By Olivia Yii
BINTULU — On 16 September, Stella Maris Church hosted a full-day Laudato Si’ Workshop from 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m., drawing the participation of more than 50 parishioners from the St Anthony Parish. The program was organized by St Anthony Parish in collaboration with the Miri Diocese Creation Justice Commission (CJC) as part of its ongoing mission to promote ecological awareness and inspire sustainable practices within the Catholic community.
The workshop centred on the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls all people of faith to recognize the urgent state of the world’s environment and to take meaningful action to safeguard creation. With this in mind, the event aimed to lay the foundation for developing an “ecological parish” in Bintulu, rooted in stewardship, responsibility, and care for our common home.
One of the highlights of the day was the brainstorming session, where parish members worked together to design frameworks and propose initiatives that would enable the adoption of eco-parish protocols in Bintulu. These discussions provided practical ideas and strengthened the community’s shared commitment to ecological action.
Another memorable moment was the candlelight reconciliation prayer session, a symbolic act that combined reflection, unity, and a deepened spiritual connection with creation. This session reminded participants of the need to reconcile with one another, with God, and with creation.
The workshop concluded on a hopeful note, with participants sharing positive feedback on the event’s meaningful content and engaging format. Many expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn, reflect, and contribute to the parish’s ecological mission. Some also shared their commitment to change their ways of life to care more for God’s creation after realising the harm they have unwittingly contributed to.
The success of this workshop marks a significant step forward in the parish’s journey towards becoming an eco-parish, embodying the call of Laudato Si’ to care for creation for our future generations.
