THE Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation, Inc. (SNAF) is set to launch the Philippine Augustinians’ Laudato Si’ Campaign on Wednesday, September 1, 2021.
A holy Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino de Cebu Compound at 8 a.m. to kick start the launching of the campaign and a webinar themed “Our Planet, Our Responsibility: Localizing UN SDGs towards the Care of Creation” will follow at 9 a.m. via Zoom platform.
UN stands for United Nations, while the SDG means Sustainable Development Goals.
SNAF, in a statement, said it has been linking up with various sectors in promoting response to the Papal Encyclical "Laudato Si’" calls through the annual, inter-faith Season of Creation, which is celebrated annually by Christians all over the world from September 1 to October 4.
SNAF is the social development arm of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Order of Saint Augustine-Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu.
"They (Christians) gather to pray, promote and do actions that protect and preserve Mother Earth, a common home for all," SNAF said in a statement.
This year’s celebration themed “A Home for All? Renewing The Oikos of God” starts on September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.
Laudato Si’ is an appeal from Pope Francis addressed to people of all faith to dialogue and work together to protect the planet and acknowledge the urgency of addressing environmental challenges that primarily affect the poor.
The appeal reinvigorated the observance of the Season of Creation with the challenge to stand up against climate injustice.
With the ecological crisis turning for the worse, the Philippine Augustinians, through SNAF, expand their response to the "cries of the Earth and the most vulnerable."
It will launch an environmental campaign that strives to confront the "human roots" of global warming, which have resulted in biodiversity loss and the outbreak of diseases.
The campaign starts on the celebration of the Season of Creation on September 1 and culminates on December 10, 2021, International Human Rights Day. It will also adopt this year’s Season of Creation theme.
Some activities expected in the campaign include a tree-growing project, monthly webinar series on topics about ecology, interfaith collaboration, Justice and Peace, and human life, among others.
Moreover, the Sept. 1 webinar will highlight the Cebu City Council ordinance titled “Cebu City UN SDGs Council,” authored by Councilor Alvin Dizon, which aims to implement the SDGs at the city level.
SNAF said it will also showcase the best practices of various sectors at localizing UN Sustainable Development Goals amidst environmental degradation and disasters.
Interested individuals may register via this link: https://bit.ly/SeasonOfCreation2021Webinar/. (WBS with PR)