I was lucky to be invited to be one of the youth facilitators for the launch of the Jubilee of Mercy for Creation by the Archdiocese of Manila.  This was held on June 4, 2016 at the Paco Catholic School in Manila.  This was organized by the Archdiocese of Manila, which has been in the forefront of ecological advocacies in the Philippines.

 

Actually, this event was conducted to coincide with the Manila Archdiocese General Pastoral Assembly which was led by Cardinal Chito Tagle.  In the morning, members of the different parishes sat down to do an assessment of the Archdiocese.  This was interesting because they are very frank and candid with their thoughts and suggestions.  For sure the Archdiocese will have so much to think about in the next few months.

 

In the afternoon, ecology volunteers from the parishes and students from some nearby universities attended the Jubilee of Mercy for Creation workshops.  There was a Laudato si Photo Exhibit outside the workshop rooms highlighting activities participated in by the parish. While in the rooms, the following workshops simultaneously took place:

 

*Laudato si and Urban Farming

*Laudato si and Energy Audit/ Efficiency

*Laudato si and Residual Waste Caravan- Stop the Throw-Away Culture!

*Laudato si Encyclical Orientation and Workshop

*Laudato si Film Festival with the Youth (that?s where I joined)

*Sociological Dimension of Laudato Si 

*Rain and flood Water Filtration technology demonstration

 

After our Film Festival with the Youth, I visited the other workshops and talked to other participants, who share what they learned.   For example, I met Fr. Michael Agliardo of the Loyola University Chicago who handled the workshop on Sociological Dimension of Laudato si together with Prof. Wilson Chua of the Far Eastern University.  In that workshop, they were talking about how understanding Laudato si gives us the opportunity to reflect so we can act and make changes in the society around us.  We have to see the connection between human beings and nature. Pope Francis is asking us for cultural transformation.

 

Prof. Chua explained the Terms found in Laudato si and how Ecological Catastrophe can be diverted if we follow the process leading to Transformation. In Laudato si we follow this process:

*Ecological Education

*Ecological Conversion

*Ecological Sensitivity

*Ecological Virtues

*Ecological Culture

*Ecological Commitment

*Ecological Citizenship