By: Mwenya Chitambala
The Season of Creation 2025 has marked a historic and deeply inspiring moment for the Church in Africa. From Ethiopia to Ghana, Nigeria to South Africa, Catholic communities and partners came together to celebrate, pray, and act under this year’s theme: Peace with Creation – Caring for Our Common Home.
A Milestone Mandate from Africa’s Bishops
We are pleased to share a milestone moment: the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has given its mandate to celebrate the Mass for the Care of Creation, leading into celebrating the Feast of Creation, first days of September every year.
This is a historic step, embedding the liturgical celebration of creation more deeply into the life of the Church on the continent. Out of the eight bishops’ conferences worldwide taking this first step in 2025, five are from Africa: Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. In addition, Ghana, through one of its dioceses, will also join the celebrations, alongside many other dioceses across the continent.
Most of these Catholic Masses were celebrated on Sunday, 7 September, uniting communities in thanksgiving for the gift of creation and strengthening their commitment to protect our common home. In Nigeria, the celebration had already taken place on 1 September in Abuja, with our Nigeria Chapter Leader, Bonny Oboh, in attendance.
Ethiopia: Holy Mass During the Africa Climate Summit
In Addis Ababa, the Season of Creation coincided with the Africa Climate Summit (ACS2). Together with partners, SECAM hosted a Mass for the Care of Creation, during which bishops read a strong statement calling for the acceleration of global climate solutions and financing Africa’s resilient and green development. The Church emphasised the urgent need for a transition to renewable energy and positioned ecological conversion at the centre of discipleship.
Ghana: Creation Day in Kumasi
In Kumasi, Ghana, the Celebration of Creation Day raised awareness of climate justice and the moral duty to protect creation. The event anchored ecological awareness in both prayer and community action. It also highlighted the Church’s commitment to ecological conversion and care for creation in a country where illegal mining and biodiversity loss remain pressing challenges.
Kenya: Tangaza University Launch
We are delighted to share that the Laudato Si’ Movement team at Tangaza University, together with St Jude Circle, held a special Mass for the Care of Creation to launch the Season of Creation campaign at the university. The Mass was presided over by Fr Stephen Makagutu, OFM Cap, himself a committed Laudato Si’ Animator. This joyful celebration brought spiritual depth and a strong call to ecological conversion, showing how African communities are wholeheartedly embracing the Feast of Creation, taking it to heart and rooting it in prayer and action.
Nigeria: First Steps Toward a Liturgical Feast
In Abuja, Nigeria, a Mass of Creation was held at the Chapel of San Damiano. Our Nigeria Chapter Leader, Bonny Oboh, was present. The Nigerian Bishops’ Conference has since approved that, beginning next year, the Mass for the Day of Creation will be celebrated annually on the first Sunday of September as a liturgical feast. A letter confirming this has already been sent to Rome.
Uganda: Peace with Creation Forum
In Uganda, the chapter hosted a “Peace with Creation” Forum, at which Deputy Chapter Leader Carolyn Bwebale Nabalema spoke. The focus was on lifestyle transformation, advocacy, and community engagement. This event became both an educational and advocacy moment, helping participants understand how to live the Season of Creation through daily choices and collective action.
South Africa
Across South Africa, multiple dioceses celebrated the Season of Creation. At St Mary of the Angels in Athlone, a special Mass was held. In Orlando West, Justice and Peace launched the theme with a tree-planting ceremony. Holy Rosary Parish in Tembisa hosted a Season of Creation presentation, while the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) organised a staff conversation on the theme Peace with Creation. These diverse initiatives illustrated how ecological conversion is taking root across communities.
Rwanda: Call to Ecological Conversion
The Rwanda Chapter has announced that it will celebrate a Season of Creation Mass this Sunday. Focused on the theme Peace with Creation, the liturgy will issue a strong call to ecological conversion and highlight the moral duty to protect our common home.
Cameroon: Author of Creation Community
In Cameroon, the Notre-Dame d’Afrique community of Mvog-Ada, led by the Sisters of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, joined in the opening of the Season of Prayer for Creation. The community gave thanks to the Creator for the wonders of creation while asking forgiveness for sins committed against it — a moment of gratitude and repentance at the heart of creation care.
A Season of Action and Hope
This movement affirms the growing recognition that caring for creation is not only an ecological responsibility but also a spiritual and moral call. The Feast of Creation provides the faithful across Africa with a profound opportunity to ground climate justice, ecological awareness, and solidarity in prayer and worship.
We are deeply grateful to the bishops for their leadership and commitment, and we look forward to sharing more stories and testimonies from across the continent as these celebrations continue to unfold.