Jesuit Communications (JesCom), in collaboration with the Reconciliation with Creation (RWC) Ministry of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP), hosted a panel discussion that delved into the message of Laudate Deum and its significance in the region, last Wednesday morning, November 8th.
Entitled “What is the message and call of Laudate Deum for our context in Asia Pacific today?”, the hour-long webinar was livestreamed via the JesCom Facebook and YouTube pages, with JesCom Executive Director Fr. Nono Alfonso, SJ serving as the discussion’s moderator.
Joining the newly-appointed Philippine Province Assistant for the Social Apostolate on the virtual roundtable were Fr. Sunu Hardiyanta, SJ (Novice Master, Jesuit Province Indonesia), Julie Edwards (CEO, Jesuit Social Services Australia), Mary Khine (Social Worker, Myanmar), and Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ (Director, Manila Observatory), each bringing their valuable experiences and unique perspectives on Pope Francis’ most recent apostolic exhortation.
With the webinar broadcasted on the 10th year anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda, each panelist first provided a picture of how severe a blow climate change has dealt the Asia Pacific region, with inconsistent rainfall, massive flooding, bushfires, and severe typhoons among the primary manifestations. From these harsh realities, Fr.Nono channeled the discussion towards reflection, with his guests’ responses all pointing toward how our present-day environmental issues are at their core a social and human crisis. Emerging from the synodal listening process in the global Church, Pope Francis in Laudate Deum explains the senseless war on mother nature as a result of our failure to address the human roots of the socio-ecological crisis.
In 2015’s “Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home”, Pope Francis challenged the myth of achieving progress at the expense of the earth’s natural resources. Instead, the Holy Father called for a reimagined definition of progress, grounded in “integral ecology”- recognizing our society’s interconnectedness while hearing the cry of the poor who often are the victims of climate change.
While there has been some progress since the release of the groundbreaking encyclical, with more youth demonstrating much passion for ecological justice, Pope Francis laments in Laudate Deum that too often, self-serving interests are still placed ahead of the greater good for our common home. The webinar’s panelists did acknowledge some government policies pushing for renewable energy and the promotion of ecological literacy as steps in the right direction, yet concrete action still begins with individuals and their communities thoroughly reexamining their current lifestyles and practices, and accepting responsibility to change the legacy that they will leave behind for future generations.
As Asia holds one of the world’s most culturally diverse populations, the challenge is for people to dig deep into their rich faiths and spiritualities and come together into a concerted effort to save Mother Earth. Before it’s too late.
Watch the insightful panel discussion, ““What is the message and call of Laudate Deum for our context in Asia Pacific today?” on the JesCom TV YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdAIDqXDk2Y
