Each year from September 1 through October 4, the Catholic Church observes the Season of Creation, a time for prayer, reflection, and action in recognition of our shared responsibility for our common home. The season concludes on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology and the inspiration for the title of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.
At Barry University, the 2026 Season of Creation concluded with a Mass of St. Francis of Assisi on October 3 in Cor Jesu Chapel. The Mass was celebrated by University Chaplain Father Humphrey and organized in collaboration with the Office of Integral Ecology and Campus Ministry and Community Outreach.
The celebration also included a blessing of pets, welcoming members of the Barry community and their companion animals to campus. The blessing reflected the spirit of St. Francis, whose writings and example emphasized the interconnectedness of creation and humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
The annual celebration provides an opportunity for the Barry community to come together in prayer and reflection as the University continues its commitment to integral ecology and to living out the principles of Laudato Si’ in the life of the institution.
