Each spring, (my third as your bishop), as the snow begins to melt and the first signs of new life appear across central Minnesota, I am reminded of the simple but profound truth proclaimed in the Book of Genesis: “And God saw that it was good.” Creation is not only the setting of our lives; it is the first gift God ever placed in our hands. It is the place where we encounter his tenderness, his creativity and his desire that all life should flourish.
Diocese of Saint Cloud
As we welcome and embrace this Easter season, I invite you to join me in rediscovering our relationship with the natural world — not as owners, but as grateful stewards. Pope Francis often reminds us that creation is like a “magnificent book” through which God speaks to us. When we pause long enough to listen, we hear echoes of his beauty in the wind across the fields, his faithfulness in the turning of the seasons and his generosity in the land that sustains our families and communities.
This year, our diocese is taking several meaningful steps to deepen this relationship. In the coming months, our liturgy office will help introduce a new liturgical event that celebrates God’s creation and helps us pray with renewed gratitude for the world entrusted to us. Our social concerns office has also prepared a new Care for Creation resource to support individuals, families and parishes in living this call with intention and hope.
We are also already preparing for our annual Rural Life Celebration in August, a cherished tradition in our diocese. This celebration honors the deep connection between faith, land and community — something many of our rural families understand instinctively. We will again be accepting nominations for the Rural Business Awards and Catholic Century Farms, recognizing those who have lived this stewardship with faithfulness across generations.
This year also holds special meaning for our Franciscan brothers and sisters as they mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. His life continues to inspire the whole Church to see creation not as a problem to be solved, but as a brother and sister to be loved. St. Francis teaches us that caring for creation is inseparable from caring for the poor, for peace and for one another.
In my visits throughout the diocese, I have seen how deeply this spirit already lives in our communities. I have met farmers who care for their land with reverence, young people passionate about protecting the environment and parishioners who find healing and peace in the beauty of God’s world. These encounters give me great hope. They remind me that caring for creation is not a burden, but a joy — a way of praising God with our lives.
As we celebrate the joy and resurrection of Christ, let’s take one small step this month to honor the gift of creation. Perhaps it is spending time in prayer outdoors, reducing waste at home, planting something new or supporting a local effort that protects the land and the people who depend on it. Every act of care, no matter how small, becomes a seed of hope for future generations.
May the God who created all things good renew in us a spirit of wonder, gratitude and responsibility. And may we walk together as faithful stewards of our common home.
With gratitude and blessing,
Bishop Patrick M. Neary, CSC