Season of Creation: Christians plant trees planted in Mumbai
Led by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, the initiative at Holy Name High School in Colaba is linked to the Prime Minister Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign to honour mothers and promote care for the environment. For Card Gracias, it is important to “encourage our youth and everybody else also to be conscious of the need to care for creation”.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Catholics gathered yesterday at the Holy Name High School in Mumbai’s Colaba District to plant trees and hand out saplings. Card Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, was present at the event.
The school, which has taught thousands of students without distinction of caste, creed, or position since 1939, held this event as part of the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" (A Tree for Mother) initiative, which involves planting trees to pay tribute to mothers and mother earth.
“We are happy that we planted saplings today, a symbol of our continued commitment to care for the earth, to care for nature, to think of future generations,” Card Oswald Gracias said. “This, I hope, is a movement we begin here. We will go to all the people and to the whole world.”
The Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) organised the event as part of the Prayer for the Care of Creation, held during the Season of Creation, whose theme this year is “Hope and Act with Creation”, which runs from 1 September to 4 October, an annual worldwide event for Catholics to hear the cry of the Earth.
It is also connected to the Sewa Pakhwada, which runs from 17 September to 2 October, a series of initiatives celebrating the 74th birthday of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the anniversary of Gandhi's birth.
“As a part of Sewa Pakhwada 2024, we have a program to encourage our youth and everybody else to be conscious of the need to care for creation and make sure that the resources of the earth are wisely used, thinking of others and thinking of future generations,” Card Gracias explained. “I am happy that the government of India has taken this initiative.”
On 5 June, World Environment Day, Modi launched the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign by planting a fig tree at Delhi’s Buddha Jayanti Park. He also called on all Indians to contribute to improving the planet, noting how much the country has made considerable collective efforts in the last decade by increasing the forest cover across its territory.
“Our mothers, our parents have taught us about responsibilities, about ethics, about concerns for others, and these values have to be shown in our lives,” said the Archbishop of Bombay, to stress the meaning of the initiative. “I'm personally happy that I could do something for my mother, and I'm sure everybody else would feel the same also.”
“Mother cared for me,” the prelate added, “and I care for future generations. I think the whole world is becoming smaller and smaller, and should become one family – greater peace, understanding, and helping one another are extremely important.”
For the cardinal, this must take into account diversity, especially in a country as varied as India. “Our greatness lies in our diversity – people, cultures, languages, and religions. I believe no other country has the richness that we have. It's a challenge for every leadership,” he said.
“Inclusivity is very important. It is very important to include everybody in every programme – every religion, every language, every culture. There should be no single person who feels excluded from any project, not only as a beneficiary, but also as an active participant.”
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31/07/2023 16:54
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