Season of Creation in Kenya

From 18th–20th September 2025, the General Office for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) participated in the “Season of Creation 2025” events in Nairobi, Kenya. These activities marked the 800th anniversary of The Canticle of the Creatures and 10 years since Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’. The events were organized by JPIC Franciscans Africa, led by Sr. Mary Wangari Sebastian LSSJ, and Fr. Dr. Peter Mbaro of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Franciscan Family Gathering
On 18th September, a significant meeting was held in JPIC Franciscans Africa Office, Nairobi, bringing together, in a spirit of fraternity and open listening, members of the Franciscan Family. 
Three key agreements emerged from this dialogue. First, there was unanimous recognition of the need for deeper collaboration among the various branches of the Franciscan Family, given their collective size and potential. Second, participants emphasized the importance of focusing on conflict resolution and mediation, especially in connection with environmental justice-issues that align closely with Franciscan values. Third, the group acknowledged the many networks that already exist within the Franciscan world and expressed a commitment to harnessing them for joint action and shared mission. 

Meeting with the Vice-Chancellor 
On the morning of Friday 19th September, some members of the JPIC Animation Committee namely Fr. Taucen Girsang, Fr. Jean Eric Mutabazi, and Sister Mary Francis Sebastian Wangare met with Rev. Prof. Fr. Steven Mbugua, the Vice-chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and Rev. Dr. Fr. Peter Mbaro, the director of the Center for Social Justice and Ethics within the same university. 
The point of this meeting was to cement the collaboration between the university and the JPIC office initiated in December 2024. The Vice-chancellor told the members of the JPIC animation committee that the University recently planted a number of trees as their contribution to the care of our common home and that they are planning to design some courses such as Environmental Sustainability and Management, Environmental Spirituality and insert them in the curriculum of some departments, with the aim to train professionals of environmental care. 
The animation committee appreciated the spirit of collaboration and gave the Vice-Chancellor a gift of a San Damiano Cross as a symbol of that collaboration. 

Interfaith Youth Forum
On 19th September, an Interfaith Youth Forum was held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa to celebrate two important anniversaries: 800 years of The Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi and 10 years of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’. The event brought together about six hundred people among whom were students and young people from different backgrounds and faiths to reflect on peace, care for creation, and spiritual unity. The forum emphasized how Franciscan values are still very relevant today, especially during times of environmental and social crisis.
Speakers from Christian, Muslim, and Hindu traditions, along with Franciscan collaborators, shared inspiring messages about our shared duty to protect the Earth. They drew from sacred texts and teachings to highlight the importance of peace and ecological responsibility. Through stories, testimonies, and open dialogue, the forum encouraged understanding between faiths and inspired youth to take action for the planet.
Students played a key role through performances, reflections, and presentations of sustainable projects. Their creativity and passion showed the power of young people to lead change. The forum ended with a strong call to action: care for our common home must begin now. Inspired by The Canticle and Laudato Si’, participants were encouraged to live more sustainably and work together across faiths and cultures for the good of the Earth and future generations. The event served as a powerful reminder that peace and care for the environment are deeply interconnected, and that true transformation begins with shared values and united action.

Procession for Environmental Justice
On September 20, a powerful procession for environmental justice took place, with participants marching from the Animal Orphanage to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The event was a vivid display of collective action, with banners, platforms, and slogans calling for urgent environmental responsibility.
Participants delivered impassioned messages, urging that immediate and sustained action must be taken to protect our planet—our "common home." Through their unified voices, they stressed the necessity of environmental care, highlighting the critical need for local and global commitment to conservation and sustainability.
With a mix of optimism and urgency, the procession served as a reminder that the time for change is now, and that together, we can create a more sustainable future for all.

Br. Taucen Girsang, OFM
Vice-Director of JPIC General Office