Laudato Si – 2026: Vanmahotsav Celebration

The Catholic Sabha, Holy Family Church, Omzoor, in association with ICYM and the Parisar Ayog (Ecology & Environment Commission), successfully organized Laudato Si – 2026, a special Vanmahotsav Celebration, on 5th July 2026 following the first Holy Mass. The programme was organized with the objective of promoting environmental awareness and inspiring every parish family to become responsible stewards of God’s creation.

The celebration commenced with the symbolic planting of saplings by the distinguished guests of honour Rev. Fr. William Menezes, Parish Priest; Rev. Fr. Rahul Dexter D’Souza, Resident Priest; Mr. Arthur D’Souza, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council; Mrs. Daffny Lewis, Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council; Mr. Elroy Saldanha, Coordinator of Ayogs; Sr. Luciyana, Superior of the Convent; Mr. Joldin Lewis, President, Catholic Sabha; Mr. Joswin Pinto, President, ICYM; Mr. Stany D’Souza, President, Parisar Ayog

The programme was gracefully compered by Ms. Lavita Pereira, who welcomed the gathering and coordinated the proceedings.

Addressing the faithful, Rev. Fr. William Menezes highlighted the importance of caring for nature as an expression of our Christian responsibility to protect God’s creation. He beautifully compared nurturing a sapling to raising a child, explaining that just as children require love, care, protection, and constant attention to grow into responsible individuals, every sapling too deserves the same commitment to flourish into a strong and healthy tree. He encouraged every family to take personal responsibility for the saplings they received and make them an integral part of their homes.

To further motivate the parishioners, the Parish Priest announced that the family which takes the best care of its sapling over the coming year will be recognized and honoured with a special prize during next year’s Laudato Si – Vanmahotsav Celebration.

As part of the initiative, 120 hybrid fruit saplings (Kasi variety) were distributed to parish families on a first-come, first-served basis. The saplings included Mallika Mango, Badami Mango, Guava, Sapota (Chikoo), and Jackfruit. These fruit-bearing trees were thoughtfully selected not only to enhance the greenery of the parish but also to provide long-term environmental, ecological, and nutritional benefits to the families.

The programme concluded with the distribution of the saplings and a heartfelt appeal to every parishioner to plant, nurture, and protect them. The organisers encouraged everyone to actively contribute towards keeping the environment green and healthy, thereby living out the spirit of Laudato Si’ by caring for our Common Home.

Laudato Si – 2026 served as a meaningful reminder that environmental conservation begins with small but committed actions. Through this initiative, the parish reaffirmed its dedication to fostering ecological responsibility and inspiring every family to become faithful stewards of God’s creation. The celebration also echoed the vision of the late Pope Francis, whose landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ called upon every individual to care for our Common Home through responsible stewardship of creation. By planting and nurturing these saplings, the parish community took a small yet significant step towards fulfilling that mission and leaving a greener, healthier world for future generations.