Marian pilgrimage in Flores inspires care for creation
The Diocese of Labuan Bajo in Indonesia has launched a Marian pilgrimage that integrates religious devotion with ecological responsibility. The event, inspired by Pope Francis's 'Laudato Si', includes beach clean-ups and tree planting to promote environmental stewardship.
Why it matters
This demonstrates the intersection of religious practice and environmental activism in local communities, emphasizing interreligious harmony.
By Fr. Kasmir Nema, SVD - Labuan Bajo, Indonesia A Marian pilgrimage crossing the hills and villages of Indonesia's Flores Island is inviting Catholics to deepen not only their devotion to the Virgin Mary but also their commitment to caring for creation. Bishop Maksimus Regus of Labuan Bajo on July 10 inaugurated the Great Procession of Maria Assumpta Nusantara at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lengkong Cepang, launching a weeks-long journey of the statue of Our Lady of the Assumption through dozens of parishes before the annual Golo Koe Festival reaches its climax in August. This year's pilgrimage carries a distinctive message. Under the theme "Communal Pilgrimage in Synergistic Communion to Care for the Integrity of Creation," the Diocese of Labuan Bajo is linking Marian devotion with ecological responsibility, echoing Pope Francis' call in Laudato Si' for an ecological conversion rooted in faith.
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