SINGAPORE (Fides): As part of the Season of Creation which runs from September 1 to October 4, the Catholic community in Singapore is seeking to accompany Catholics and non-Christians—especially young people—in contemplating God in nature and regaining direct contact with nature.
The youth programme, Green Movement, of St. Ignatius Parish, which works to promote awareness and care for creation in accordance with the vision of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, prepared a “Creation Path” on the theme, Let justice and Peace Flow, taken from the a passage in the Book of Amos [Amos 5:24].
The invitation to follow the path was spread both through announcements and notices in parishes and via social media, and is aimed at everyone including groups and families.
The movement invited the faithful and all people of goodwill to advocate for climate and environmental justice and to raise awareness for the communities most affected by the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity.
This is true for many countries in Asia where local communities, often very poor and vulnerable, fall victim to natural disasters and the consequences of climate change.
The awareness and educational initiatives are also aimed particularly at children, inviting them to explore green spaces and come into direct contact with nature.
In this context, the young people also recall the words of Pope Francis, who wrote in his message for the Season of Creation: “If we seek first the Kingdom of God [Matthew 6:33], by having a right relationship with God, human beings and nature, then justice and peace can flow, like an inexhaustible stream of pure water that nourishes humanity and all creatures.”
As part of the Creation Time awareness campaign in Singapore’s Catholic community, numerous other activities were launched, including a tree planting event organised by Caritas Singapore on September 16.
There are also reports in Catholic and non-Catholic media seeking to make non-Catholics aware of the initiatives. In a broadcast on CatholicSG Radio, biologist Maxine Mowe, lecturer and researcher, and Juliana Foo, executive director of Caritas Singapore, explained how all ethnicities, cultures and religions in Singapore could actively participate in the initiatives during this special time dedicated to the preservation of creation.
