Care for Creation Green Team

Our Mission

To encourage a deeper awareness of our duties to God’s creation and to take action at the individual, state, national and global level with a focus on prayer, ecological conversion, energy efficiency, conservation, and advocacy efforts.

Cardinal McElroy reminds us that for us in the U.S. at this perilous moment in our history, the core themes of ‘Laudato Si’ are especially urgent. ‘Laudato Si’ is a call to reforge the bonds of solidarity that have been at the core of every advance that we have made as a people.”

Please join us for an inspiring conversation!

2025 Season of Creation Events List

This is the 5th anniversary of St. Matthew's participation in the Season of Creation! Click here to see the calendar overview.

First Day: September 1, 9-10am
Peace with Creation Global Ecumenical SOC Opening Prayer.

Second Day: September 18, 6-7pm
Introducing the Ten Green Commandments of Laudato Si’ by Father Joshtrom Kureethadam.
Read the Catholic Standard Article that recaps the event!

Third Day: September 21, 12:30-5:30pm
Laudato Si’ Stations Pilgrimage Cathedral to Cathedral. Please join the Care for Creation Green Team for this pilgrimage. All are welcome!

Fourth Day: September 27, 10am-Noon
Paddling on the Anacostia River. Please join the Care for Creation Green Team. All are welcome! Register here.

Fifth Day: September 28, 2:30-6:30pm
ADW Reflection Procession & Mass for 111th World Day of Migrants & Refugees Reflection.
Procession at 2:30pm from the Shrine of the Sacred Heart (3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW Washington, DC, 20010) to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

5:30pm Mass. The principal celebrant will be Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, whose presence will mark this occasion with spiritual significance and pastoral care.

Read the Catholic Standard articles recapping the event:

by Mark Zimmerman: As undocumented immigrants face policy unleashing ‘fear and terror,’ Catholics should stand in solidarity with them, Cardinal McElroy says
by Nicole Olea: Pilgrims walk in solidarity and hope for migrants in Washington procession
by Mihoko Owada: Photo Gallery: 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

See flyer: ENG/SPAN

Sixth Day: October 1, 9:30-11am
Raising Hope Conference. His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will lead a celebration of hope for our common home.

Vatican News YouTube: International Conference “Raising Hope for Climate Justice,” October 1, 2025 – Pope Leo XIV’s Address
Vatican News Article: Pope: God will ask us if we have cared for our common home

Catholic Standard Article by Carol Glatz: World must come together to fight climate change, Pope Leo says

Raising Hope Conference:
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3 (starts at 26:17)
Session 4 (starts at 1:50:00)

Seventh Day: October 4, 9-10am
Saint Francis Day.
Online event; Rome, Italy.

The faithful around the world will come together in an online event prepared by the Season of Creation Ecumenical Youth Committee to celebrate St. Francis and our month-long journey together Please join us. All are welcome!

Zoom link
Meeting ID: 861 8157 4570
Dial in: 301 715 8592

Special Day: October 5 – Closing Mass
The Cathedral Parish will celebrate a special Mass October 5, 2025 at 11:00am to celebrate the conclusion of the Season of Creation 2025.
The Mass will be livestreamed here.

This Mass celebrated the day after St. Francis Day and will feature special prayers, music and a homily focused on the opportunities we have to join Pope Leo and the universal church to express our thanks for the gifts of creation and to recommit ourselves to the care of this unique and precious gift. Fr. Isaac Sagastume will preside.

Save the Date!

The St. Matthew’s Creation Care Green Team will celebrate the Season of Creation with an evening of paddling on the beautiful Anacostia River. A river guide from the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) will lead us on a scenic educational tour. The Anacostia has changed dramatically over the last 400 years – from a place of quiet natural abundance and American Indian settlements to a colonial seaport and bustling corridor in the nation’s capital. Exploring the Anacostia River by paddling offers a way to get to know the river and its resources.

We will leave from the canoe landing at Bladensburg Waterfront Park (4601 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD 20710) at 10am. Register here!

From Pope Francis

"Dear friends, time is running out! Deliberations must go beyond mere exploration of what can be done, and concentrate on what needs to be done, starting today. We do not have the luxury of waiting for others to step forward, or of prioritizing short-term economic benefits. The climate crisis requires 'our decisive action, here and now' (Laudato Si’, 161) and the Church is fully committed to playing her part."

Read the MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION.

Monthly Green Team Meetings on Zoom

  • Join us monthly to discuss projects and help plan activities that promote the Laudato Si' mission within our parish and beyond. Email the Co-chairs, Phil Downey and Simone Seym, for more information. 
  • Join us, virtually once a month, 6-7pm every third Thursday.
  • The link for the recurring meeting is as follows: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86181574570; Meeting ID: 861 8157 4570; call in: 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Earth Day 2025!

In this Jubilee Year of renewal and hope, the Creation Care Green Team will again join the annual Earth Day Clean-up sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society for the benefit of all living in its watershed and for future generations. This event is a chance for us to care for the environment, reflecting the spirit of renewal and stewardship that the Jubilee calls us to embrace.

The Team from St. Matthew's. Click on image for Earth Day 2025 details.

Archdiocese of Washington - Laudato Si' Action Plan 

On the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si’ Cardinal Gregory announced the release of the Archdiocese of Washington (ADW) Laudato Si' Action Plan, which will provide guidance to parishes and the faithful to live out the tenets of Laudato Si'. (above, Catholic Standard photo / Mihoko Owada) The Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development document on Laudato Si' serves as the outline for the ADW Laudato Si’ Action Plan.  Visit the ADW website to learn more.

Buy Clean Renewable Power 

The Creation Care Team invites you to “go green” by purchasing your electricity from renewable sources. Check out the options for residents of DC, MD or No.VA, summarized in Buy Clean Renewable Power.

Advocacy

Support faith-informed climate policy by visiting the following sites to learn more:
Laudato Si’ Movement and the Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty
Laudato Si’ Movement
Catholic Climate Covenant
Maryland Catholics for our Common Home
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions (VA)
Interfaith Power & Light (DC, MD, and NoVA)
Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake

Take Action

Past Activities

Contact

Email the Co-chairs, Phil Downey and Simone Seym, for more information.

Check out the video of our 2021 Earth Day Green Team Clean-up on Facebook.

Members and Friends of the Creation Care GREEN Team at the 2021 AWS Earth Day Clean-up