Culminating Activity of the Celebration of Laudato Si Week
Theme: Filipino Youth Standing for the Future of Our Common Home (#GenZ4LaudatoSi)
When: June 22, 2019 (7am – 4pm)
Where: Hardin Ng Mga Bulaklak, Quezon City Memorial Circle
Who: Young People (15-30 Years Old)
All people of goodwill who are in solidarity with the youth
“Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can
claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental
crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.”
~ Pope Francis in Laudato Si 13
Laudato Si Generation
Laudato Si Generation is a youth initiative of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) launched during the World Youth Day (WYD) in January which was held in Panama. GCCM was given 15 minutes right before the Via Crucis of the youth pilgrims with Pope Francis, to introduce Laudato Si Generation and to present its strong call for the Church (and the world) to take seriously the Laudato Si appeal for all people of goodwill to seek sustainable and integral development together and work together in building our Common Home. The event included: 1) a creative gesture, “the world’s largest group hug” of all the WYD pilgrims, to raise awareness about Laudato Si and its “everything is connected” message; and 2) the presentation of a “Manifesto from Young Catholics” urging Church leaders and political leaders to take more ambitious climate action. Our very own Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle accepted the manifesto on behalf of the Catholic Church. After presenting the manifesto, the WYD pilgrims were invited to sign it online to express their commitment and join upcoming GCCM youth initiatives.
Laudato Si Gen – Pilipinas
Inspired by this youth initiative of the Global Catholic Climate Movement and the growing youth movement around the world standing and rising for the future of our planet home, GCCM- Pilipinas, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth, Student Catholic Action Philippines, Chiro Youth Movement Philippines, Our Lady of Remedies Parish, Malate, Manila, De La Salle Philippines- Lasallian Institute For the Environment (DLSP-LIFE), De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, La Consolacion College Manila, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, San Beda College – Alabang, Philippine Women’s University – Manila, Bantayog Initiative, Radio Veritas, Living Laudato Si Philippines, Philippine Permaculture Association, Green Convergence and Upholding Life And Nature (ULAN), came together to work on convening and mobilizing Filipino young people, from 15 to 30 years old, and organize them as the Philippine Chapter of Laudato Si Generation which the group decided to call Laudato Si Gen-Pilipinas.
Launching Activity of Laudato Si Gen – Pilipinas
The launching of Laudato Si Gen – Pilipinas will be on June 22, 2019 and will culminate the celebration of this year’s Laudato Si Week which will be on June 16 – 22.
This activity hopes to gather both in and out of school youth from different parishes, and communities, including differently abled young people as well as young professionals, who are willing to commit themselves to the call of Laudato Si. The Laudato Si Pledge which is a commitment to pray for and with creation, to live a simple lifestyle and to commit to advocacies to care for Earth, our Common Home will be integrated in the program. It is also the hope of the conveners that eventually, the participants would be inspired to become members of the Laudato Si Gen – Pilipinas and be active participants in the Laudato Si Generation’s strong call for all people of goodwill to take seriously the Laudato Si appeal for all humanity to work together in building our Common Home.
Goals/Objectives:
• Praise God and celebrate together the gift of life and the beauty and bounty of Earth and all of creation.
• Raise the awareness of the young people on the current ecological and social crisis and their great role in bringing about change.
• Make Laudato Si known to the young people and inspire them to be part of the Laudato Si Generation and stand for the future of our planet home.
• Encourage and empower the young people to take concrete and radical actions to care for our Common Home and for the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers, individually and collectively.
Flow of Activities:
7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:30 AM
Registration and Gathering Activity
Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Plenary
Welcome and Introduction, Video Presentation of the Summary of Laudato Si Sharing
on GCCM-Youth Initiative: Laudato Si Generation
Reading the Manifesto of Young People on Climate Change – presented during the
World Youth Day in Panama
Launching of Laudato Si Gen – Pilipinas,
Laudato Si Pledge
Presentation of Video-Clips of Different Eco-Youth Advocacies
Solidarity Messages from Severn Suzuki and Greta Thunberg
Inspirational Message from GCCM
Break Out Sessions
(Booth Exhibits and Presentations focused on the ecological issues mentioned in
Laudato Si:
1. Climate Change
2. Pollution, Waste and Throwaway Culture
3. Water Issues
4. Loss of Biodiversity
Celebration of the Fruits of Mother Earth, with some rituals
Laudato Si Music Fest (Ecological Songs, Dances, Spoken Word and Poetry)
