Catholic Mass for care of creation, bringing together religious and cultural communities in a call for fraternity and care for our common home. During his homily, Monseñor Croxatto highlighted the urgency of ecological conversion and reaffirmed the commitment to protect the Earth for future generations. This Mass showed how spiritual devotion and environmental responsibility can walk hand in hand.
Voices for the Earth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“Faith, culture, and climate action converge in a public celebration of our common home.”
On the last Saturday of August, Largo da Candelária, in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, hosted the Vigil for the Earth, an interfaith gathering blending art, spirituality, and climate advocacy. Hundreds of participants—including Catholics, Evangelicals, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Indigenous leaders, and representatives of African-based religions—came together to share prayers, workshops, and performances honoring the Earth and calling for environmental justice. As part of a larger journey toward COP30 in Belém, this gathering highlighted the power of collective action and the deep connections between faith, culture, and care for creation.
Strengthening Networks Across Central America and southern Mexico
“Faith, reflection, and action came together as regional representatives renewed their commitment to care for our common home.”
From September 8–12, nearly 50 faith and community leaders from across Mesoamerica—including Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama—gathered in El Salvador for the Fourth Assembly of the Mesoamerican Ecclesial Ecological Network (REMAM), a network co-founded by the Laudato Si’ Movement to promote environmental stewardship through faith-based action. The assembly began with a Mass for the Care of Creation and focused on listening, reflecting, and taking action in response to the urgent needs of our planet.
Participants shared experiences, offered testimonies, and explored strategies to enhance environmental care within their communities. A pilgrimage and Catholic Mass near the crypt of Saint Óscar Romero inspired attendees to embrace the motto, “We row life, we weave communion,” reaffirming their shared responsibility to protect creation and strengthen interconnected communities across the region.
Prayer and Action for Creation in Washington, D.C.
“In unity, our prayers rise for healing and justice.”
On Tuesday, September 9, courageous faith representatives gathered in Washington, D.C., for the inaugural Season of Creation Public Witness. Together, they prayed and confessed—grieving the harms of federal rollbacks on climate protections, attacks on public lands, and cuts to environmental justice—while lifting their voices for healing, restoration, and care for God’s creation.
Partners supporting this effort included Interfaith Power & Light DC MD NoVa, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Advocacy, Lutherans Restoring Creation, United Church of Christ Washington D.C. Office, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Passionists Solidarity Network, and American Baptist Churches USA.
Across the Americas, these pilgrimages, prayers, and gatherings remind us that caring for creation is both a personal and collective journey. In the quiet of cornfields, the sacred walls of cathedrals, the vibrant streets of Rio, and the local gathering spaces, communities pause, listen, and discern how to live in harmony with the Earth. Peace with creation grows not only from action, but from the shared awareness that we are part of something larger—woven together with all of life, called to nurture and protect the gift of our common home.
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