The Sisters of St. Benedict at St. Mary Monastery will offer a Season of Creation Inter-Faith Outdoor Prayer Service on Saturday September 19, 2026, under the bell tower at 10:00am, at St. Mary Monastery in southwest Rock Island, IL.
All people of faith and goodwill are invited to join us in a spiritual immersion of prayer and response to the cry of Creation.
Every year since the mid-90s temperatures have been warmer than the global average, causing extreme weather events and threatening the wellbeing of all, especially low resource populations. Our continued use of fossil fuels as well as the drastic rise of data centers and their increased energy and water usage accelerates the strain on our environment. More and more people are deeply worried about this, particularly young people and those who are living closest to the land and the impacts of the crisis. Popes Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV, and bishops around the world all have urged the faithful to respond to these crises with hope and urgent action.

This year’s Theme, “Living Water”, is inspired by a Spiritual vision of hope and ecological healing, specifically encouraging Christians and all Religious and their leaders to pray and act together. Water heals, restores, and makes creation flourish. But it also challenges us: to recognize ecological damage, to embrace our interconnectedness, and to immerse ourselves in the responsibility of caring for and restoring our Common Home.

Attendees are invited to bring a small jar of water from a local source, even from their rain barrel, to the Service. The water will be blessed with our communal prayers and can be taken back and poured into the water source or used to water flowers or a garden.

As part of the Service, the Quad Cities Chapter of the Sierra Club, Eagle View Group, will give a short reflection on their "Water Sentinels" Quad City Program. The Water Sentinels Program recruits and trains activists in the Quad Cities to take regular water samples from the Rock River watershed.

All are welcome. Join us in prayer. No registration, free will offering.
It is suggested to bring a folding chair as seating will be limited.

After the Service, attendees are invited to stay for coffee, tea and conversation in the Bent House Retreat Center at St. Mary Monastery.

Location: St. Mary Monastery: 2200 88th Ave W., Rock Island, IL
Date and times: Saturday, September 19, 10 AM.
Sponsors include: Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, IL
Diocesan Council of Catholic Women of Peoria Diocese, Creation Care
Interfaith Creation Care of Quad-Cities
Sisters of Humility, Congregation of the Humility of Mary, Davenport, IA
Visit our website for more details SMMSISTERS.ORG

SAVE THE DATE: There will be a Follow up Program on Wednesday October 7, 2026 at 4pm, Climate and Faith "Coming Together in Hope to Support Each Other in Action," at Benet House Retreat Center at St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, IL. This gathering is an opportunity for people of faith to explore together how we might support each other in climate action. Visit our website for details, SMMSISTERS.ORG