Ecological Groups Walk and Pray for the Care of Creation

September 1, 2018,

Quezon City.

The Global Catholic Climate Movement-Pilipinas (GCCM-Pilipinas) together with various Catholic organizations, institutions, NGO’s and people’s organizations celebrated the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation today. The event dubbed as “Walk for Creation” gathered thousands of people at the Shrine of Jesus the Divine Word (Christ the King Mission Seminary) in E. Rodriguez, Quezon City.

GCCM-Pilipinas together with its partner organizations and institutions, organized the first Walk for Creation and held it at Luneta Park last year. It was highlighted with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist followed by a symbolic walk reflecting on the Moments of Creation based on science.

This year’s celebration started with a symbolic walk reflecting on the different issues that are threatening our common home, drawing hope from the creation story of the book of Genesis. The walk culminated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist to inspire all those who were gathered to embrace and to celebrate the beauty and pain and the interconnectedness of all life in creation.

“World Day of Prayer for Creation is a contribution of the Catholic Church to the awakening of humanity to the reality that we are destroying God 's creation and that we need to move together if there is to be a future for our children and grandchildren,” pointed out Fr. John Leydon, Chairperson of GCCM-Pilipinas.

In 2003 the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines issued the call to celebrate Creation Day and Creation time. In the letter, the bishops urge that our different liturgies celebrate the beauty and pain of our world, our connectedness to the natural world and the ongoing struggle for social justice. In 2015, Pope Francis, following the lead of the Orthodox church establish September 1st as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation”.

In his address to the International Conference Marking the 3rd Anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si2, Pope Francis said:

“All these actions presuppose a transformation on a deeper level, namely a change of hearts and minds. In the words of Saint John Paul II: “We must encourage and support an ‘ecological conversion’ (Catechesis, 17 January 2001). Here the religions, and the Christian Churches in particular, have a key role to play. The Day of Prayer for Creation and its associated initiatives, begun in the Orthodox Church, are beginning to spread among Christian communities throughout the world.”

The event also marked the opening of the Season of Creation.

“September 1 is the start of the Season of Creation which extends until Oct 4, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi,” explained Fr. Leydon. “During this time Catholics are invited to deepen our relationship with our Creator through deepening our relationship with one another and all of God 's creation,” he added.

“We hope that this event will inspire and forge in us new consciousness that will bear attitudes of care for each other and all of creation,” sounded off John Din, National Coordinator of GCCM-Pilipinas.

GCCM-Pilipinas is the official Philippine Chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement. It was established during the Laudato Si Week on June 2016 with AMRSP, CBCP-NASSA, PMPI, Columban Missionaries and Franciscans as the lead convenors. Since then, GCCM-Pilipinas has been involved in various activities promoting Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home.