A Catholic archdiocese in Indonesia called for “ecological repentance” during a conference in Palembang, South Sumatra province, on October 16.
Aside from boosting economic growth, ecological repentance is important in fixing ecology, “which is in danger because greedy people cut down trees and pollute the air.”
Father Bonifasius Djuana, head of the Indonesian Socio-Economic Development Commission of the Archdiocese of Palembang, said changing to a more “environmentally friendly way of living” can help the economy grow, “get better, heal the planet, and feed the people.”
He said that with “ecological conversation” food and land and be managed “to improve people’s lives.”
About 100 Catholics from different groups in the archdiocese attended the conference that was held to mark World Food Day.
Father Djuana said that through the event people become aware of inequality and “develop sustainably.”
The island of Sumatra, where the Archdiocese of Palembang is located, has two smaller dioceses — Tanjung Karang Diocese and Pangkal Pinang Diocese.
The Palembang Archdiocese comprises three provinces: South Sumatra, Bengkulu, and Jambi. It has 27 parishes, two pastoral units, and one quasi-parish. In 2019, there were 80,070 Catholics in the Palembang archdiocese. – Kasmir Nema
