A Catholic bishop appealed for more “missionaries of creation” who will continue to advocate for environment protection.

Bishop Daniel Presto of San Fernando de La Union said the country needs more voices “to care for the earth” and towards a better future.

“[We need] voices that will reach including our government leaders to support initiatives to address the climate emergency,” he said.

The prelate made the statement in his message for the ongoing Season of Creation that started on Sept. 1 and will end on October 4.

He invited the people to use the celebration as an opportune time to reflect on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and the Philippine bishops’ pastoral letters on the environment.

The bishops have been issuing a series of pastoral exhortations on the care of creation over the last three decades.

“Let this season of creation urge us to do some actions… and become missionaries for creation,” Bishop Presto added.

For his part, Bishop Severo Caermare of Dipolog also called on the people to reaffirm their personal vocation to be “stewards of creation”.

The Season of Creation, according to him, is also a special time “to pray and act as one”.

“Caring for creation honors the creator,” Bishop Caermare said.

“We are invited to protect the vulnerable people and our common home,” he said.