Thousands of Catholics to attend World Day of Prayer in Manila

Thousands of Filipino Catholics are expected to attend the celebration of World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation instituted by Pope Francis at Luneta Park tomorrow (September 1) .

The event will be highlighted by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 4:30 a.m. that will be presided by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

Dubbed as “Walk for Cre-

ation,” the event hopes to gather all people of goodwill to pray for and with creation, to encourage each other to live simple lifestyles and to care for and protect the earth.

The event is organized by the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM)-Pilipinas in cooperation with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines NASSA, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines, Council of the Laity of the Philippines, Couples for Christ, Fellowship for the Care of Creation Association, Inc., Our Lady of Remedios Parish- Malate, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., Student Catholic Action of the Philippines, Alyansa Tigil Mina, EcoWaste Coalition, Green Convergence, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, and other faith and ecology groups.

Adamson University, La Consolacion College Manila, Perpetual College, Philippine Women’s University, and the St. Theresa’s College are co-organizers of the event.

“We aim to promote and raise awareness about September 1 as ‘a significant occasion for prayer, reflection, conversion and the adoption of appropriate lifestyles’ as enunciated by Pope Francis in response to the ecological crisis that affects us all,” said Fr. John Leydon, Convener of GCCMPilipinas.

“It is our hope that this celebration will bring about unity, inspire one another, and amplify the people’s commitment to take bold action together to hear both the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor,” he added.

The annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore His help for the protection of creation as well as His pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”

The observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was instituted by Pope Francis in 2015 that marks the opening of the Season of Creation on September 1.

This Friday’s “Walk for Creation” is a “zero waste” event.

As such, the organizers enjoin all participants to be mindful of their discards, which should be segregated and placed into their proper bins.