PANAJI
In a letter to parish priests and chaplains in the archdiocese on Friday, Caritas Goa Director Fr Maverick Fernandes and Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes said the archdiocese will celebrate several occasions in parishes. Soon, we will have the All Souls day where we will decorate graves where bundles of plastics, thermacol, foam and silver foil will be used, all of which is non-degradable and toxic. Let us strongly urge our parishioners to avoid use of toxic material to decorate graves."
"Besides, there are also other occasions where unnecessary use of toxic materials are utilised like during the visitation of the statue of Our Lady to families, refreshments served at the months mind or anniversaries, at our meetings and seminars, etc."
"We can really make a significant difference if we seriously avoid use of toxic materials for our celebrations," stated the letter.
Stating that the Church is known as a pioneer in the field of education and health, the letter further adds, "It is time for us to collectively also lead the country in reducing waste through our lifestyle changes, that is, for the sustenance of the earth."
Caritas Goa has appealed to parish priests and chaplains in the archdiocese "to announce from October 29 and at all masses in November, so that repeated reminders to parishioners may bear fruit." "In this regard, at all parish meetings and functions, we have to take the lead to educate our people. Let us collectively decide to reduce the use of plastics in all our celebrations."
The letter made reference to Pope Francis and his Encyclical ‘Laudato Si', expressly urging people to introduce lifestyle changes if they want to save the earth.
"Hence, we have to collectively take urgent steps to make changes in our way of living. Moreover, the Archbishop in his pastoral letter particularly urged us to make efforts to minimize our waste to the extent possible," the letter adds.
"We can really make a significant difference if we seriously avoid use of toxic materials for our celebrations," stated the letter.
Stating that the Church is known as a pioneer in the field of education and health, the letter further adds, "It is time for us to collectively also lead the country in reducing waste through our lifestyle changes, that is, for the sustenance of the earth."
Caritas Goa has appealed to parish priests and chaplains in the archdiocese "to announce from October 29 and at all masses in November, so that repeated reminders to parishioners may bear fruit." "In this regard, at all parish meetings and functions, we have to take the lead to educate our people. Let us collectively decide to reduce the use of plastics in all our celebrations."
The letter made reference to Pope Francis and his Encyclical ‘Laudato Si', expressly urging people to introduce lifestyle changes if they want to save the earth.
"Hence, we have to collectively take urgent steps to make changes in our way of living. Moreover, the Archbishop in his pastoral letter particularly urged us to make efforts to minimize our waste to the extent possible," the letter adds.
