AMECEA: Care for Creation is Communal and individual Responsibility, AMECEA’s PIHD Coordinator
Fr. Paul Munga’thia Igweta
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Days after the month-long Season of Creation which concluded on Friday, October 4, the commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi the patron saint of ecology in the Catholic Church, the coordinator for Promoting Integral Human Development (PIHD) at the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has reminded the people of God that is both an individual role and a collective responsibility as well.
In his statement Fr. Paul Munga’thia Igweta noted that Ecological preservation is a moral imperative for individuals and communities, a duty that aligns human hope with the hope embedded in the natural world.
According to Fr. Igweta, the holistic understanding of this call emphasizes that “addressing climate change and environmental degradation is part of a larger spiritual and ethical responsibility.”
He reflected on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 8:23) noting that the concept of “first fruits” of the Spirit in the Scriptures, “symbolizes the initial signs of the redemption to come and highlights that while we experience the hope of salvation now, we also anticipate a greater future fulfillment.”
With this concept, he said, Christians can be inspired to respond actively to the care of creation by being “Stewards of the earth, advocates who support initiatives that promote renewable energy and conservation, change their lifestyles by reducing plastic use, conserving water, and choosing sustainable products that can exemplify a commitment to creation care.”
Additionally, he continued, “Christians can embody the anticipation of redemption, by contributing to the healing and restoration of the world.”
The Kenyan cleric narrated in his message that when Christians and non-Christians alike integrate environmental actions into their mission, “the Church can be a powerful advocate for creation care and environmental justice, embodying hope while actively working toward a more just and sustainable world.”
Speaking to this year’s theme for the season of creation ‘Hope and Act with Creation,’ Fr. Igweta stressed that Pope Francis in his encyclical letter Laudato Si’ and Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum called humanity, “To a deeper commitment to ecological conversion, a transformation of heart that leads us to live in harmony with the earth and all its inhabitants.”
The Season of Creation is an opportunity to continue bringing the spirit of Laudato Si’ to life and strongly encourage active participation in the journey of faith and action.
