A Catholic bishop in the northern Philippines appealed for more “missionaries of creation” who will advocate for environmental protection.
Bishop Daniel Presto of San Fernando de La Union said the country needs more voices “to care for the earth” toward a better future.
“[We need] voices that will reach our government leaders to support initiatives to address the climate emergency,” he said.
The prelate made the statement in his message for the ongoing Season of Creation that started on September 1 and will end on October 4.
He invited the people to use the celebration as an opportune time to reflect on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’ and the Philippine bishops’ pastoral letters on the environment.
The country’s Catholic bishops have been issuing a series of pastoral exhortations on the care of creation over the last three decades.
“Let this season of creation urge us to do some actions… and become missionaries for creation,” said Bishop Presto.
For his part, Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog called on the people to reaffirm their personal vocation to be “stewards of creation.”
He said the Season of Creation is also a special time “to pray and act as one.”
