Season of Creation 2025: Cardinal Brislin in South Africa Calls for Responsibility Towards Vulnerable, Suffering

Amid widespread poverty, immense suffering, and the growing number of people living on the streets in South Africa, Cardinal Brislin emphasized the essential need to reach out in some way to the vulnerable.

Running from September 1 to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, this year’s theme for the season of Creation is “Peace with Creation.”

In his message, the South African Cardinal described the celebration as “very special” and “a very important occasion” for all the people of God in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

For this reason, he said, “It’s so important that we realize that we are people of hope, people who are called through the Gospel to express love. We are liberated people, liberated by the Word of God, and therefore we are also people of joy.”

During the year-long period, the South African Cardinal, who was appointed to the Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy on August 28, emphasized, “There’s so much importance in establishing good relationships because life is, in many ways, about relationships.”

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“It’s about our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, because very often even within ourselves we can be conflicted at times. Very important is how we can form relationships with other people,” he said.

He challenged South Africans to reflect on their relationships with others and assess whether they can resolve conflicts when they exist and how they can be peacemakers among their fellow people.

“Very important as well is our relationship with creation itself, with that which God has entrusted into our hands, not to abuse, not to misuse, but to care for and to use appropriately and in a responsible way,” he said.

The South African Cardinal, who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2007 as Bishop of South Africa’s Kroonstad Catholic Diocese, explained that people who have good relationships are also people who will experience deep peace within themselves.

“People who have good relationships within themselves, and with God and with others, will be able to share joy and share the hope that we have as people who have been called by God to be His disciples,”  said the Cardinal who will turn 69 years on September 24.

He added, “Let’s all work together on this as the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, and let’s try to make a difference in our society. God bless you, and I wish you every success on this beautiful day as you celebrate creation.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.