Sean Major Campbell | Season of Creation and Pet Blessing service inspires

The 2026 Season of Creation and Pet Blessing Service marked the end of the season which runs from September 1 to October 4. This was held last Sunday on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. This ecumenical initiative is observed by Christian communities worldwide to renew their relationship with God and all creation through prayer, reflection, and action for environmental stewardship and ecological justice.

We were pleased to welcome everyone to this creation celebration service. Very special regards were shared on behalf of our pawsome friends who have for the most part been members of many households. However, there was no disregard for those with feathers, scales, hooves, and shells. Any celebration of creation must be an inclusive one. Every creature bears the life-giving connection with God who is life giver for all.

The day was also World Animal Day. We paused to honour the memory of those animals who were victims of the Russia-Ukraine war, when recently the Loving Hearts Shelter in Ukraine was struck by a Russian drone strike. Ten dogs and three cats were killed.

St. Francis of Assisi was born around 1181 and died October 3, 1226. He was a friar who renounced his wealthy background and chose to live in radical poverty. Francis, who preached simplicity and peace eventually founded the Franciscan order. He is the patron saint of animals and ecology. His given name at birth was Giovanni di Bernadone.

Like any young person in his youth, he was a happy go-lucky type of guy who had dreams of great success and military glory. He even spent time as a prisoner after a war between Assisi and Perugia. This led him into a deep reflection about life. Once after kissing a leper and hearing a voice from the crucifix of San Damiano chapel he experienced a dramatic turnaround of his life. The voice made a request, “Rebuild my church.” Francis went on to live a life of humble service in which he saw all animals as our fellow creatures.

In the early church, Ananias and Saphira wanting to impress others, sold property and pretended to give all the proceeds to the church. In one of Jesus’ parables, there was the rich man whose greed saw him amassing much more than he needed without any thought for the fact that he would not even live long enough to reap the many blessings from earth’s abundance. The earth’s blessings are for all. The earth produces abundance for all.

To get back to creation, get back to the basics of cleanliness. Get back to appreciating the natural environment. It is now a daily thing to see someone throwing a box or bag or bottle out of a car, usually a moving car. And often the preferred spot is near a gully. It is my prayer that we not only sing about creation today, but that each of us start a conversation in our corner, a conversation about how we might be more environmentally friendly.

We celebrate creation at a time when there is much talk about artificial intelligence. The global powers that be must understand now that one of the most basic concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) is that of job loss. There is a fear that in the quest for greater profits, more of the powerful will seek to replace those at the base with some form of AI. May we look to the created order to understand that the producers in any economy are also the sustainers of that economic system. We in our small nation state Jamaica will have to learn from creation that protecting the necessities of clean air, clean water, oxygen, healthy people, healthy plants, and healthy animals, are all inseparable from a country that is alive and flourishing.

In the same way, there are seasons and cycles in creation, there are also cycles in a functioning economic order. Getting rid of the consumer also means getting rid of the producer. Getting rid of the producer/worker may indeed mean getting rid of paychecks. Getting rid of paychecks will also mean getting rid of the taxpayers. Who will solve the issue of a functioning economy without revenue? Who will solve the issue of a functioning economy without a sustained pension fund? Who realises that creation leads us always in the direction of life and healing. There may be chaos from time to time in nature. But it is for a better version of the created order.

Any intelligence that is worth the while must serve the survival of community. Community includes all the plants and animals and larger ecosystem that comes with creation. Living water becomes a powerful image since water is the very foundation of all life forms. No wonder living water is deemed to flow from the temple. Living water is available for everyone. Oh that we would be caught in the flow.

Although we hear reference to the lessons for the feast of St. Francis, it is to be noted that the image of living water as the theme for this year’s season of creation is informed by Ezekiel 47:9-12.

This vision from Ezekiel is significant since he was a priest who was exiled in Babylon. He was also having a vision about water flowing from the temple even though the temple had been destroyed. Some of the most powerful visions came to God’s people in some of the darkest times of despair and loss. In the midst of loss and despair, Ezekiel saw restoration because all life and healing flows from God.

The animals and those who care for them inspire so much hope in our world. There was Gin-Gin, a three-legged kitten who lost one of her paws which was grabbed by a dog. And there was a blind dog which was adopted from JSPCA by local veterinarian Dr. Audrie Mcleod of AllPets Veterinary Clinic. Dr Blossom O’Meally-Nelson and AWAG – Animal Welfare Advocacy Group proved that the church and community groups can work together for the lives of our fellow animal creatures.

Fr. Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@gmail.com