Christian community planted trees in Mumbai

Led by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, the initiative at Holy Name High School in Colaba is in line with the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign proposed by Prime Minister Modi to honour mothers and promote care for the environment. Card. Gracias: “We encourage our youth and everyone to be conscious of the need to care for Creation.”

Mumbai () – Accompanied by Card. Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai, the Catholic community gathered yesterday to plant trees at the Holy Name High School in the Colaba district, which has educated thousands of students “without distinction of caste, creed or position” since 1939. The activity is part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, which consists of planting trees to pay tribute to mothers and Mother Earth.

“We are happy to have planted some trees today, a symbol of our ongoing commitment to caring for the Earth, for nature, and for future generations,” said Cardinal Oswald Gracias. “I hope that this movement we started here will spread to all people and to the entire world.”

Organized by the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) under the name “Prayer for Peace and Harmony”, it is part of the celebrations of the Season of Creation that begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, a Day that this year proposes the theme “Wait and Act with Creation”. The Season of Creation runs from September 1 to October 4 and is an annual call for Catholics around the world to respond to the cry of the Earth. The initiative is also related to the Sewa Pakhwada, which will take place from September 17 to October 2a series of initiatives organized to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 74th birthday and Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

“Within the scope of Sewa Pakhwada 2024, we have organised a programme to encourage our youth and everyone to be aware of the need to care for Creation and ensure that the Earth’s resources are used wisely, keeping in mind others and future generations,” added Card. Gracias. “I am happy that the Indian government has taken this initiative.”

On June 5, on the occasion of World Environment Day, Modi launched the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign by planting a fig tree at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi. He also called on all his countrymen to contribute to the betterment of the planet, noting that India has made considerable collective efforts in the last decade that have increased forest cover across the country.

“Our mothers, our fathers taught us responsibility, ethics, concern for others, and these values ​​should be reflected in our lives. Personally, I am happy that I was able to do something for my mother and I am sure that everyone else feels the same,” said the Archbishop of Mumbai, referring to the importance of the initiative. “My mother looked after me and I look after the future generations. I believe that the world is becoming smaller and smaller, it should become one family, and it is extremely important that there is more peace, more understanding and mutual help,” he added.

This attention must also take into account diversity, especially in a country as diverse as India. “Our greatness lies in the diversity of people, cultures, languages ​​and religions. I believe that no other country has the richness that we have. It is a challenge for those who govern,” said Oswald Gracias. “Inclusion is very important: it is very important to include everyone in every program, every religion, every language, every culture. There should not be a single person who feels excluded from any project, not only as a beneficiary, but also as an active participant.”