TIME FOR CREATION Chan, Kho, Garcia, Lim, Marcelo, Rellama, Ti
Diocese of Sorsogon Bicol
Mary the Queen Parish San Juan
Two Attempts at Introducing the Season for Creation
RATIONALE Why Do We Need A Time for Creation? “the Church has the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel… [to] recognize and understand the world in which we live, its explanations, its longings” (Gaudium et Spes 4) Ecological crisis – pollution, scarcity, calamities Anthropocentric perspective, drive for progress Alienation from Creation – Heavenism, Dualism, Dominion themes from the West (Habel) NEED FOR ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION
RATIONALE A THEOLOGY OF CREATION Earth as a Sanctuary Habel: We must begin by viewing the Earth as a sanctuary filled with God’s glory, a place of worship Responsibility to preserve Earth’s sacredness
Sacramental Vision We need to see that everything that God has made can be a sacrament Habel: God’s presence and glory can be found in all of his Creation in his various masks, to be found for those with the eyes to see.
RATIONALE A THEOLOGY OF CREATION
Companionship and Kinship Motif Movement from an “I-it” relation to an “I-thou” relation Intrinsic value that calls for respect and doing justice Habel: We are irrevocably tied to every life form, as a community living in solidarity in spiritual worship and same biological origin.
RATIONALE A THEOLOGY OF CREATION Jesus’ Deeper Incarnation and Ministry The reality of God is revealed more fully – both Creator and creature, a suffering God who empathizes with us through the way of the Cross. Takes for Himself both the suffering that our moral and social sins have caused but also the suffering of the Earth, to reconcile nature and grace As his disciples, we are called to care for creation as part of His Ministry, to serve rather than rule. ”For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10: 45).”
RATIONALE ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION WORLDWIDE Conference of European Churches (Prague, 1992) wherein they offered prayers for the protection of the environment The First European Ecumenical Assembly in Basel (May 1989) suggested to have a week of prayer for creation and to create Church Commissions and contact persons in different communities. Second European Ecumenical Assembly (Graz, 1997) - need for the European Churches to commit to the protection of creation; Ecumenical Day of Prayer for the Preservation of Creation was established
RATIONALE ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION WORLDWIDE 2002 - a day of Creation in September was suggested by the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION IN THE PHILIPPINES 1988 - What is happening to our beautiful land? “celebrate the beauty and pain of our world, our connectedness to the natural world, and the on-going struggle for social justice.” 2003 - Celebrating Creation Day and Creation Time “As we celebrate Creation Time, let us deepen our faith in the Triune God through our communal liturgies, devotions, and in our personal prayer life… thank God for the many ways He has gifted our land and resolve to cherish and protect what remains of this bounty for this and future generations of Filipinos”
THREE-TIER OBJECTIVE PLAN
TIER 1 LAUNCHING AND AWARENESS transition from traditional and conventional Church activities into MORE PARTICIPATIVE.
TIER 1
LAUNCHING AND AWARENESS Incorporation into the Mass readings, homilies, announcements Visual Awareness posters, flyers, pamphlets merchandise, digital prints Online Campaign Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc.
TIER 2 IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTICIPATION
TIER 2
IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTICIPATION Coastal clean-up collective efforts (nationwide) attack consumer and wasteful behaviors Waste Segregation and Recycling presentations, seminars for information dissemination impart benefits of the practice encourage resourceful and eco-friendly recycling systems
TIER 2
IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTICIPATION Tree Planting plan of action for deforestation interactive tree planting activities includes discussions and open forums Animal Cruelty Seminar Series Whale and shark conservation Anti-dynamite and cyanide fishing
TIER 2
IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTICIPATION
Fun Run raise awareness Run for the Fishes in Sorsogon fund-raising for wildlife conservation projects
TIER 2
IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTICIPATION Livelihood Program The poor need our help the most. O Help the poor find alternative sources of livelihood O Focus on professions that maximize their strengths
Spiritual Development Program Some specific areas in Sorsogon still don’t hold masses and lack church services. O Endeavor to inform and help the Church to reach specific areas in Sorsogon
TIER 2
IMPLEMENTATION AND PARTICIPATION
Creation Night fun gathering with food & drinks various performances by the community encourages discussions about Creation encourages people to deepen their love for the natural environment and wildlife, and practical solutions
TIER 3 PERSONAL INTEGRATION AND COMMITMENT Streamlining commitment and sustainability of the implementation of Creation for a long-term process
TIER 3
PERSONAL INTEGRATION AND COMMITMENT
Commitment pins Creation symbols P20 each (proceeds go to advocacies) information slip station booths in community offices, outside of the church, atriums, social gatherings
TIER 3
PERSONAL INTEGRATION AND COMMITMENT
Recollection and Thanksgiving seminars Thanksgiving Culmination after Eucharistic celebration community sharing via Focus Group Discussions facilitators initiate processing questions one-on-one consultations
PROGRESS MTQ Parish Father Tom was following a tight schedule for the past month Diocese of Sorsogon Forwarding the 3-tier objective plan to the subcommittee Sir Mark’s favorites incorporation in the Mass | traditional promotional materials | tree-planting | coastal cleanup | seminar series
CONCLUSION IT IS DIFFICULT
IT IS WORTH IT
It is new, unfamiliar, and unconventional
You meet so many passionate people
“The Church should NOT be focusing on this.�
The effects are just too big to comprehend
There is resistance and hesitation among the stakeholders.
You find yourself driven to actually do something that is very worth your time