(Top to bottom) English session by Sr Carmen, BM session by Fr Russel and Chinese session by Michael Wong
By Catherine Wan
Sep 1 2023
BUKIT PADANG – In preparation for the Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) on Sep 28 and as a process towards the journey to Malaysia Pastoral Convention (MPC) in 2026, close to 50 parishioners attended the study session on Laudato Si (LS), the papal encyclical on Ecology Aug 11 in the Church of Immaculate Conception (CMI).
It was conducted in three languages; BM session was facilitated by Fr Russel Lawrine, English session facilitated by Sr Carmen Cordova and Chinese session was facilitated by Michael Wong in various rooms in CMI.
During the power point presentation of respective facilitators, the audience was led through the steps of ‘See, Judge, Act’ in order to go through the encyclical.
Chapter One (See): Pollution, climate change and various harm done to the Mother Earth (LS chapter one) due to excessive development. It was highlighted by Pope Francis that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor (LS 49).
Chapters two to four (Judge): In the light of faith, sin of pride (anthropocentrism) has disrupted the harmony between the Creator (God), humanity and creation (LS 66). Creation is the order of love and its creator is the heavenly Father who alone own the world (LS 75-76). The Church seeks not only to remind everyone of the duty to care for nature but above all to protect mankind from self-destruction (LS 79). In chapter three of Laudato Si, it is highlighted that technology severed from ethics will not easily be able to limit its own power (LS 136). Chapter four stresses an urgent moral need for a renewed sense of intragenerational solidarity (LS 162).
Chapters five and six (Act): Interfaith dialogue is called forth for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor and building networks of respect and fraternity. The last chapter touched on ecological conversion – a change of heart through examination of our lives and acknowledge the ways in which we have harmed God’s creation through our actions and our failure to act (LS 218).
The audience were led to reflection and group sharing based on guided questions on ‘See, Judge, Act’ or interactive style throughout the input session.
The whole session closed with a prayer led by Fr Russel in the hall. The three facilitators were given potted plants as a token of appreciation.
