KUALA LUMPUR (UCAN): Church officials and volunteers in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, expressed hope that efforts to protect the environment would contribute to global efforts at tackling climate change.
The initiatives started in 2023 when the country’s nine bishops signed an Ecological Diocese Pledge in response to Laudato Si’ the late Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Vatican News reported on May 24.
The pledge includes such actions as eliminating single-use plastics at Church events by avoiding plastic utensils, bags, and water bottles, while promoting waste reduction and responsible waste management.
The document also asked each diocese and parish to engage in actions focused on reducing carbon footprints and fostering community resilience.
Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim of Kuala Lumpur said that “although much has been done, much more is needed locally and globally to tackle this climate crisis.”
Archbishop Leow said he is encouraging all parishes in the archdiocese to undergo “an ecological conversion.” Dioceses and churches across Malaysia have initiated actions to reduce waste and promote recycling.
The diocese plans to send approximately 300 volunteers to support a government initiative to plant 100 million trees
The Church of St. Anthony in Kuala Lumpur was one of the parishes that took the pledge to be plastic-free.
Father Clarence Devadass, parish priest, told Vatican News that the move is not merely a policy change but a call to action for the entire parish community.
“This small but significant change will, in many ways, help reduce reliance on single-use plastics and promote a culture of sustainability among parishioners of all ages,” Father Devadass said.
This calling to ecological care is “not an optional or secondary aspect of Christian life,” he said, adding that it is a “spiritual and moral responsibility shared by all.”
He said the parish is not looking for “success overnight, but we can take small steps toward this universal goal.”
The parish’s move to recycle candle wax has generated approximately 10,000 Malaysian ringgit [US$2,000] through the sale of recycled Christmas and Easter candles.
This small but significant change will, in many ways, help reduce reliance on single-use plastics and promote a culture of sustainability among parishioners of all ages
Father Devadass
Selvanathan, a volunteer at the parish, said that he was “surprised” to see the garbage-like candle waste that he collected and passed on to the other volunteers “turned into beautiful, scented candles.”
Selvanathan said, “All proceeds go to help the poor in the community, supporting those in need with wheelchairs, groceries, baby essentials, medical aid, and more.”
The used wax is collected from the parish and handed over to a team of young parishioners. They melt, clean, and add colour and fragrance before shaping them into new candles.
Father Andrew Manickam, the ecclesiastical assistant to the Archdiocesan Creation Justice Ministry, said that the tree-planting efforts showed a collective commitment to environmental justice.
The diocese plans to send approximately 300 volunteers to support a government initiative to plant 100 million trees.
“The tree-planting efforts reflect a community inspired by Pope Francis’ vision of Integral Ecology, where social and environmental justice are inseparable,” said Father Manickam, who is also parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Kuala Lumpur.
The tree planting “demonstrates our collective commitment to becoming faithful stewards of our planet,” he added.
The parishes have also initiated other efforts, including a collection of used clothes to support the needy, and workshops on kitchen waste composting.
The priest is also coordinating the collection of used cooking oil from homes and restaurants to convert it to biodiesel, Vatican News reported.
The initiative aims to prevent water pollution, a rising concern in Malaysia.
