Columban Fr Kurt Zion Pala promoting Laudato Si' at Naushawng College. - Photo: Fr Kurt Zion Pala SSC
Through his encyclical Laudato Si’ (Praise be to you), Pope Francis continues to inspire and move the Church to care for our common home. In the Diocese of Myitkyina, the journey of ecological conversion is taking new forms through listening, formation, dialogue, and collaboration.
For me, promoting Laudato Si’ is not only about protecting the environment. It is about renewing our relationship with God, with one another and with all creation.
ACCOMPANYING COMMUNITIES THROUGH LISTENING AND DISCERNMENT
One meaningful experience recently has been my accompanying the La Salette Sisters on their retreat. At it, I introduced Conversation in the Spirit (CIS), a practice that encourages prayerful listening, sharing, and communal discernment. It reminds us that ecological conversion begins with learning to listen - to God, to the cry of the Earth, and to the cry of the poor, which is the very invitation of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’.
FORMING FUTURE PASTORAL LEADERS THROUGH INTEGRAL ECOLOGY
I also introduced CIS to students of the Diploma in Socio-Pastoral Studies as they reflected on integral ecology and their responsibility towards creation. Together with Roger Barelli of the Fondacio movement, I helped facilitate a five-day online class on integral ecology as part of the diploma program. Students comprise priests, religious sisters, and lay people - future pastoral leaders who can bring this environmental awareness to their communities. The diploma, which is offered by St Joseph’s National Catholic Major Seminary in Yangon, now has its fourth batch of students. We hope to revive the Laudato Si' Movement–Myanmar with the help of these students.
Together with the Columban Mission Office team, composed of Columban lay missionary Michael Javier and Philip, we share about Laudato Si’ and integral ecology with catechist-students at St Luke’s Pastoral College in Myitkyina using the See-Judge-Act method. We also reach out to different groups in the diocese through the Columban Mission Office to promote our mission priorities.
BRINGING LAUDATO SI’ SPIRITUALITY TO LOCAL PRIESTS
Another important area has been to share Laudato Si’ spirituality with priests. At the monthly priests’ meetings, I present the importance of ecological conversion and invite the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission to share its work.
One priest asked, “When will Laudato Si’ be completed?” This question reflects a misunderstanding that Laudato Si’ is only a project. It is much more than a project - it is a lifelong journey of conversion, both personal and communal.
COLLABORATION WITH THE JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION AND OTHERS
The collaboration with the Justice and Peace Commission is also growing as we work towards developing a Diocesan Integral Ecology Framework. Caring for creation is deeply connected with justice, peace and human dignity. I also joined a multi-stakeholder workshop organised by the Kachin Resources Concern Group on responsible mining and the impact of rare earth mineral extraction on the people and land of Kachin. Engaging other faith groups, like Baptists and other religions, is a growing need if we truly want to address the environmental crisis.
INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND DIALOGUE OF ACTION
Young people continue to be an important part of this mission. During World Environment Day 2026 at Naushawng College, I spoke of bees as a model for young people - working together, serving the community, and protecting creation. I also introduced integral ecology using the See-Judge-Act framework during the Diocesan Youth Conference, where around 300 young people gathered from different parishes.
A new youth initiative called BEES (Better Environment through Education and Service) was also formed, bringing together young people from different faith communities for clean-up and tree-growing activities. This shows that caring for creation can be a bridge between people, creating unity. The new movement consists of members of the Myitkyina Council of Churches (Christians) and the Interfaith Youth Network Myitkyina.
Through these experiences, I continue to learn three important lessons. First, ecological conversion begins with listening. We need open hearts to hear God’s voice and respond to the needs of our common home and the poor.
Second, Laudato Si’ is about integral human development. It connects care for the Earth with faith, justice, peace, and the dignity of every person. And lastly, collaboration strengthens the mission. Caring for creation cannot be done by one person or one group alone. Sisters, priests, students, young people, commissions, and communities all have a role to play.
As we continue this journey in the Diocese of Myitkyina, the challenge is to remain open to new ways of promoting Laudato Si’, not only among Catholics but also reaching out to other faith groups, trusting that every encounter can become an opportunity for transformation.
Together, we can recognise creation as God’s gift and commit ourselves to protecting our common home.
Columban Fr Kurt Zion Pala lives and works in Myanmar
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - August 2026
