Once a year these days, from September 1, world day of prayer for creation, to October 4, feast day of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, Christians around the world take time out to deepen their relationship with God, with each other and with all creation.

The Season of Creation, which began in 1989 through the efforts of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Orthodox Church and which has since been endorsed by Pope Francis, is now embraced by the wider ecumenical family.