Smoke haze from wildfires in Indonesia forced schools across Timor-Leste to close for three days in October, a young Catholic representative told environmental leaders from across Asia-Pacific.
Isaura Barros, 24, a member of the executive board of the Laudato Si’ Movement in Timor-Leste, said the government suspended classes nationwide from October 15 to 17 because of poor air quality.
Barros shared the experience during the movement’s Asia-Pacific chapters retreat, which took place from October 24 to 27 at the CBCP-Caritas Philippines Development Center in Tagaytay City, south of Manila.
Seventeen delegates from Myanmar, South Korea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia and the Philippines attended the gathering, according to Radio Veritas Asia.
Catholic Environmental Network Reviews Its Regional Work
The Laudato Si’ Movement is a Catholic network established in 2015 and named after Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for creation.
The organisation says it has more than 8,000 trained volunteers, known as animators, and almost 900 member organisations working on environmental issues.
During the retreat, participants discussed the ecological challenges facing their countries and considered ways to strengthen cooperation across the region.
Asian Bishop Highlights Environmental Challenges
Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Bombay, India, addressed the delegates through a video message.
D’Silva, who chairs the Office of Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, referred to the effects of heat waves, flash floods and unpredictable cold spells across Asia.
He thanked grassroots animators for their work and highlighted the movement’s contribution to raising awareness about environmental protection.
“We all know that there is an ecological crisis in Asia, as well as in the world. The Laudato Si’ movement has played a very important part in making people aware and care for creation, to take care of their common home,” he said.
He added that collaboration and networking would be important to the movement’s future work.
Executive Director Calls for Community-Wide Ecological Conversion
Lorna Gold, the movement’s executive director, also joined the retreat through a video message from Ireland.
Gold recalled the story of St. Francis of Assisi praying before the crucifix in the ruined church of San Damiano, where he heard the words, “Go and repair my house.”
She said ecological conversion should involve entire communities rather than remain an individual commitment.
Movement Presents Strategic Road Map Through 2030
The movement’s Asia-Pacific director, Cheryl Dugan, and associate director, Christina Leaño, presented a global strategic road map covering 2027 to 2030. The plan is intended to support the organisation’s longer-term Vision 2035.
According to the presenters, the strategy followed an 18-month process of listening to grassroots communities.
Ecological conversion is at the centre of the plan, represented by the ichthys, an early Christian fish symbol.
The strategy identifies three main areas of work: eco-spirituality, sustainable and resilient communities, and prophetic advocacy. A fourth area, organisational strengthening, is intended to support the other three.
Eco-spirituality will involve catechesis, liturgy and faith formation. The sustainable communities pillar focuses on building resilience, while prophetic advocacy includes campaigning for fair public policies and an end to investment in fossil fuels.
Yeb Saño, a Filipino climate activist who chairs the movement’s board, encouraged delegates to decentralise leadership and strengthen participation across national chapters.
Saño led Greenpeace Southeast Asia from 2016 to 2025 and previously served as the Philippines’ chief climate negotiator at the United Nations.
National Chapters Outline Their Environmental Activities
Delegates also presented work taking place in the five participating countries, outlining the different approaches adopted by their national chapters.
In the Philippines, the movement organises an annual Walk for Earth and runs its Deep Journey to Laudato Si’ programmes. It also works with the bishops’ conference’s Laudato Si’ programme and is seeking to involve more young people.
In Myanmar, the chapter operates amid ongoing political and humanitarian conflict. Based mainly around Yangon, it helped incorporate care for creation into the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar’s socio-pastoral framework for 2026–2030.
The chapter also runs the BEES Network, which provides interfaith environmental education for young people and supports people displaced by the conflict.
South Korea Chapter Campaigns for Climate Action
In South Korea, the movement has organised Friday climate actions at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square since 2020.
Its activities have included ecological Stations of the Cross and protests against the Samcheok coal-fired power plant.
Ahead of World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027, the chapter is urging the country’s bishops and dioceses to work towards making Catholic parishes carbon-neutral.
Timor-Leste Chapter Expands Its National Reach
The Timor-Leste chapter developed from a youth group for people aged between 16 and 18 that was established by Dircia Sarmento.
It now has legal status and works with United Nations agencies and government institutions.
The organisation also helps coordinate the country’s Local Conference of Youth and extends its activities to remote districts across Timor-Leste.
Indonesia Organises Seven Diocesan Chapters
In Indonesia, the movement is known by the initials GLSI and operates through seven diocesan chapters, as well as activities in schools and religious communities.
It has established Laudato Si’ centres in partnership with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Working with partners in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, the movement also organises mangrove planting, trains parishes in composting and runs courses for environmental animators.
Youth Participation and Stronger Regional Coordination Prioritised
At the end of the retreat, delegates identified two priorities for the Asia-Pacific region.
They agreed to expand opportunities for young people to take part in the movement’s activities, particularly ahead of World Youth Day, and to strengthen national chapters and the Asia-Pacific secretariat.
Retreat Concludes With Visit to Laudato Si’ Farm
The gathering concluded with a visit to the SVD Laudato Si’ Farm in Tagaytay.
The 5.8-hectare site is operated by the Society of the Divine Word and serves as an environmental education centre, pilgrimage destination and ecotourism location.
Father Samuel “Sam” Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, established the farm in 2020.
Delegates at the retreat represented different generations, ranging from baby boomers to Generation Z.
The meeting concluded with a passage from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: “May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.”
