UPDATED Sept. 23, 2025
The spirit of St. Francis of Assisi was in clear focus on the Belmar boardwalk Sept. 21 as a small but inspired group of pilgrims sang the Prayer of St. Francis and offered prayer petitions
for the care of the environment, help for the poor and the needs of the Church as they made regular stops along the ocean walkway.
The voices were those of the faithful who had gathered for the inaugural Care of Creation Pilgrimage, hosted by the social justice committee of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Belmar. The pilgrimage began at the 5th Avenue gazebo and ended by the fishing pier on Ocean Avenue.
“Today we come to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the encyclical “Laudato Si’”, the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation,” and the Holy Year designated by Pope Francis, Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope, said Deacon Rob Volinus, opening the service.
Event organizers Cathy Sugden and Dorothy Litowinsky, credit their activism, in part, to living so close to the ocean. “Today is meant to bring consciousness of our obligations to the environment as humans and as the Church,” Sugden said.
“This season of creation is all about reflecting how we expand our care of creation within our families, parishes, neighborhood, and town communities. This is important because we affect the environment every day by what products we buy, how we recycle properly, etc.,” she said, adding, “In addition to today’s event, we also coordinate with Clean Ocean Action to assist with the beach cleanups in October and April among other events.”
Clean Ocean Action, headquartered in Long Branch, works to improve degraded water quality of marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast using science, law, research, education, and citizen action.
Sugden also noted how St. Rose connects with other local environmental Catholic ministries, including Waterspirit, an ecology and spirituality program run by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Rumson.
She added that the St. Rose group has also connected with the social justice ministry group in St. Anselm Parish in Tinton Falls, which recently welcomed Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., for a Mass marking the Season of Creation and the 10th anniversary of the papal encyclical.
Deacon Volinus reflected on why the impact of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter “Laudato Si’”(“On Care for Our Common Home”), is still relevant 10 years later; especially following the Pope’s passing in April.
“The teachings of the popes for the last 2000 years are still in effect. His (Pope Francis’) letter is as effective today as it was a decade ago, and Pope Leo XIV has shown his interest in continuing to speak on behalf of environmental issues,” said Deacon Volinus.
Litowinsky stressed that many Catholics do not know that care for the environment is a requirement of the Catholic faith, as explained by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “We’re hoping to bring more awareness to others of what the Church really teaches,” she said.
One pilgrim and environmentalist, Margaret Sacarro, from St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt, expressed appreciation that St. Rose Parish had put the initiative together. “You don’t see too many eco-events in the Diocese,” she said, noting, “I’m glad I was able to attend.”
At the end of the walk, pilgrims received marigold seed packets: symbolic of planting faith in Christ but, also, to grow flowers suitable for pollinator insects – essential for sustaining ecosystems and agriculture.
Pilgrims gather on the beachfront in Belmar during their participation in the 2025 Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation Sept. 21. John Spinelli photo