Scholastics from Arrupe International Residence in Manila go for a forest walk in Bendum during a Reconciliation with Creation workshop in January

The movement for climate action has seen tremendous growth in the last couple of years. While climate change strikes and rallies are grabbing headlines, the forthcoming Laudato si’ Spirituality for Action workshop offers an approach to deepen our current actions as we pursue climate justice: using spiritual conversations and discernment.

From August 6 to 8, young people and emerging leaders from Asia Pacific will gather in the mountains of Bendum, Philippines for three days of exploring ways of how they can live Laudato si’ in their Jesuit ministries. Registration for the workshop is still open and interested individuals are invited to send the completed registration form to ecojcap@gmail.com.

“This workshop is an effort to deepen our apostolic work through the Universal Apostolic Preferences”, said Sylvia Miclat, Coordinator for the Reconciliation with Creation programme of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.

The Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) are a mission received from the Holy Father. They are the fruit of an attempt “to find the best way to collaborate in the Lord’s mission” for the Society of Jesus in the next 10 years.

Using the UAPs as the basis for deeper collaboration, the workshop will use spiritual conversations and discernment as a means not just for tackling concerns on sustainability and ecology but more broadly for effective planning and implementation. Through the workshop, the Reconciliation with Creation team hopes to form communities of discernment.

“We hope that by coming together, we are further strengthened in our discernment in going deeper into the suffering of the world and in addressing the root problems in collaboration with others”, said Miclat.

Australian participant Alma Gatica, 34, says that the workshop is “a wonderful opportunity to learn and reflect on Laudato si’, and to participate in the dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet”.

Many young people are voicing their concerns, including demanding that governments take meaningful steps to address the global climate emergency.

“I want to be a part of a structured, careful, radical change”, said 30-year-old Josh Lourensz, a participant from Melbourne. “So that we, together, can make a society where it is easier to be good.”

Know more about the Laudato si’ Spirituality for Action workshop here.