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"We celebrate the Earth-for she is our Mother, we are her sons and daughters, and this Earth is our only home."Father Scott's pastoral mission is to bring diverse groups of people together as a spiritual community. Over the years he has compiled this most useful handbook for inter-faith worship to honor and celebrate our Earth, while merging a variety of cross-cultural traditions in ecumenical settings. Celebrating the Earth! provides sample ceremonies for spring renewal, a summer mid-day worship, an autumn harvest, and a winter liturgy of forgiveness. There are numerous blessings, prayers, and rituals for special occasions-for example, the blessing of animals on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Ecological Stations of the Cross (in English and Spanish)-together with a collection of services and readings which focus on "giving thanks" and reminding us that "We are All One." The extensive Appendices include spiritual guidance and statements by indigenous leaders on the proper relationship to "all that lives," as well as suggested Resources for pastors and leaders who can use these various ceremonies in their own communities as a way of bringing people together to pray-and to be grateful, joyful, and mindful-all through the year.
About the author
Cornelius Ian (Scott) McCarthy is a priest of the Diocese of Monterey in California. Having spent much time with Native American communities and individuals while living and travelling throughout the Americas, he has come to recognize that the well-being of all people depends upon our proper relation to the creation, our Mother Earth. He holds two Masters Degrees as well as a Doctorate of Ministry, combining these intellectual enterprises with his own experience among many cultures. Recognizing our modern world's difficulties with its use of cutting-edge technology combined with outmoded ways of governance, he seeks to promote the general well-being of all people by teaching the time-honored relationship between worship and personal spirituality. He now focuses his sacred work on encouraging women, men, youth, and children to take glimpses into both past and present cultures so as to visualize a better future for everyone and everything.
