MANILA, Aug. 26, 2015— Catholic churches around the country will observe the global day of prayer for the environment on Sept. 1 as declared by Pope Francis.
The “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” which will be held annually on the same date is in keeping with the pontiff’s newest encyclical, Laudato Si.
6-week celebration
In Manila, the occasion will coincide with the opening of the archdiocese’s celebration of the “Season of Creation”.
No other than Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside over a Mass at 2 p.m. at the Manila Cathedral.
Tagle called on all to participate fully in the celebration, as he appealed to them to be active in their role in caring for nature.
Started in 2013, the archdiocese’s Season of Creation is a month-long event marked by series of activities promoting environmental causes in different parishes and schools.
This year, there will be ecology exhibits, children’s fora on Laudato Si, ecology quiz bees in schools, and story-telling on the care of creation.
One milllion signatures
Tagle also called for more support for a global campaign that aims to gather one million signatures to be delivered to world leaders gathering in Paris in late November.
The petition calls on leaders to sign the commitment to limit the increase of the global temperature to to below the dangerous threshold of 1.5 degrees centigrade.
Petitioners are also asking for aid in behalf of the world’s poorest in coping with climate change effects.
Launched in the Philippines in July, the campaign was initiated by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, which represents more than 100 Catholic organizations working for climate justice across the world.
Prayer rally vs coal mining
In Antique, local church officials are mobilizing parishioners for a prayer rally on Sept. 1 as they fight against coal mining operations in the province.
Fr. Edione Febrero, Antique’s diocesan social action director, said it will be an assembly of students, lay people, clergy, the religious, and various civil society organizations in the capital town of San Jose.
“This is also our way of calling on the government to protect our province’s remaining resources,” he said. (R. Lagarde/CBCPNews)
SOURCE: CBCP News: PH churches to join global day of prayer for environment