Faithful urged to switch off lights on Saturday night

The Archdiocese of Manila on Thursday urged its parishes and their residents to switch off their lights on Saturday night in observance of Earth Hour.

Fr. Reginald Malicdem, chancellor of the archdiocese, said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Manila archbishop, was appealing to all parishes under his jurisdiction to take part in Earth Hour.

Earth Hour will be observed from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, during which people are encouraged to switch off their lights to help reduce the production of harmful carbon monoxide.

Church-run Radio Veritas will participate by switching off its lights for one hour and by holding a special program, “Ang Banal na Oras (The Holy Hour),” with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

 

‘Laudato Si’

 

Fr. Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas president, appealed to the faithful to help protect the environment by supporting the initiative.

“We are also encouraging the public not just to participate but to be aware of the effects of climate change on biodiversity. Let us take this as an opportunity to promote the habit of conserving and utilizing our natural resources,” Pascual said.

Radio Veritas, which is owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Manila, has been taking part in the worldwide Earth Hour movement since 2009.

The special program, which Radio Veritas will air from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, will discuss the history of the Earth Hour movement, and Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on environmental protection, “Laudato Si (Praise Be to You).”

The encyclical seeks to raise awareness of the environmental predicament of Earth—humankind’s common home—and deepen people’s understanding of the urgency to take action.

The encyclical also aims to provide meaningful reflections to guide the faithful to ecological conversion. —JULIE M. AURELIO

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