As the Church concludes this year’s Season of Creation (September 1–October 4), we are invited once more to pause and reflect on our relationship with God, our neighbour, and the natural world. This year’s observance carries particular weight: it coincides with the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical that continues to challenge and inspire us to embrace an integral ecology rooted in faith and responsibility.
Hong Kong marked the opening of this year’s Season of Creation with a Mass organised by the Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development. In his homily, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., stressed the importance of minimising our needs and reducing our consumption of materials derived from natural resources. The cardinal also cautioned against despair, urging the faithful not to believe that the environment has already passed the point of no return. Instead, he encourages to hold on to hope and live lives directed toward conversion—lives that reflect care for creation, solidarity with others, and trust in God’s providence.
Over the past decade, Laudato Si’ has become more than just a papal document; it has become a spiritual compass for Catholics worldwide. The pope called us to hear both “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” reminding us that caring for creation is not an optional devotion but an essential dimension of Christian discipleship. This call has gradually taken flesh among us in concrete initiatives that infuse ecological awareness into the life of our Church communities.
Parishes, schools, and communities have taken up the challenge with creativity and conviction. From tree-planting drives and waste-reduction programs to ecological catechesis and reflection days, the Diocese of Hong Kong has sought to weave Laudato Si’ into its pastoral fabric. Youth groups have promoted sustainability campaigns; Catholic schools have incorporated environmental education into their curricula; and parish groups have organised clean-up activities along the city’s shorelines and hiking trails. Beyond these activities, the diocese has worked to nurture an ecological spirituality, encouraging the faithful to link care for creation with prayer, liturgy, and the Eucharist—the very heart of our Christian life.
Yet as we give thanks for these efforts, the Season of Creation reminds us that the work is ongoing. Environmental concern must not be confined to projects or campaigns alone; it must penetrate our daily lives. Pope Francis, in Laudato Si’, insists that ecological conversion begins in the heart and extends into every small act of responsibility—turning off unnecessary lights, reducing waste, choosing sustainable habits, and cultivating an attitude of gratitude and respect toward the gifts of creation.
The challenge before us in this tenth anniversary year is to allow the message of Laudato Si’, together with Cardinal Stephen’s call to conversion, to shape our conscience and choices each day. The conclusion of the Season of Creation is not an ending but a new beginning. May we continue to grow in our ecological awareness—not only as caretakers of the earth but as faithful disciples who recognise in creation the reflection of God’s love. jose, CMF
