Eco Diocese

Ecological Diocese Protocols

All Malaysian Arch/Bishops have made a pledge to transform their respective dioceses into Ecological Dioceses according to these Ecological Diocese Protocols which will be implemented and monitored by the respective diocesan Creation Justice Commissions.

Ecological Parish Transformation - How this toolkit can help you

One of the elements of being an ecological diocese is that all parishes move towards becoming ECOLOGICAL PARISHES (see the protocols here). This transformation can be initiated by establishing a Creation Justice Ministry (CJM) in every parish. Please contact your diocesan CJC to support you in your ecological transformation journey.

5 simple steps to begin your ecological transformation process

1. Announce the initiation of your parish’s ecological transformation to all the laity. Set up and enable your CJM as soon as possible. Get support from your diocesan CJC. Use flyers or slide presentations to introduce the CJM to your parishioners.

2. Introduce Pope Francis’ encyclical letter entitled: “Laudato Si’ mi Signore” on Care for Our Common Home. Play the video before or at the end of mass. Videos on Laudato Si’ are available in the “encyclical” folder. There are workbooks to introduce Laudato Si’ to the young people too.

3. To nurture a strong ECOLOGICAL SPIRITUALITY among the faithful

• Incorporate a petition or more for creation in the Prayer of the Faithful. Choose 1 or 2 from the lists in the “prayers of the faithful” folder for every mass or as frequently as possible. 
• Encourage your parishioners to pray for and with creation at home or in community eg Laudato Si’ Chaplets, Way of the Cross and other prayers for creation.
  

 4.To promote ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS & EDUCATION

• Print and hang these  banners. 
• Get people to sign a pledge or make a personal commitment.
• Circulate short messages on climate action and the impacts of climate on health via WhatsApp, your church bulletin or a notice board in a Creation Corner section.
• Promote ecological living skills via videos and links or organize workshops and seminars on climate action and climate-related topics.
• Play a climate-related video or read a reflection paper in physical or online small group sessions such as BEC/cell group gathering and get people to talk about it. 
• Organize climate action events or prayer meetings. For example, celebrate Laudato Si’ Week and the Season of Creation (1 Sep to 4 Oct) or other environment-related World Days. Here are some examples of event flyers.

5. Support and follow the 5-year (2020 - 2025) Protect Our Earth, Protect Our Children (PROTEC) Campaign and other events organized by the Episcopal Commission for Creation Justice of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei, your diocesan Creation Justice Commission or other groups.

The role of Creation Justice Ministry (CJM) is to assist the Parish Priest in moving the parish towards becoming an ecological parish. It will seek do the following.

• Implement all the protocols of the Ecological Parish in collaboration with all ministries and parishioners.
• Highlight ecological issues of concern to the parishioners such as climate change, building resilience to climate impacts, creation justice, energy use, pollution, etc.
• Propose and oversee the implementation of projects and activities approved by the Parish Council.
• Review and report project results to the Parish Council and parishioners
• Implement and support activities initiated by the regional or diocesan Creation Justice Commission.
  

Notes:

A toolkit with all the above resources is available here.

All the above resources will be updated from time to time. 

This version of the toolkit dated 18 Aug 2023 is compiled by Dr Maria Lee and you may contact the Creation Justice Commission of Malacca Johore Diocese creationjustice@mjdiocese.my  for any clarification.

Please note that the contents of this toolkit have been contributed by the ECCJ-MSB and the CJCs of the arch/dioceses of Malaysia.