The parish of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Lawrence, Olney, has entered into the Season of Creation in a very special way.
On Sunday, parish priest Fr Biju Chittuparamban blessed a new statue of St Francis of Assisi in the parish’s Laudato Si garden, close to the outdoor Our Lady altar. The blessing comes as the Church worldwide marks the Season of Creation, which began on 1st September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and runs through to 4th October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.
The Laudato Si garden is lovingly tended by the parish gardening club, who grow flowers and produce as a way of caring for our common home. The statue of St Francis, patron saint of ecology, is a visible reminder of the spiritual aspect of this work and marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
Bishop David Oakley warmly welcomed the initiative, saying:
“This is a wonderful story of a parish responding to Laudato Si and the invitation to grow food and flowers. Please pass on my best wishes and congratulations to the parish gardening club. Hopefully your experience with this can encourage other parishes to do something similar.”
As the Season of Creation unfolds, the Olney parish garden stands as a joyful witness to faith in action, inspiring others to see care for creation as an integral part of parish life.
