Each year, the Catholic Church and many other Christian denominations observe the Season of Creation from September 1 through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The season offers Christians an opportunity to celebrate the gift of the natural environment and reflect on our responsibility to protect it.
The theme for the 2026 Season of Creation is “Living Water,” recalling the importance of the waterways that sustain our communities and the wider community of creation.
A unique feature of the Lower Rio Grande Valley is its resacas, a system of oxbow lakes that extend from the Rio Grande. For the past four years, the City of Brownsville has worked to restore these waterways by dredging the resacas, removing invasive species and installing storm catchments to prevent trash and pollution from entering the water. Last year, the city’s restoration work included the resaca that encircles the campus of St. Joseph Academy.
To celebrate the Season of Creation, all ninth-grade students at St. Joseph Academy gathered beside the resaca to pray the Rosary. Surrounded by the natural beauty of their campus, the students thanked God for the unique environment of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and reflected on their responsibility to care for it.
The prayer offered students a meaningful way to connect this year’s theme with the living water found within their own community. It was also a reminder that caring for our common home begins by recognizing and protecting the gifts of creation closest to us.
