HONG KONG (SE): Concluding a series of activities for this year’s Season of Creation, the Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development organised an outdoor Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing ofm, the auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong, and a planting activity at the Precious Blood Spiritual Garden in Fanling on October 6. The event aimed to promote the message of environmental sustainability and to encourage participants to reflect on Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home.
In his homily, Bishop Ha compared the purity of nature to the simplicity of children. He urged the over 20 participants to come closer to nature, referencing Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come to me” [Mark 10:14]. Bishop Ha pointed out that while it may take a lot of effort to care for nature and sacrifice our convenience, there is no excuse to close our hearts to environmental protection or be indifferent to the suffering of others.
The entrance song of the Mass was the hymn “Laudato Si’”, with lyrics comparing natural elements like wind and water to our brothers and sisters.
The Mass concluded with the blessing of the soil in different parts of the farm by Franciscan Brother William Ng.
Bishop Ha compared the purity of nature to the simplicity of children. He urged the over 20 participants to come closer to nature
Participants were invited to plant cabbage sprouts in the farm.
Susanna Lee, the project officer of the commission, remembered that the participants worked quickly in over 30-degree heat. She believed that the hot weather on that autumn day was a strong indication of the seriousness of the environmental crisis and a reminder to protect nature.
“In that moment, surrounded by nature, we felt a strong connection to it. The same message might have been less impactful in an air-conditioned chapel,” she said.
Photo supplied
They also had the chance to make pizza together with the produce of the Precious Blood Spiritual Garden, and enjoy what they cooked in the beautiful natural environment.
The farm event was a culmination of four spiritual workshops screening different parts of the 2022 film, The Letter: A Message for Our Earth, which tells the story of a journey to Rome of frontline leaders affected by environmental changes to discuss Laudato Si’ with Pope Francis.
The screenings were followed by discussions on the encyclical together with creative exercises, and participants were encouraged to reflect on the film’s message and develop personal action plans for environmental sustainability.
In that moment, surrounded by nature, we felt a strong connection to it. The same message might have been less impactful in an air-conditioned chapel
Susanna Lee
The four-day workshops, which began in September, were organised by the environmental concern group of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, the Franciscans, and the commission.
Participants included members of the church, local residents, Protestants, and some non-Christians who wanted to learn more about the encyclical and the film.
At the end of the four workshops, participants were tasked with presenting their reflections. Lee recalled that many participants shared valuable insights and talked about how they have understood more about the interconnectedness of ecological and social crises, particularly the disproportionate impact of environmental issues on impoverished communities.
As next year will be the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Lee observed that there is still a need to promote the message of the encyclical as many Catholics still do not know what it is exactly about. However, she believes the process takes time, and the film, The Letter, with subtitles translated by the commission into Chinese last year, is a good tool to promote the message of the encyclical in Chinese-speaking communities.
In August and September, the commission also visited an eco-community in Nam Chung, as well as a fish pond in Sun Tin, where the owner tries to create a eco-friendly environment for the birds by stocking small fish in harvest time [Sunday Examiner, September 8].
