UGANDA: We have Responsibility to Care for Mother Earth, says Bishop Kibira
Bishop Kibira with Pupils of Kyogha Primary with trees
By Masereka Peter
The Bishop of Kasese Diocese Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira Kambale has urged believers in Christ and ambassadors of the environment to not only popularize the Pope’s Encyclical letter “Laudato Si” but also get involved in its implementation.
The remarks on Sunday, June 30 followed a poem recitation about Laudato Si by St. Victor Kyogha Primary School pupils that encouraged the community to practically engage in a fight against global warming through tree planting and care for the environment whenever they gather for any kind of celebration.
According to Bishop Kibira, the tree planting activity is part of the campaign to green the Catholic Church, especially in the AMECEA region, a move aimed at helping to mitigate the diverse effects of climate change. Amidst the intensified deforestation in the world, the Church aims to engage all local stakeholders in caring for Mother Earth.
The Prelate said that with the current trend of changes in the environment, planting trees is the way out, and called for all players to actively and practically put the message of the Pope to action.
“We are now realizing that seasons have changed. This is because of climate change. However, we should know climate change doesn’t come in a short time but takes a long time. The effects of climate change such as high temperatures are a result of activities that happened over 15 years ago. Therefore, it is high time we changed our behavior and start replenishing the environment through tree planting as a way of averting climate change,” says Kibira.
In his homily while presiding over the memorial Mass, Bishop Kibira said it is the responsibility of youths to keep the family legacy through investing in education and church Ministry, and encouraged the families to emulate the great grandfathers who nurtured families in faith and Education.
He attributed immorality and laziness among the youth to Western culture, the adaptation of Phones, television, and Drug abuse among others, the act which he strongly condemned
The Prelate asked believers in Christ to always share experiences with others about the God-given gifts, referencing his experience that as a priest the church privileged him to study from different countries in the world and he is privileged to share the gift with his sons the priest in his Diocese.
The Kasese District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Florence Kabugho, urged parents and guardians to prioritize the education of their children if they are to become responsible citizens.
On his part, Rt. Hon. Baritazale Kule Benson, the Deputy Prime Minister of Obusinga-Bwa Rwenzururu asked families to continue holding Memorial masses in remembrance of the contributions the departed persons made both to their families and the local community at large.
END
