Malaysian basilica’s recycling program to mark silver anniversary

A church in Malaysia is set to celebrate 25 years of its recycling program next year.

The Minor Basilica of Saint Anne in Bukit Mertajam looks forward to marking the silver anniversary of its project, which showcases its commitment to environmental stewardship and has become a model of sustainability and community engagement in the region.

According to Vincent Young, head of the parish’s Creation Justice Ministry (CJM), the recycling program involves putting parish groups and ministries on monthly recycling duty.

At the end of each month, a designated contractor collects recyclables and issues receipts, and the generated funds are deposited into the minor basilica’s account.

In January 2024, the recycling program earned RM1500 from the proceeds. We used this to enhance the support for ministry activities and senior citizen organizations and to finance community celebrations and welfare initiatives.

The Saint Anne Recycling Management Committee, in collaboration with the CJM, holds annual meetings to plan the program’s recycling schedule and educate parishioners about the best recycling practices.

Young calls on other parish communities to follow their example and emphasize the spiritual significance of caring for creation.

Parishioner Donat Anthony Theseira and his wife Mylene spearheaded a collection drive in their neighborhood of Taman Bukit Indah in 1996 for the Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital in Penang, which inspired the recycling program of the Minor Basilica of Saint Anne.

The parish adopted the same approach in 2000 to reduce waste and raise money for Church ministries.

Since its inception, the recycling program has drawn volunteers of all ages, overseeing sorting efforts and the proper processing of recyclables. - Luke Godoy