A diocese in the Philippines has been cited by the Vatican for being the first to switch to renewable energy in the whole Catholic Church.
The Vatican in a document said the Diocese of Maasin in Southern Leyte province has become “the first diocese in the world to equip all parishes with solar panels.”
According to CBCP News, this was mentioned in the book “Journeying Towards Care for our Common Home: Five Years After Laudato Sì”, released on June 18, for the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato sì.
It was in 2018 when the Diocese of Maasin allowed the wide-scale installation of solar panels in its 42 parishes with the help of WeGen, a next generation energy-tech business, as its supplier of technology and manpower.
The Vatican also cited the renewable energy advocacy of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on the Laity.
The lay apostolate body has also partnered with WeGen to encourage the use of solar energy in church institutions and communities.
“In this project, they also promote information and communication campaigns to spread the teachings of Pope Francis and the Laudato si,” the document said.
Drafted by the “Holy See Interdicastery Table on Integral Ecology”, the book was created in 2015 to evaluate ways to best promote and implement integral ecology.
The book also aims to guide Catholics on how to bring out concrete ecological actions.
Source: news.mb.com.ph
