Bishop Stephen Wright shares a pastoral letter on The Season of Creation and Thanksgiving, 15th September 2024
“Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The Church offers us prayer intentions throughout the year. We are in the Season of Creation, which invites us to pray and act on our call to be stewards of God’s creation. This Sunday the Church offers us two further intentions for prayer and reflection, the joy of sharing the Gospel and thanksgiving for the Harvest.
At Mass these prayer intentions are linked. As the bread and wine arrive on the Altar the first prayers said by the Priest are thanksgiving prayers for these harvested gifts from God. By the power of the Holy Spirit and through Jesus’ words of Institution, Christ is present in the Eucharist. The Mass ends with Jesus sending us to spread His Good News joyfully.
Thanksgiving for the Harvest reminds us not to take our everyday food and drink for granted. Let us always be grateful in prayer. I recall harvest traditions as a primary school child, bringing in food items for distribution to the elderly in the vicinity. We know the needs in our communities have grown. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for the foodbanks and other means of outreach run and supported by our parishes, schools and societies.
On the 4th October we will have the CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day. Thank you for your generosity in helping our sisters and brothers in Sudan, Gaza and other nations where violence and climate change devastate lives. Being generous with those who go without food and drink is a holy way to show our prayerful thanksgiving for the Harvest.”
Read the letter in full below: