By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai

MORE than 360 Catholic delegates from across Thailand gathered in Samphran this week for the country’s first Apostolic Congress on Mercy, ahead of the 6th Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy in 2027.

Held at Baan Phu Waan on the western outskirts of Bangkok, the gathering brought together 362 participants under the theme “Divine Mercy: Hope Beyond All Hopes.”

The congress formed part of preparations by the local Church to host the 6th Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy, or AACOM 6, in 2027.

Thailand previously hosted the 2nd AACOM in Bangkok, which drew more than 1,400 devotees from 12 Asian countries.

The national congress followed the participation of a Thai delegation in the 6th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius, Lithuania, in June. The delegation included Father Chalongrat Sangkharat and Father John Wirach Amonpattana, C.Ss.R.

The congress opened on the Feast of St John Paul II with a Eucharistic liturgy presided over by Archbishop Peter B. Wells, apostolic nuncio to Thailand.

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By LiCAS.news

In a historic milestone bridging two centuries of Catholic heritage across East and Southeast Asia, the Archdiocese of Seoul and the Archdiocese of Bangkok have formally joined hands to promote the cause of beatification and canonization for Bishop Barthélemy Bruguière, MEP (1792–1835).

On the afternoon of Oct 22, 2026, at the Archbishop’s Office in the Seoul Curia, Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul and Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok signed a “Joint Declaration on Cooperation,” pledging mutual spiritual solidarity and collaborative historical research to honor the pioneering French missionary.

“I am deeply grateful and delighted that the Archdiocese of Bangkok and the Archdiocese of Seoul can unite in this joint initiative to honor Bishop Bruguière,” declared Archbishop Chung during the signing ceremony.

The joint initiative reflects a profound historical bond. Nearly two centuries ago, Bishop Bruguière—a member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (Missions Étrangères de Paris or MEP)—was ordained as auxiliary bishop in Siam (now Thailand).

After five years of dedicated apostolic service in the kingdom, his missionary zeal impelled him to volunteer as the first Apostolic Vicar to Korea, then a hermit kingdom marked by severe persecution.

Though he endured a grueling overland journey across China toward his destination, Bishop Bruguière died near the Korean border in 1835 before ever setting foot in the country.

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By Stanislaus Jumar Sudiyana – Jakarta

On the Indonesian island of Flores, a journey on foot may become more than a pilgrimage. It can be an invitation to encounter local communities, rediscover the richness of faith and culture, and bring renewed hope to people still facing poverty and the aftermath of an earthquake.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism is promoting Camino de Flores: The Sacred Journey of Flores, a new walking pilgrimage designed to connect religious sites, traditional villages, cultural heritage and the island’s natural landscapes. Beyond attracting visitors, the initiative seeks to distribute tourism benefits more widely and support the recovery of communities across Flores, in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana presented the initiative in Jakarta on Tuesday, Oct 13, describing it as a new travel pattern intended to extend tourism beyond Labuan Bajo, in West Manggarai, which has become the island’s principal tourism gateway.

“Through Camino de Flores, we hope visitors will discover the many destinations across Flores, from religious sites and tourism villages to natural landscapes and local cultural celebrations,” the minister said.

The first pilot journey, scheduled for Oct 23–27 2026, will cover approximately 70 kilometres along the central Flores route from Bajawa through Boawae to Ende. Around 70 participants from charitable communities are expected to take part in a program combining spiritual reflection, history and encounters with local residents.

The initiative draws inspiration from the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, adapting the spirit of walking, reflection and encounter to the religious and cultural landscape of Flores.

For Mari Elka Pangestu, the initiative’s originator, Flores offers an opportunity to develop a pilgrimage that brings together spirituality, nature and community empowerment.

“Indonesia can have its own Camino, and Flores is the perfect place for it,” she said, expressing hope that the journey would encourage visitors to stay longer and enable economic benefits to reach villages along the route.

Yet for those who see Flores not simply as a destination but as a place of faith and community, the initiative carries a deeper responsibility: tourism must serve people without diminishing the sacred traditions that give the island its identity.

Beyond the stigma of being left behind

Fr Marco Solo Kewuta, SVD, an official of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, welcomes the initiative as an opportunity to challenge the longstanding stigma that portrays Flores primarily as an underdeveloped region.

“Flores should not be known only as a region left behind. Behind that stigma lies a wealth of faith, culture and community life that deserves to be known and appreciated,” he said.

He cautioned, however, that the economic opportunities created by the pilgrimage should not overshadow its spiritual purpose. Walking through villages, reflecting along the way and meeting local people should help visitors understand their lives and traditions, rather than simply consume another tourism experience.

“The economic dimension must not become the principal objective while the sacred character of the journey loses its meaning,” Fr Marco said. Participants, he added, need sufficient preparation to understand and respect the rituals, traditions and cultural values of the communities they encounter.

For him, a meaningful encounter with Flores requires visitors to venture beyond its better-known destinations and enter its rural interior, where poverty remains a painful reality but faith and community traditions continue to shape everyday life.

One such place is Lewouran, a village in Ile Bura district, East Flores. Since August 2026, the village has been home to a relic of Saint Peter the Apostle, on loan from the Holy See. The local community is preparing to develop the site as a national pilgrimage destination.

For communities such as Lewouran, a pilgrimage route could offer an opportunity to share their spiritual heritage while creating new livelihoods. But its success should also be measured by whether visitors recognize the challenges residents face and contribute to their well-being.

“Camino de Flores should not stop at a spiritual journey. When participants enter the rural interior, they should see the realities of people’s lives and respond with genuine solidarity,” Fr Marco said.

The hope is that the journey will help restore not only economic activity, but also the dignity of communities too often defined by their difficulties rather than their resilience, faith and cultural wealth.

Church calls for people-centred tourism

The Diocese of Labuan Bajo has also welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to connect the island’s religious heritage with cultural preservation, environmental responsibility and local development.

Fr Frans Nala, Secretary General of the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, hopes that Labuan Bajo and the wider West Manggarai region will become an integral part of the initiative through the proposed western route linking Labuan Bajo and Ruteng.

The region offers numerous possibilities for pilgrimage and cultural encounters, including the Golo Koe Maria Assumpta Nusantara Festival, churches, Marian grottoes, traditional villages and landscapes rich in spiritual and ecological significance.

For the diocese, however, the measure of success cannot be limited to visitor numbers.

Tourism should create employment, strengthen small businesses, support local crafts and preserve cultural traditions. Local people, particularly young people, women, vulnerable groups and rural communities, should have an active role in shaping the development of the route and sharing its benefits.

“The community must be placed at the centre of tourism development,” Fr Nala said, stressing the importance of ensuring that local residents become participants and beneficiaries rather than merely spectators in the growth of their own region.

The diocese also emphasizes the protection of the natural environment as an essential part of the pilgrimage. Safeguarding forests, water sources, biodiversity and the island’s landscapes should go hand in hand with environmental education, responsible waste management and disaster preparedness.

In this understanding, walking through Flores becomes an opportunity to deepen faith while learning to care for what Pope Francis called our “common home”.

The diocese has proposed that the Golo Koe Maria Assumpta Nusantara Festival be considered an important meeting point along the developing pilgrimage network. Integrating the festival into the route could strengthen Flores’ appeal as a destination for religious tourism while preserving its identity as a celebration of faith, culture, encounter and respect for human dignity.

The diocese has also called for clear cooperation among the Ministry of Tourism, the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority, provincial and district governments, dioceses across Flores, businesses and local communities.

Such cooperation, it says, should include transparent financing, appropriate safety standards, participatory planning and regular assessments of the pilgrimage’s social, economic, cultural, spiritual and environmental impact.

A journey that leaves something behind

The Indonesian government hopes that the pilot programme will help establish a sustainable model for future pilgrimage routes, including a western section between Labuan Bajo and Ruteng and an eastern section between Maumere and Larantuka.

The government has also outlined safety preparations for the pilot, including route marshals, medical posts, mobile water stations and contingency measures for weather conditions and challenging terrain. Funds raised through associated charitable activities are intended to support community needs, including health facilities, churches, cultural infrastructure, sanitation and access to clean water.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena has welcomed the initiative as a possible source of solidarity and recovery following the recent earthquake. He has also suggested that the concept could inspire similar walking journeys in other parts of the province, including Timor and Sumba, each reflecting its own history and identity.

For the Church in Flores, the wider aspiration is to ensure that the pilgrimage remains faithful to the values it seeks to express: encounter, solidarity, respect for human dignity and care for creation.

As Camino de Flores takes shape, its significance may ultimately lie not only in the landscapes pilgrims cross or the religious sites they visit, but in the relationships they build along the way.

A sacred journey, in this sense, is one that allows visitors to encounter Flores beyond the familiar image of a tourist destination: to listen to its people, respect their traditions, recognize their struggles and share in their hopes.

If the journey helps communities preserve their heritage, strengthen their livelihoods and face the future with greater confidence, Camino de Flores could become more than a new tourism route. It could become a path of encounter and renewal for the people of Flores themselves. – Vatican News

By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai

EDUCATION extends beyond academics when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable children from hidden dangers.

Ahead of the new academic term, Stella Maris of the Diocese of Chanthaburi conducted a spiritual renewal and child protection workshop for 72 teachers and staff at Daracharas School in Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao Province, east of Bangkok.

Titled “Staying Alert to Nearby Dangers to Protect Students,” the Oct. 18 initiative sought to equip faculty with tools to identify early warning signs of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, and digital scams.

“Father Soodjen places a high priority on child protection. The goal is to empower children with knowledge to protect themselves, while ensuring that adults within the school are prepared to remain vigilant, listen, and coordinate necessary support,” said Apinya Tajit, deputy director of Stella Maris for seafarers and migrants within the Diocese of Chanthaburi.

The workshop was spearheaded by Father Soodjen Fonruang, who serves as the licensee representative, manager and chairman of the executive board at Daracharas School while also directing the maritime ministry for the Diocese of Chanthaburi.

Father Soodjen has long led pastoral care and material assistance for local fishers, port workers and displaced populations, including Rohingya refugees, along Thailand’s eastern coast.

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By Norman Dequia

LILOAN, Cebu — Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan has warned Catholic charismatic communities against the rise of “spiritual celebrities,” saying spiritual gifts must serve the Church rather than personal prestige.

Addressing the 2nd National Spiritual Direction Conference of CHARIS Philippines in Liloan town Tuesday, he said spiritual gifts should strengthen the Christian community, not elevate individuals above others.

“The Holy Spirit does not distribute gifts to create spiritual celebrities. The Spirit distributes gifts to build up the Body of Christ,” David said.

He said gifts such as preaching, healing and discernment should strengthen the community, not become tools for gaining recognition, influence or authority within charismatic groups.

“A charism is a gift of the Spirit not for the individual alone, but for the community,” David said, warning against rivalry and the pursuit of spiritual prestige.

He also urged charismatic leaders to avoid making followers dependent on their personal gifts, saying leadership should help people develop their own abilities and take responsibility for the Church’s mission.

“The purpose of leadership is not to make people dependent on leaders. It is rather to help them become mature disciples, capable of exercising their own gifts and responsibilities,” David said.

Authentic spiritual renewal, he added, must lead to concrete service, especially through greater concern for marginalized people, a commitment to justice and active participation in the Church’s mission.

The cardinal also linked spiritual growth to synodality, the Church’s emphasis on listening, shared responsibility and collective discernment, urging communities to recognize each member’s gifts and discern the Spirit’s guidance together.

The Oct 19 to 21 conference brought together about 165 delegates, including bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay leaders from dioceses and charismatic groups across the Philippines.

The gathering aimed to deepen participants’ formation in spiritual direction and strengthen their involvement in the life and mission of the Catholic Church. – CBCP News

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Approximately 1,650 children in Myanmar have celebrated the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, which was observed by the universal Church on Oct 18, reported Radio Veritas Asia.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and leader of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, presided over the Mass and, in his homily, told the children that they too can be missionaries at their young age by sharing their love of Jesus.

They gathered on Sunday at Assumption Catholic Church in Twantay Parish, in the Archdiocese of Yangon, at an event organized by the Yangon Archdiocesan Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) and its director.

Cardinal Bo explained to the children that anyone can be a missionary wherever they live, study, and meet others.

He told them that they do not have to wait until they become a priest, a sister, a bishop, or a grown-up to become a missionary, but that they “can be a missionary today!”

Little ones can share Jesus’ light

The Cardinal encouraged the children to become little lights of Christ.

He explained how they can do this, noting that small acts of kindness count, including welcoming and being kind to classmates and children who may be lonely or excluded, sharing food with those in need, and offering help.

Children, he suggested, can be missionaries in their own homes, schools, parishes, and communities.

He called on them to remember children affected by various difficulties, including conflict, displacement, and hunger, in Myanmar and throughout the world.

Finally, Cardinal Bo reminded the little ones that they do not have to be famous or do particularly outstanding things, but that what counts is sharing the light of Jesus and bringing God’s love to others. – Vatican News

By Sr Theresa Chi, LHC of Phan Thiết

Postulants of the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Phan Thiet prepared and distributed 100 free meals to people experiencing hardship after a process of Conversation in the Spirit helped them turn prayer and communal discernment into concrete missionary action.

The initiative at Sao Biển Community in Phan Thiet, a coastal city in southern Vietnam, emerged from a reflection on the theme “Put Out into the Deep: Discernment and Governance in a Synodal Church,” led by Sr Theresa Chi, a member of the congregation.

Sr Theresa, who represented Vietnam alongside Bishop Joseph Hung of Phan Thiet, at a three-day meeting of national synodal teams in Bangkok, Thailand, from Sep 2 to 4, said the experience helped the postulants understand how listening and discernment can lead to practical service.

The activity was organized in connection with World Mission Sunday on Oct 18, as the congregation sought to integrate Conversation in the Spirit into its journey toward becoming a more synodal Church.

The postulants gathered around a table, listened to one another and shared their reflections. Reflecting on Jesus’ invitation, “Put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4), Sr Theresa encouraged the postulants to consider how they could move beyond their comfort zones to bring Christ’s love to people in need.

She also emphasized that governance in a synodal Church is not primarily about exercising authority but about serving others through listening, humility, and discernment.

During the discussion, the postulants proposed preparing 100 free lunches for people facing hardship in the city. They also prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, concluding their Conversation in the Spirit with a Eucharistic adoration in the chapel.

The community put the postulants’ idea into practice by preparing, packing, and distributing the meals.

The postulants formed 10 groups, with two sisters in each group. Following Jesus’ practice of sending his disciples out two by two, each pair went out with 10 meals to share with people in need.

For Sr Theresa, the encounters that followed revealed how the exercise had helped the young women translate their reflections into missionary service.

One encounter particularly moved her. A postulant named Mary approached a woman who was not Christian and offered her a meal. The woman initially hesitated, apparently unsure of the young sister’s intentions.

Mary gently told her, “I will pray for you.”

The woman gradually became more comfortable, began talking with Mary, and eventually accepted the meal with gratitude.

Sr Theresa said she was happy to see the postulant begin experiencing the congregation’s missionary vocation through this encounter. She added that the community specifically prays for non-Christians and unbelievers during its morning and evening prayers.

In their reflections afterward, the postulants acknowledged that approaching people who did not share their faith could sometimes feel more challenging than approaching fellow Christians.

The encounter helped them recognize that mission does not begin with persuading others to embrace a particular belief, but with love, respect, kindness, and a willingness to meet people where they are.

The stories shared by the postulants also helped the community reflect on the joys and challenges of serving people on the margins of society.

For Sr Theresa, the experience demonstrated the practical value of Conversation in the Spirit: listening leads to discernment, discernment leads to action, and action becomes mission.

The initiative offered the postulants a concrete experience of synodality as a way of life in the Church, connecting prayer, communal decision-making, and service to those most in need.

“A synodal Church is a missionary Church, a Church that listens, walks together, and goes forth to serve,” Sr Theresa reflected. – Radio Veritas Asia

By Fr Kasmir Nema, SVD, and Paskalia, S.I.Kom., M.Si.

Five Catholic universities in Indonesia are preparing future communicators to navigate artificial intelligence in ways that uphold human dignity, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s vision of Magnifica Humanitas.

From Oct 6 to 11, twenty-two communication students gathered at the Carolus Borromeus Formation House (RPCB) Syantikara in Yogyakarta for an AI Bootcamp and National Competition under the theme “Magnifica Humanitas.” The programme combined technical training, ethical reflection, and practical projects addressing real-world social and communication challenges.

The participants represented five member institutions of the Association of Catholic Higher Education Institutions (APTIK): Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang, Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya, and Widya Mandira Catholic University in Kupang.

The theme placed human dignity at the heart of technological innovation. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Magnifica Humanitas offers a framework for asking a fundamental question: how can technological progress contribute to human flourishing without reducing people to data, automated decisions, or the capabilities of machines?

Keeping human dignity at the heart of AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming communication by accelerating information processing, generating content, and expanding creative possibilities. At the same time, its rapid development raises concerns about dependence on automated systems, declining critical thinking, and the displacement of human skills and creativity.

For the organizers, preparing students for this changing landscape meant going beyond technical proficiency. Future communicators need to understand AI’s capabilities and limitations while retaining the independent judgment, creativity, and professional responsibility that technology cannot replace.

This approach resonates with Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis in Magnifica Humanitas: recognizing and promoting the dignity and vocation of the human person amid profound technological change. Applied to communication, this vision calls for AI to remain at the service of people, relationships, truth, and the common good.

Researchers from the five universities developed 14 learning modules examining AI applications in communication. The research team comprised of Mario Antonius Birowo, PhD, and Pupung Arifin of Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta; Dr. Finsensius Yuli Purnama of Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya; Dr. Lukas, Drl. Lisa Esti Puji Hartanti, and Paskalia, S.I.Kom., M.Si., of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia; Inosensia E. I. Ndiki Satu of Widya Mandira Catholic University; and Elizabeth Florence Warikar of Soegijapranata Catholic University.

The modules addressed both the practical use of AI and the critical reflection needed to apply it responsibly in fields such as marketing, public relations, and journalism. Students were encouraged to see these tools not as substitutes for human intelligence and responsibility, but as resources that must be guided by ethical judgment and professional values.

Listening to communities, developing solutions

The programme translated these principles into practice by challenging students to develop AI-based prototypes in response to real social or communication needs.

Before designing their solutions, participants visited the Tugu area of Yogyakarta, where they interviewed and observed street vendors, tourists, artists, and other members of the local community. This fieldwork enabled them to identify everyday challenges and explore how technology might contribute to meaningful and sustainable responses.

Beginning with people’s lived experiences rather than with technological possibilities alone reflected the programme’s central vision: innovation should respond to human needs, not simply demonstrate what machines can accomplish.

Mario Antonius Birowo, who led the research team, observed a significant change in the students’ engagement as the programme progressed.

“On the first day we saw the students still feeling their way, wondering what they would actually gain,” he said. “But from the following days you could see them develop. The modules were built systematically, so the connections between them came together right up to today’s high point, when the students presented their prototypes and put AI tools relevant to communication into practice.”

He described the bootcamp as “a laboratory where students experiment,” adding that more time would allow them to develop their ideas further.

Through this process, students were invited to consider not only whether an AI application worked, but also whether it addressed a genuine need, respected the people affected, and offered a responsible response to the challenges they had identified.

Forming communicators for the common good

The AI Bootcamp and National Competition sought to equip students with practical competencies while fostering a deeper awareness of their responsibility as future communication professionals.

For Catholic higher education, this formation is part of a broader mission. Preparing students for the digital age involves not only teaching them to use emerging technologies but also helping them discern how those technologies affect human relationships, social participation, and the dignity of every person.

Seen through the lens of Magnifica Humanitas, the experience in Yogyakarta points towards a distinctly human-centred approach to digital innovation. AI can expand creativity and open new possibilities for communication, but its value ultimately depends on how it serves people and communities.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply to develop more capable users of AI but to form communicators who can place technological power at the service of humanity, truth, and the common good. – Vatican News

By Sumon Corraya

Bangladesh’s 1,200 women religious are growing older after decades of service, leaving congregations struggling with rising healthcare costs and limited medical resources while ensuring elderly sisters live with dignity.

On the grounds of St Mary’s Convent in Toomilia, north of Dhaka, 18 retired sisters spend their days in prayer, community life and quiet reflection. For Sr Mary Minoti, superior of the convent, ensuring that they receive proper medical care has become one of the congregation’s greatest concerns.

“We sisters no longer receive foreign grants,” she told The Tablet. “We run schools, dispensaries and handicraft centres, and each community saves money to cover the medical expenses of our elderly sisters. Today, medical costs exceed what we spend on food and other necessities. Finding funds for healthcare has become a major source of anxiety.”

Sr Minoti belongs to the Mary Queen of the Apostles congregation (SMRA), a local Bangladeshi community, with more than 200 sisters dedicated to education, healthcare, evangelization, and women’s empowerment. The convent also houses Shanti Bhabon, a residence for elderly sisters. Like many religious congregations in Bangladesh, the community is experiencing the reality of an aging membership.

A growing share of the congregation’s income is spent on treating elderly and seriously ill sisters. Although the sisters cannot afford Dhaka’s most expensive private hospitals, they carefully research where skilled doctors and nurses are available before arranging treatment.

“We strive with all our heart to meet the medical needs and other requirements of our sick and elderly sisters,” Sr Minoti said.

The challenge is becoming more urgent. Around 20 sisters in the congregation are already over the age of 60, and the number is expected to rise steadily in the coming years. Similar concerns are heard across the Church in Bangladesh.

Dipti Jacinta Murmu of the Catechist Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Angels, a local religious order commonly known as the Shanti Rani Sisters, with around 175 nuns, helps care for seven elderly sisters in her congregation. Based in the Diocese of Dinajpur, she said the community, which serves in dioceses across the country, is increasingly constrained by the demands of caring for aging members.

“Bishops invite us to open new communities, but because our sisters are aging and many are becoming ill, we cannot even think about expanding,” she said. “Many of our sisters suffer from diabetes.”

“Five sisters in our congregation are currently undergoing treatment for cancer,” she said. “The treatment is extremely expensive, and our expenses already exceed our income. Yet we continue to arrange medical care for them.”

While she expects healthcare costs to grow significantly over the next five years, Murmu insists that the sisters remain committed to caring for one another.

“We never allow any of our sisters to die without medical treatment,” she said. “We arrange care from our own resources and, when necessary, with the help of generous people.”

International congregations generally have stronger financial support, enabling them to access better hospitals. Yet even they acknowledge the pressures ahead as the number of elderly sisters rises.

The issue comes into particular focus on the International Day of Older Persons, observed on Oct 1. Across Bangladesh, communities of women religious marked the day with special prayers and gestures of gratitude for older sisters whose lives were devoted to schools, hospitals, pastoral ministry and evangelisation. – The Tablet

By G. Clare Westwood, Regional Director, ECCJ-MSB

The Episcopal Commission for Creation Justice of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (ECCJ-MSB) launched Year Two of its REGENERATE! Campaign along with the Season of Creation 2026 with a special Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St Alphonsus in Singapore on the morning of Sunday, Aug 30 2026.

The Mass was celebrated by Cardinal William Goh of the Archdiocese of Singapore and Bishop Joseph Hii, President of the ECCJ-MSB and Bishop of Sibu. Delegates from the Creation Justice Commissions (CJCs) of the 11 dioceses in MSB joyfully carried their diocesan CJC banners in a reverent procession as they entered the beautiful Novena Church.

This is the second year of the REGENERATE! Campaign and the theme is “Regenerate Hope for Land Ecosystems.” Land ecosystems include natural terrestrial ecosystems like forests, grasslands, deserts, peatlands and wetlands as well as urban and rural settlement areas.

REGENERATE! is the second phase of the ECCJ’s Protect Our Earth, Protect Our Children (PROTEC) Campaign which ran from Sep 1 2020 to Aug 31 2025. REGENERATE! (PROTEC 2.0) runs from Sep 1 2025 to Aug 31 2030 with a different theme each year. While PROTEC 1.0 was promoted only in Malaysian dioceses, REGENERATE! (PROTEC 2.0) has been approved for all dioceses in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei by the Catholic Bishops Conference of MSB.

Meanwhile, the theme for the Season of Creation 2026 (Sep 1 to Oct 4 annually) is “Living Water” based on Ezekial 47:1-12. The Season of Creation is celebrated by over two billion Christians across different denominations worldwide. The season starts with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sep 1 which was instituted by Pope Francis in 2015.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei this year issued a Pastoral Statement recommending celebrating the Mass for the Care of Creation, using the formulary from the Dicastery for Divine Workship and Discipline of the Sacraments, as a Votive Mass on Sep 1, if it is a weekday, or on any other weekday.

In his homily, Cardinal Goh stressed the importance of Integral Ecology, a concept which Pope Francis elucidated in his encyclical Laudato si’. The cardinal reminded everyone of their duty as stewards of creation and to put this responsibility over the lure of convenience and self-interest.

Bishop Joseph Hii addressed the congregation at the end of the Mass and explained the themes for the REGENERATE! Campaign Year Two and the Season of Creation 2026. In particular, Bishop Hii emphasized the importance of regenerating hope for creation which includes people and other creatures in nature. He said that we needed to move from being “ego” (centred) to being “eco” (ecologically centred) and that regeneration or being renewed was a fundamental aspect of our Catholic faith.

The mass ended with both Cardinal Goh and Bishop Hii unfurling the REGENERATE! Year Two and Season of Creation 2026 banners, thereby officially launching both campaigns. The Launch Mass coincided with the ECCJ-MSB’s General Meeting which lasted from Aug 28-30 and was attended by about 30 delegates from the different dioceses of MSB.

The meeting was held at the St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre (where Pope Francis had stayed during his visit to Singapore in 2024). In the afternoon of Aug 30, four expert resource persons from Singapore spoke on different aspects of regenerating land ecosystems as well as the spirituality of justice for creation. They were: Assoc Prof Janice Lee, Prof Adrian Loo, and Michael Leong; and Fr Colin Tan SJ, respectively. All events were ably and warmly hosted by the Care for Creation Team of Caritas Singapore.

All parishes and Catholic establishments in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei are urged to celebrate REGENERATE! Year Two and the Season of Creation 2026. Resources for REGENERATE! have been made available to all dioceses through this folder: https://cloud.exooxe.com/index.php/s/MQ44e5giMwBdbPo while resources for the Season of Creation are available at seasonofcreation.org.

Please contact your diocesan Creation Justice Commission for assistance or write to Clare Westwood at creationjustice.msb@gmail.com.