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Little Hands, Big Impact: Children Embrace Laudato Si’ in Uganda Mission
Andrew Truong Quoc Hung, SVD
With joyful hearts and eager hands, many children came together to plant trees, flowers, and fruit trees around our chapels. This simple yet profound action reflects our shared responsibility to care for the earth and contribute to healing wounded areas through the spirit of Laudato Si’. We believe that together with all Christians in our settlement, we can protect our environment and nurture the places entrusted to us.
In addition to planting, we also committed ourselves to caring for our surroundings through clean-up activities. When we visit chapels to celebrate Mass and conduct other activities, we work alongside the Holy Childhood members to collect plastic bottles, bags, and other garbage scattered around the chapel grounds.
One particularly memorable moment was this month’s Saturday gathering at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel. Before celebrating the Eucharist, we organized a JPIC (Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation) activity. The children enthusiastically joined in cleaning the chapel garden, collecting plastic waste with energy and joy. In just 30 minutes, the area was visibly transformed—clean, beautiful, and welcoming.
Another special day was Thursday’s gathering at the Divine Mercy Chapel. We began with a Laudato Si’ activity and concluded with Holy Mass. Before the celebration, Holy Childhood members arrived early to clean the chapel garden and the nearby road. With laughter and songs, the children collected plastic bags, empty boxes, and other waste. Their cheerful teamwork made the environment brighter and reminded us all of the beauty of creation.
To honor their efforts, we took group photos and shared sweets as a token of gratitude and joy. The spirit of unity, service, and care was alive in every child. We were deeply inspired by their enthusiasm and the love they showed for God’s creation.
These small yet meaningful actions—planting trees, picking up rubbish, and working together—teach our children valuable lessons. They learn responsibility, love for nature, and the call to live out their faith through action. We took time to explain to them the significance of their work: that by protecting and beautifying the environment, they are helping to heal our wounded world in the spirit of Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’.
Indeed, even the smallest hands can make a big difference when guided by faith, love, and service. We thank the Holy Childhood groups for their dedication and pray that their example may inspire many others to care for our common home.
