A newly blessed icon inspired by St Francis of Assisi’s hymn, The Canticle of the Creatures has become a striking symbol of faith, artistry and environmental awareness in Western Sydney, following a special Mass and community celebration at the Franciscan Good Shepherd Parish in Plumpton.
The icon was unveiled and blessed on Sunday 18 May 2025, during a Mass that brought together Franciscan friars, sisters and lay members from across Australia. The event marked two significant anniversaries: the 800th year since St Francis of Assisi composed his hymn of praise to creation, and the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home.
(L-R) Sr Mary Burke FMM (iconographer), Fr Robert Stewart OFM Cap (Provincial), and Fr Gerard O'Dempsey OFM Cap, PP with the newly unveiled icon. PHOTO: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta.
At the centre of the gathering was a hand-painted, nine-panel icon created by renowned Melbourne-based iconographer Sr Mary Burke FMM. She travelled to Plumpton with fellow sisters from the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary for the special occasion.
“Icons are really from the Eastern Rites of the church, but they’re becoming much more popular in the West,” Sr Mary said.
“They have a depth to them, and a prayerfulness that people hunger for.”
Describing her latest creation as “a visual song,” Sr Mary shared how the piece took shape through prayer and artistic discernment.
“How do you put a song into an image? I just sat and worked with it for a while, went over the canticle… and thoughts came to mind,” she said.
Painted using traditional egg tempera and gold leaf, the icon incorporates uniquely Australian touches – including a kangaroo, a platypus, and a native bird, the Superb Fairywren – to ground the message of the Canticle in the local context.
“On Francis’ sleeve, I did a Superb Fairywren, which I thought was quite nice. And in the smaller icon of Mother Earth, I put in a little kangaroo and a platypus,” she said.
“We’ve got to give an Australian feel to these things, you know.”
“The words surrounding him are the beginning words from the Canticle. Each of the other pieces highlights the different verses of the Canticle celebrating parts of creation and the human condition,” she added.
For Sr Mary, the icon’s purpose goes beyond beauty.
“It’s to really invite us into reflecting on what our relationship with the Earth is,” she said.
“We’re in a time where it’s a big challenge for us as a society throughout the world — how we treat the earth and how we’re mistreating the earth.”
“The icon invites us into a deeper relationship.”
A spiritual invitation
The Sunday Mass was presided over by Parish Priest Fr Gerard O’Dempsey OFM Cap, alongside Assistant Priest Fr John Nguyen OFM Cap and visiting Provincial of the Capuchin Franciscans, Fr Robert Stewart OFM Cap.
Franciscans from the Poor Clares, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, and the Secular Franciscan Order joined the local congregation, filling the pews. There was a large attendance with around 25 children receiving their First Holy Communion.
Parishioners process in, holding icons. PHOTO: Alphonsus Fok/Catholic Outlook.
In his homily, Fr John reflected on the Gospel and the Rule of St Francis.
“In the Rule of St Francis, there is a clear instruction – that we must not revile, entrap or judge one another. Instead, we are to love one another as the Lord commanded,” he said.
He spoke of the canticle as a hymn composed in suffering, yet overflowing with praise – naming Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and other elements of creation as signs of God’s love.
In blessing the icon, Fr Gerard described it as a “spiritual invitation” to see Earth with renewed reverence.
“It calls us to remember with praise and thanksgiving the preciousness of our Earth and all its creatures,” he said.
“May this icon invite us to sing with Saint Francis as we grow in our commitment to care for our Earth, who is our mother and our home.”
Voices of the Franciscan family
After the Mass, the community gathered for morning tea and reflection. Sr Pia Galea OSC of the Poor Clares in North Richmond, revealed that for her, the day was deeply personal.
“St Francis has been the love of my life since I was 12,” she said.
“He was able to write the Canticle when he was dying – and yet it’s a song of praise that speaks to us as deeply now as it did 800 years ago.”
Secular Franciscan Kathy Lord of Melbourne reflected on the joy of seeing so many families at the celebration.
“To see such a diverse parish and so many children here, some making their First Holy Communion, surrounded by the Franciscan message of love for all creation – that’s what the Canticle is about,” she said.
“Icons feed our faith.”
Sr Helen FMM travelled from Strathfield, and joined Sisters Angela, Agatha and Irene from St Aidan’s Parish Rooty Hill to share their reflections on the icon.
“It’s really beautiful,” said Sr Helen. “I love the different sections of it.’
“It’s beautiful because it’s like our spirituality – Franciscan spirituality,” said Sr Angela.
“We admire creation and all we have – we need to take care of the Earth, our Mother Earth.”
“I love the prayer – this is beautiful,” said Sr Irene.
A mirror of God
Fr Robert Stewart noted the deep resonance between St Francis’ canticle and Laudato Si’.
“Creation is a mirror of God,” he said. “Laudato Si’ is essentially an echo of The Canticle of the Creatures. St Francis sang praise not just for the Earth, but to the Earth – our Sister and our Mother.”
He also reflected on the structure of the canticle, which begins and ends with two key figures of creation.
“Everything else – fire, water, wind, humanity – rests between those two. God’s fatherhood holds it all.”
He smiled at the symbolism of the two anniversaries aligning. “Someone’s got the timings organised,” he said.
He also noted another coincidence: “Our new pope at the moment is Leo, and the main companion of St Francis – his name was Leo… Leo was the one who corrected St Francis’ Latin on the Canticle.”
Regarding the icon, Fr Robert said he saw something new each time he gazed upon it.
“That’s the beauty of an icon, the more you look at it, the more you’re seeing and the more it speaks to you. It’s like looking in a window to heaven.”
A message to be shared
Outside Mass, Fr John shared his vision for the icon’s future.
“It’s here temporarily,” he said. “But we’re hoping it will travel, maybe even beyond Australia… Maybe to Assisi in Italy, where Francis was from – who knows.
“It’s too beautiful – and too important – not to share.”
Sr Mary said negotiations were underway involving the icon, which may also be featured during the upcoming Season of Creation this year.
This article by Belinda Gadd was published in Catholic Outlook, the publication of the Diocese of Parramatta.