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Caring for Our Common Home: Ndunda Parish Turns Laudato Si Into Living Mission
Yohanes Meko Hayong, SVD
In response to this invitation by the Mozambican Episcopal Conference, the Parish Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JUPIC) of St. Francis Xavier Parish – Ndunda, in the Archdiocese of Beira, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mercy and members of the parish community, undertook a series of socio-environmental initiatives and activities during the “Laudato Si Week celebration”, held from 24 May to 1 June 2025.
These activities include, distribution of seedlings, planting of fruit bearing trees and trees that would provide shade to people and animals alike in St. Joseph Freinademetz Community as well as reflective study of the “Laudato Si” document. What was more enriching is that, this initiative took place during Holy Mass celebration on 25 May 2025, in the said community, when the fruit bearing and shade tree seedlings were brought as Offertory. Thus at the end of the Mass, the trees were planted on the Church compound, symbolizing a living commitment to care for our Common Home. Indeed, the tree plantation continued on 26 May 2025, in collaboration with the Parish Ministry of Mercy, where they planted shade and fruit trees along the roadside in Six Maile area.
Furthermore, as part of the same celebration, the JUPIC Parish Groups from the three Pastoral Zones: Cidade, Manga, and Corredor, together with the Catechetical Parish Ministry, in the St. Francis Xavier Parish – Ndunda on 31 May 2025 had a retreat on the theme “The Gospel of Creation,” drawn from Chapter II of “Laudato Si”. The retreat was led by Fr. Marcos Mubango, the Parish Priest of Alto da Manga and Coordinator of the Archdiocesan Biblical Commission. The retreat concluded with a symbolic planting of five trees within the parish grounds, representing a gesture of faith and ecological responsibility in caring for our Common Home.
The JUPIC Commission recognizes these environmental efforts during “Laudato Si Week” represent a modest yet meaningful step towards the realization of ecological stewardship. On behalf of the Parish JUPIC Commission of Ndunda and the JUPIC Parish Groups from the three Pastoral Zones, Mr. Chico Chichone Suliar, Parish Coordinator, I expressed his appreciation to all the animators for their dedication and commitment in responding to the environmental challenges and to that of the invitation of the National Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace. He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to all benefactors and collaborators who supported this mission.
These actions serve as a tangible sign of environmental commitment in the care for our Common Home and for Mother Earth. The Commission emphasizes that the mission does not end with the distribution and planting of trees or the holding of a retreat during “Laudato Si Week”; rather, it is an ongoing responsibility to nurture and protect creation amidst growing threats of environmental degradation. This mission belongs to all of us. JUPIC has done and continues to do its part with hope for the Earth and hope for Humanity.
We extend our best wishes to the JUPIC Commission of Ndunda Parish and that of other parishes in the various pastoral zones. May we all be witnesses of the Light and pilgrims of hope in this Jubilee Year through concrete gestures of care for our Common Home. As Pope Francis reminds us in “Laudato Si”, no. 217: “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” May these socio-environmental initiatives inspire greater courage and renew the commitment of all Christians of goodwill to care for the creation. Congratulations to the JUPIC Commission of Ndunda.
