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Contact Us
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Deacon Kent Ferris, OFSferrisdavenportdiocese.orgSocial Action & Catholic Charities Director -
Glenn Leachleachdavenportdiocese.orgImmigration Volunteer & Disaster Response point of contact
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Esmeralda Guerreroguerrerodavenportdiocese.orgAdministrative Assistant Social Action & Catholic Charities
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Iowa Catholic Conference
One of the seven core principles of Catholic Social Teaching as identified by the U.S. bishops is “care for creation.” Click here to read more...
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News
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July 17The Iowa Catholic Conference, which is the public policy voice for Iowa’s bishops, is asking Catholics to advocate on behalf of the following concerns: This week is the deadline for Congress to act on the White House’s request to cancel lifesaving funding for international assistance, called rescissions. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the request for cuts, which means your advocacy is necessary to move the Senate to oppose this package.Read More
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April 21By Lindsay Steele The Catholic Messenger When it comes to facing ecological challenges in Iowa, exacerbated by climate change, “We know what to do; we just have to get going.” Ecologist and author Cornelia “Connie” Mutel shared this message during a virtual diocesan Lunch and Learn session April 6.Read More
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October 7The 124-year-old St. Vincent Center in Davenport is getting an energy audit as the first step in the Diocese of Davenport’s Laudato Si’ Action Plan launched Oct. 4 on the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. It is a multifaceted, seven-year plan intended to inspire the people of the diocese to build on their relationship with God, each other and all of God’s creation.Read More
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Welcome to the Diocese of Davenport’s Care for Creation Page!
Bishop Zinkula inaugurated the diocesan program of efforts to honor our commitment to caring for the totality of creation (all of us are part of creation!) with his letter announcing the Season of Creation (http://www.catholicmessenger.net/2022/08/season-of-creation-begins-sept-1/). The Season of Creation is an annual period of praise, prayer and action that is celebrated world-wide by Christians of many denominations to celebrate the wonder of how the world was made and to reclaim the theology of why it was made. The Season begins each year on September 1 with the World Day of Prayer and extends through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis. This year’s theme is the Burning Bush of Exodus 3 and asks us to “Listen to the Voice of Creation.”
While the Season of Creation is our annual celebration and renewal of our commitment to caring for all of creation, this page will be the home page of our diocesan work to honor and implement the restoration of relationships that the Holy Father, Pope Francis spoke of in his encyclical in 2015, Laudato Si, literally, Praise Be to You. The relationship he speaks of are between God and humankind, between all of the peoples of humankind, and between humankind and our common home, the Earth. Care for our Common Home is the subtitle of the Holy Father’s encyclical.
This page, like our efforts, is a work in progress. It will grow in detail as we progress along the seven year path to a full Laudato Si plan, and as more of us participate in the work. This is not a diocesan effort in the sense that it comes downward from the chancery building (although there are plans for the building too) but rather one that is shaped by our individual, family and parish involvement. Some parishes and individuals are already active and the ripples created by them will spread and interact with those of others. This page will chronicle the efforts of all, provide resources for the continuing efforts again, of individuals, families and parishes, and provide opportunities for everyone to impact the content and direction of the plan.
Please come back often to see what is going on, and to provide your comments and suggestions!
Your involvement, ideas, comments, and your questions
Friends, we need your involvement, ideas, comments, and your questions. Please use the form below to indicate your interest in care for creation, any special skills or experience you have, and any questions you have. We will get back to you, and we may ask you to become further involved with us in this effort to respond to the Holy Father.
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World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sept. 1
September 1, 2025: World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, The World Day of Prayer 2025 theme is “Seeds of Peace and Hope”
Pope announces new ‘Mass of Creation: Pope Leo XIV has announced a new Mass of Creation to be added to the Roman Missal. In his message for the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation -
Season of Creation _ September 1 to October 4
September 1 to October 4: Season of Creation “Peace with Creation." is the theme for this year's season of creation. The Season of Creation is celebrated from September 1 (World Day of Creation) to October 4 (Feast of St. Francis.) Click here to find resources and learn more about the theme and materials.
Consider organizing an event at your parish during the Season of Creation. Events could include ecumenical prayer services and Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi for family pets. Visit https://seasonofcreation.org/resources/Please let the office of Social Action know of any events your parish has planned during the Season of Creation. E-mail information to [email protected] -
Laudate Deum
Pope Francis released his follow up to Laudato Si' on October 4. In the apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, the new document underscores the urgent reality that we are running out of time to reverse the environmental inertia that threatens our common home.
We strongly encourage you to read Laudate Deum The document can be downloaded here: www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20231004-laudate-deum.html
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Take Action
Resources provided by way of CRS (Catholic Relief Services)
- Reflect on how we can be better caretakers of our environment by reading Pope Francis’ message for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
- As climate change drives global hunger, watch the latest video from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization on the state of global food security and nutrition.
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Events:
The Iowa Environmental Council are hosting a webinar in two weeks to walk through the dangers of coal ash pollution, and to discuss how weakened federal regulations might make it even more harmful to Iowans.
The webinar will be at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, and registration is free. -
Diocese of Davenport Recognition
Our Diocese of Davenport has been recognized by Interfaith Power & Light as one of 125 congregations nationally, as a Cool Congregation for 2024.
IPL acknowledges the good work changemakers are doing to care for our Sacred Earth. We have been honored in the following categories:
"Cool Planner" for our Vertis audit and Laudato Si Action Plan
"Energy Saver" for our recent installation of energy efficient lighting in the chancery
"Sacred Grounds" for our gardens planted and maintained by our wonderful kitchen staff at the chancery
https://tinyurl.com/4ah34jb9
Read more about our efforts in these The Catholic Messenger
articles:
https://catholicmessenger.net/.../diocese-launches.../
https://catholicmessenger.net/.../diocesan-headquarters.../