OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Respect and protection of the environment: the Bishops together for World Day

Monday, 8 June 2020

AP

Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - Awareness for the protection of the environment, care for the common home in light of Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Sì', individual initiatives on a practical level to support the protection of the planet were on the agenda of the World Environment Day (WED) program celebrated on Friday 5 June for the staff of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PNGSI).
"This day is an international reminder that reflects the current environmental conditions of our country and Laudato Sì offers us support and solutions", said program director Eva Wangihama, Secretary of the Commission for the Laity. In the note sent to Agenzia Fides, Wangihama stressed that the day was an opportunity to give special emphasis to the doctrine of the Holy Father and allow everyone to become an active part of it.
Addressing the participants, the Secretary for Social Communications Father Ambrose Pereira, SDB urged "to abandon the bad practice of throwaway and adopt a new and less destructive way of life because our habits today will determine the future of our children".
"God has invested us with the role of custodians of the Earth that we are destroying for greed and personal gain and the environment now calls us to protect it", said Paul Harricknen, President of the Catholic Professional Society.
Those present were given a biblical quiz consisting of three questions to which they answered correctly, receiving a 1 meter high candle as a prize. At the end of the celebrations all the participants recited "A prayer for our land".
The event was held at the CBC headquarters in Gordons, in the presence of the bishop of the diocese of Vanimo, Mgr. Francis Meli, of the secretary of the CBC of PNGSI Fr. Giorgio Licini, PIME, and by Paul Harricknen. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 8/6/2020)


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