cluster 8 schools gather for the culmination of the season of creation

Rev. Fr. John Leydon reminds the terror of climate change by describing the effects as “Hindi bigla, hindi traumatic, pero unti-unti, nawawala tayo.” (Not sudden, not traumatic, but we are gradually disappearing.)

Written by: Andrew Natividad

Layout by: Aurora Isabel Madali

October 8, 2022 | 2:20 P.M.

The Cluster 8 Schools joined together on the First Friday Mass in celebration of the feast of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary and the Culmination of the Season of Creation last October 7, 2022, via Facebook Livestream. The mass was presided over by Rev. Fr. John Leydon. 

He reminded the students to take care of the planet by saying, “Kaya napakahalaga yung panahon ng paglikha, lalo na para sa henerasyon ninyo, sapagkat aabutan ninyo na yung krisis ay talagang magiging matindi” (That is why the season of creation is very important, especially for your generation, so you will realize that the crisis will really be intense.)

Fr. Leydon also mentioned, “Hindi natin nabatid na ito [relationship with others] ay sagrado, kaya ang pagtrato natin sa ating mga kapatid ay grabe” (We do not realize that it is sacred, so we treat our brothers and sisters very badly), pointing out that people’s selfishness can harm the surroundings. 

The presider also talked about the effects of climate change compared to the extinction of the dinosaurs with telling, “May nagaganap sa kasalukuyang panahon na kasing grabe sa nangyari sa mga dinosaurs. Hindi bigla, hindi traumatic, pero unti-unti, nawawala tayo.” (Something is happening in the present that is as bad as what happened to the dinosaurs. Not sudden, not traumatic, but we are gradually disappearing.)

Fr. Leydon talked about humans’ carelessness and ignorance towards God’s creation and stated, “Parang ganyan [autistic] tayo sa harap ng lahat ng nilikha ng Diyos, at kailangan gumising tayo.” (It is like we are ‘that’ in front of all God's creation, and we need to wake up.)

Fr. Leydon reminded the power and love of God by expressing, “Huwag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ang Diyos ay nagmamahal sa atin. Ang Diyos ay nagmamahal sa kanyang nilikha at hindi siya natutulog.” (Let us not lose hope. God loves us. God loves His creation and He never sleeps.)

Rev. Fr. John Leydon ended his homily by telling, “Sa ating honoring ng mga bagay na ito (the different elements that comprise God’s creations), binibigyan nating dangal ang lahat ng may buhay, pati tayo.” (With honoring these things, we honor all living things, including us.)

The celebration of the Season of Creation began in the first week of September by assigning performance-based tasks to students and ended with the attending of this holy mass.