In line with the call of the Church and World to take care of our wounded planet FCJ Sisters in Yogyakarta have begun to offer recollection days to children
and young people. Sr Agnes fcJ writes about it.
Since August to October 2025, Sr. Meita, fcJ and I collaborated with Catholic schools in the Yogyakarta area to introduce Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’ to students and educational staff. In August, we gave a recollection to 252 students from Canisius Kalasan Junior High School, consisting of 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. In the middle of September, we also gave a recollection to 21 teachers and staff of that school. In October, we were asked to give recollections to 58 students from Pangudi Luhur Boro Primary School, 75 students from Canisius Bantul Primary School, and 115 students from Canisius Kadirojo Primary School.
On the 8th October 2025, we presented Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si to a further 58 students from Pangudi Luhur Boro Primary School in Yogyakarta. In the letter, Pope Francis invites all people of good will to join in caring for our common home. He states that the earth is God’s gift to us, it is increasingly damaged by human actions and he reminds us that we are responsible for taking care of it.
This recollection was held in a hall near the school. One of the outdoor activities carried out by the students was observing the surrounding environment.
Using magnifying glasses they observed trees, flowers, leaves, cacti, grass, rocks, soil and insects. They paused for a moment to really pay attention to the
other creatures of God in detail. This activity created a sense of awe and gratitude in them. Until this point in time, they had not paid much attention to the
environment around them.
As a real action to take part in caring for the earth, we worked together to turn household organic waste into a useful product called eco enzyme. Eco enzyme is a mixture of fruit peel, molasses and water. It is fermented for three months and is very useful as an a organic fertilizer that nourishes the soil and plants, helps clean water quality, it can be used as a hand sanitizer, to clean vegetables and fruits from pesticide, as floor cleaning liquid, and even for treating wounds as a substitute for betadine. Eco enzyme is also used as one of the basic ingredients for making environmentally friendly bath soap and laundry soap.
We hope the Laudato Si Recollections will raise the awareness of young generations and encourage them to take care of the earth, our Common Home.
