Moving beyond conventional environmental activities to embed ecological stewardship into everyday Christian life, Church delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region met in the Philippines to align their priorities against accelerating climate threats.
The Regional Retreat of Laudato Si’ Movement Chapters took place on October 24–27, 2026, at the Charitas Philippines Development Center in Tagaytay City, Cavite. Located south of Manila, the mountain venue provided regional context for 17 delegates, including two priests, one religious sister, and 14 lay volunteers, representing Myanmar, South Korea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Organized by the movement’s Asia-Pacific Secretariat, the four-day assembly sought to deepen eco-spirituality, bolster chapter governance, and implement the Global Strategic Roadmap 2027–2030.
Cheryl Dugan, Asia-Pacific Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, explained that the roadmap focuses on three pillars: building resilient communities, engaging in prophetic advocacy, and strengthening local organizations. Supporting this vision, Yeb Sano, founder of the movement and former Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, urged delegates to decentralize leadership and anchor their work in small parish-based groups, embodying true synodality.
In a video address, Bishop Allwyn d’Silva, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Mumbai and Chairperson of the Office for Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC-OHD), stressed that ecological degradation cannot be separated from social justice. He called for stronger institutional partnerships between the FABC and environmental animators to expand grassroots initiatives across the continent.
Tailoring their approaches to distinct local political and social realities, delegates from five Asia-Pacific nations presented their concrete strategies for ecological action: the Philippine movement prioritizes youth engagement through the "Laudato Si’ Generation" and parish "Walk for Earth" events; Myanmar integrates integral ecology into its national bishops' socio-pastoral framework while providing direct aid to internally displaced persons amid domestic conflict; South Korea champions climate justice through protest Masses against coal plants and international campaigns tied to World Youth Day Seoul 2027; Timor-Leste collaborates with youth, government agencies, and the United Nations to develop emerging environmental leaders; and Indonesia expands parish-based community circles across seven dioceses in partnership with national episcopal commissions.
The retreat concluded at the 5.8-hectare SVD Laudato Si’ Farm in Tagaytay. Reframing ecological action as a fundamental calling of faith, Indonesian coordinator Lilik Krismantoro emphasized to Radio Veritas Asia that caring for the Earth requires a complete lifestyle transformation rooted in fraternity and shared responsibility
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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