Bishop Beckman celebrates the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’
By Emily Booker
One of Pope Francis’ enduring legacies will be his focus on care for creation, wise stewardship of resources, and upholding human dignity.
This year marks a decade since the release of his encyclical Laudato Si’ or “Praise Be to You.” Laudato Si’ is a reminder of how people of faith should not only respect the earth but also praise and honor God through their engagement with creation.
In the Diocese of Knoxville, Laudato Si’ has inspired several care-for-creation ministries.
Faithful from all over the diocese joined Bishop Mark Beckman on May 27 to celebrate the anniversary of Laudato Si’ with a Mass and reception at Our Lady of Fatima (OLOF) Church in Alcoa.
“This beautiful world that God has given us, as Pope Francis has pointed out, has been dramatically affected by the things we have done to it. That’s why he wrote the encyclical Laudato Si’,’’ Bishop Beckman said.
“I believe it begins, our care for this common home, with the act of noticing and the act of wonder.”
The Mass took place during Laudato Si’ Week, May 24-31, which focused on prayer and action to share the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical.
“Laudato Si’ Week is observed in May every year to celebrate our Christian unity with our brothers and sisters and all of creation and our desire to take care of God’s earth, all of His creatures, and especially our poor brothers and sisters,” Liz McCachren, a member of the OLOF Care for Creation Ministry, said.
The readings, prayers, and music were specifically selected to highlight praise for God’s creation. OLOF’s music ministry lent its talents to the bilingual Mass.
Non-perishable food items were collected at the Mass for the Community Food Connection, a Blount County food pantry.
Concelebrating the Mass were Father Peter Iorio, pastor of OLOF Parish; Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport; Father John Orr, pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, Father Adam Royal, pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville; Father Joseph Austin, associate pastor of OLOF Parish; and Father Valentin Iurochkin, associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish. Deacon Renzo Alvarado Suarez, Deacon Leon Dodd, Deacon Bill Jacobs, all of OLOF Parish, and Deacon Chad Shields of Christ the King Parish in Tazewell also served.
In his homily, Bishop Beckman spoke on the beauty of God’s creation and our call to care for it for future generations.
The bishop shared that in his second year of priesthood, during Holy Week, he went to a park and wound up walking a path full of spring flowers.
“The beauty of the April flowers were so splendid that I have never stopped walking in God’s creation,” he said. “Since then, I have been to national parks all over our country and beyond. I’ve noticed the great beauty of God’s creation, and it has moved me over these decades to want to care well for it so that many generations from now, our great-grandchildren will enjoy the same beautiful world that we’ve been privileged to experience.”
Bishop Beckman pointed out that in the Gospel reading, Jesus observed the beauty of creation.
Bishop Beckman blesses symbols of creation brought forth by people attending the Mass. He is assisted by Deacon Chad Shields of Christ the King Parish. (Photo Bill Brewer)
“Jesus also noticed creation: ‘Look at the birds of the air, the ravens. Look at the flowers of the field.’ He noticed the farmers spreading the seed into the soil. He was attentive to creation. The beginnings of wonder.”
This admiration for God’s creation also comes with a duty to be good stewards.
“There are many things that we can do to care for this beautiful creation that God has given us,” he said. “My one suggestion tonight would be to invite people, invite friends and others that you meet along the way, to experience the beauty of creation, to notice it, to wonder and to be drawn to care for it. We spread the good news as we share it with each other in person.”
He also noted the local blessing of the beauty of East Tennessee’s geography.
“Here in East Tennessee in particular, are we not blessed with God’s beautiful creation, with the mountains that surround us? We have this call to care for this, our common home.”
He then invited the congregation to a moment of silent prayer, praying for God to “awaken the hearts of humans all over our planet to notice and to care for one another and this beautiful creation God has given us.”
At the end of Mass, several children brought forward handmade symbols of “Care of Creation,” such as live plants, crosses, and painted stones. These artistic expressions were blessed by the bishop.
“Creator God, you formed the earth and called it good. You filled it with color, light, and life and placed it in our hands with responsibility and wonder. Bless these works of art and the young hearts that have made them. May their colors reflect your glory, their themes stir our care for creation, and their joy remind us of the innocence we are called to protect. Bless these young artists, that they may grow as wise and gentle stewards of your gifts. Through their creativity, may they lead us toward beauty, justice, and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord,” Bishop Beckman prayed.
Following Mass, refreshments were served in the parish hall.
Kim Adamson, the office manager and bookkeeper for OLOF Parish, played the harp during the prelude to the Mass.
She said she has witnessed OLOF’s Care for Creation Ministry grow and work in the parish.
“We’re always trying to recycle around here. They’re the ones who have been instrumental in getting rid of paper plates; everything is reusable. The recycling is everywhere. We even have a group that takes the grocery bags and recycles them into mats for the homeless.”
Similarly, the Creation Care Team at All Saints Parish in Knoxville does recycling and composting at parish events and leads efforts to inform people about Laudato Si’.
Denise Clark, a member of All Saints’ Creation Care Team, said she feels a Christian duty to care for God’s creation and care for one another.
“God gave us a garden, and we cannot leave a desert for our children,” she said.
Ms. Clark said she found the Mass to be really moving.
“The Mass was absolutely beautiful. I thought it was very sacred, and I had tears in my eyes a good bit of the time. The music was beautiful, and having the bishop there was very meaningful. I’m glad I came,” she said.
Ms. McCachren credited the parish music ministry and the careful planning of the music and prayers for making the Mass a fitting tribute to Laudato Si’ and God’s creation.
“I thought the choir just glorified God with their voices and their instruments and their choice of songs.”
She also expressed gratitude for the bishop coming to celebrate the Mass.
“He’s inspiring. I think Bishop Beckman’s homily showed his humility and his love for the world God entrusted to us. I’m not alone in saying that we deeply appreciate our bishop’s leadership in caring for God’s creation.
“I’m really moved,” she added. “I have a heart full of gratitude. And gratitude to God for giving us this beautiful place to live that we have to take care of….We are called not to dominate the earth, not to exploit its resources, but to nurture and protect our planet and our fellow creatures, especially the poorest among us.”
Connie Brace, a member of the All Saints’ Creation Care Team, was also moved by the beauty of the Mass.
“This Mass was absolutely beautiful. It’s been such a journey to get to this point with so many people, to get people engaged and to believe and to understand that this is really important,” she said.