MALAWI: Catholic Secretariat Staff Takes Laudato Si into Action
Stella Zulu
In the Spirit of taking care of the environment following the Papal encyclical Laudato Si, staff members at the Catholic Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) have planted trees, shrubs and other vegetative cover around the Secretariat campus.
The exercise was meant to fulfill the need of integrating families, Small Christian Communities, dioceses, Catholic institutions and all people in environmental conservation, preservation and protection efforts.
Speaking during the event at the Catholic secretariat, ECM’s Deputy Secretary General Rev Fr. Valeriano Mtseka said Pope Franci’s main message is that the earth is our Common Home and we are supposed to take care of it. Hence the secretariat had to lead by example.
“We want to demonstrate to all people out there that we have a role to play in taking care of the environment. This is because humans have caused lot of damage to the earth and it is fighting us back through various disasters we are experiencing in the recent years. As the Catholic Church in Malawi, we also have various sectors that care for the environment. For example the Catholic Women Organization (CWO), Young Christian Workers (YCW) and the Church at large set aside time to plant trees. I therefore encourage people to take this good example and take care of their surroundings by planting trees and keeping their surroundings clean” Said Fr. Mtseka
He continued that the Church cannot distance itself from such actions as it is greatly affected by effects of climate change. For example, when disasters happen, the Church’s activities are affected and also people seek assistance from the Church which it provides but not enough.
In addition to planting trees, the Church conducts sensitization activities on waste management in order for people to have clean and beautiful surroundings.
The Holy Father Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si article 2 said “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. “Reads part of the Holy Father’s encyclical Laudato Si
The Church in Malawi therefore, calls on all Catholics and people of good will to contribute to the care for our Common Home the earth, by planting trees during this rainy season and take care of them so that they fully grow.
Each Staff member is therefore mandated to take care of the tree they have planted until it fully grows.
