The Good Samaritan Outreach Center in Bacolod, the Philippines, has celebrated Laudato Si’ Month with a host of activities designed to engage the local community in creative, fun and hands-on ways to care for ‘Our Common Home’.

By Debra Vermeer

The highlight of the events held throughout the month of May, was a competition to see who could create the best piece of art using only recycled materials.

The Outreach Center is a ministry working with poor families by providing skills development, values and spiritual formation, economic and social enhancement, educational assistance and nutrition. The Center also runs an environmental awareness program, empowering the local people to take action in their own community,

Good Samaritan Sister Anne Dixon, the Director of the Outreach Center, said the celebration of Laudato Si’ Month, an initiative born from Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, On Care for Our Common Home, was an important time in the annual calendar of events.

“We take very seriously our Congregation’s Statement of Directions call to ecological conversion which impels,” she said. “I love the word impels because to me it is about urging and motivating others into action.

“Even though we strive every day at the Outreach Center to live our commitment to ecological conversion, it is imperative to dedicate the month of May to really zone in on this commitment, to remind and re-energise us all about the necessity and indeed the urgency to be proactive in our care for our Earth.”

Photo: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

Anne said the effects of climate change are all too clear for the people of Bacolod, and the Philippines in general, who are experiencing increasingly severe weather events and natural disasters on a more regular basis. Earlier this month, the Mindanao region of the southern Philippines was hit by a large and deadly earthquake.

“For the past 15 years, the Philippines has been on top of the ladder for the country that experiences the most natural disasters,” she said.

“Typhoons, floods and fires very regularly affect some part of the Philippines, leaving death and destruction in their wake. It is the poor who are the usual victims of these calamities.

“It is important that we at the Outreach Center continue to advocate for and educate our neighbours.”

With Good Samaritan Sister Grace Marcelo the driving force behind the Center’s environmental program, this year’s Laudato Si’ Month activities had four key components, beginning with the art competition.

“This was the initiative of our six social work interns from the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos,” Anne said.

“Six groups of eight participants had the month of May to create their masterpieces.”

In the meantime, other activities were taking place, including a seminar in the first week of May at the Center’s new Business Hub, entitled ‘Proper Waste Management’.

“This may seem like a simple topic – but for us, it is something we have to revise and remind people of over and over again,” Anne said.

Photo credit: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

“In the second week, we invited the community to spend time with nature. Our local eco park, which we lovingly manage, was brutally damaged during Typhoon Tino last year and is still being repaired.

“Many trees and big branches were destroyed, and our beautiful labyrinth has been out of action for many months.

“But slowly, we are seeing the resurrection of new growth so those who joined us took part in a prayerful Lectio with Nature.”

The third week saw the repair and rejuvenation of the children’s playground in the park.

The activities culminated in the final week of May, with the judging of the eco art competition.

The judging panel consisted of the Good Samaritan Kinder School Principal, Marites Samillano-Lagrito, and Finance Officer Cindy Librado, along with Good Samaritan Sister Donna Belle Ferrer.

“None of the judges knew which creation belonged to which group, but they had sensed that there was a great enthusiasm and competitive spirit abounding among the six teams,” Anne said.

The creative efforts included cushioned chairs, benches, tables, hanging baskets, bookshelves, dustpans and tool containers, all made from recycled products.

Photo credit: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

The social work interns who coordinated the event said it had a big impact on them.

One intern, named Happy, said that Laudato Si’ was an unfamiliar term to her, so it was her first time listening, attending and even organising activities for the celebration.

“It was quite an experience, and a step for me to continue advocating for the preservation of our environment,” Happy said. “It was a plea to care for the nature that was beautifully created by our Creator God.”

Another intern, Rohanie, said that helping to coordinate the activity enabled her to see what could be done when people worked together for a shared purpose.

“Laudato Si’ was a great opportunity because we got to see and experience what a community is capable of if there is a sense of unity and awareness when it comes to our environment,” she said.

Graciela said that as it was her first time being involved with Laudato Si’ actions, she found it to be a great opportunity to learn about facilitating activities.

“I learned to value the environment more and I learned that we can make changes by starting small, beginning with ourselves,” she said.

Photo credit: Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

James described the Laudato Si’ Month activities as “very meaningful” for him as part of his social work studies and work experience. “It helps me to see the importance, value and beauty of our environment,” he said.

Carlo agreed that it was a positive experience during his internship. “It widens my knowledge about how to take care of the environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Loremah said the activities reinforced her commitment to promoting sustainable practices and fostering environmental awareness.

“As a social work intern, participating in the Laudato Si’ experiences through meaningful prayer with the scholars’ parents, seminars on Zero Waste for a Better Future, and an arts competition to emphasise the different ideas, deepened my understanding of ecological justice as integral to human dignity and community wellbeing,” she said.

Anne said the all interns had completed their 500 hours of work experience and would graduate this month.

The ministries of the Sisters are supported by the Good Sams Foundation. Donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia and can be made via the website.

This article was published in the June 2026 edition of The Good Oil.