Eucharistic Adoration during the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sep 1 at Sacred Heart Cathedral
By Catherine Engsun
Sep 10 2021
KOTA KINABALU – Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish (SHCP) dedicated the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sep 1 with a Eucharistic Adoration and Vespers broadcasted live on SHC Facebook.
The event which was also to launch the Season of Creation celebrated globally from Sep 1 to Oct 4 was celebrated by Parish priest, Fr Paul Lo and attended by members of the SHC Creation Justice Ministry.
Fr Lo in his homily said that we are all responsible to focus on God’s creation, the Earth which is a common home for all of us especially now that we are in this pandemic and are all under the threat of the virus.
This is why the SHC Creation Justice Ministry was set up as part of the body of the Church to care for the environment he said.
He reiterated that it is our common mission to care for God’s creation. In the Book of Genesis, God created all things, good and beautiful and we all belong to God. He commanded us to take care and be stewards over the earth and His creation; to love and appreciate the creation and environment.
Last year, Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish together with the other dioceses in Sabah took part in a common mission by observing Earth Hour monthly. This is in line with protecting nature not only to combat the climate crisis, but also to ensure our own health, happiness, prosperity and even survival.
In this year’s Season of Creation, the Church focuses on the reduction of meat intake and encourages us to live a simple lifestyle, just like Jesus Christ in the Gospel. He has made the Creation available for us.
It is also his hope that with the Vespers and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, it is an opportunity for all to pray together with the Church. During the silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we can immerse ourselves in our God, the Creator thus stirring in us the need to pray always for the Creation.
“Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish continues to support the green programme of our Malaysia Dioceses alongside with the Archdiocesan Creation Justice Commission presently led by Fr Russell Lawrine as the Spiritual Adviser,” said Fr Paul.
The cathedral will be holding a closing Thanksgiving Mass to end the Season of Creation on Oct 4, which is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Ecology.