Manila Archdiocese in the Philippines concluded its month-long celebration of the “Season of Creation” this year by urging the young faithful to become the guardians of nature. Hundreds of people brought their pets to be blessed during a Holy Mass on October 4, 2017, to mark the end of the season and to celebrate the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.Fr. Edwin Gariguez, head of the social arm of the Philippine’s Bishops Conference.
As reported by ucanews.com, Fr. Edwin remarked that “We are continually challenged to live the spirit of Saint Francis as articulated in the present context by ‘Laudato Si’.” He reminded Catholics to go beyond our market consumerist paradigm and to see the beauty and sacredness of the earth.
Franciscan priest Dexter Toledo, chairman of the Ecological Justice Movement appealed to young people to disconnect from the virtual world and go online with the environment. He reminded the young faithful to feel the earth and consider it as our body and highlighted that with the rapid advance of technology, young people tend to forget that there is a real world.
