Season of Creation Youth Formation Session in East Asia

From 1 September – the World Day of Prayer for Creation – to 4 October – the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the Marist Family around the world joins in the annual ecumenical celebration “Season of Creation”. It invites us to celebrate the beauty and pain of our world, praise and thank God for his love and goodness, and take steps to defend our common home, especially in this time of ecological emergency.
In that context, the Philippine Sector of the Province of East Asia celebrated on September 9 the Season of Creation’s first week with a Youth Formation Session in the way of Laudato Si’ and liturgical ecology via Zoom, organized by the Marist Ecology Ministry and Youth for Ecology.

Invited were all the Marist students from the different schools in the country. Attendees came from Marist School Marikina, Notre Dame of Cotabato, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, NDDU – IBED Lagao Campus, NDDU – IBED Espina Campus, Notre Dame of Jolo High School Kasulutan, Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, NDKC – IBED, Notre Dame of Marbel University, NDMU IBED, and other participating schools and ministries, facilitators, and guests. It was structured to empower students to create their own initiatives, projects, and tangible efforts to secure a safer future for our common home.

Br. Yohan Oh, member of the Ecology Task Force Team, shed light on the intrinsically benevolent virtue of caring for our planet, with special emphasis on ‘Listening to the Voice of the Creation’, this year’s theme.

Each school generated discourse on the important matters that needed to be addressed and environmental advancements to be made by the students under the guidance of facilitators sent by the respective institutions.

Br. Mark Roberth Laurea closed the event with remarkable words commending the presence, love of work, and service-oriented excellence exhibited by all who attended. His words ignited the spirit of those who attended the program and gave them a push forward toward the completion of their aspirations for the future.

Overall, it was a success. Students came back to their everyday lives with lessons that would guide them throughout their journey; formed not only as good Christians but also virtuous citizens who share in a responsibility of becoming stewards of God’s creation.