Tiny Efforts to Save the Mother Earth

Sustainable development Goals 13-17 and Pope Francis’ encyclical of “Laudato Si:  Care for our Common Home” are serving as wake-up calls for action without much waste of time to save the Mother Earth, in whose lap we are enjoying life. She is in great suffering. Here we come as the tiny drops, Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, Kuchinda, Odisha, contribute through our ministries in Education, Social and pastoral work, raising awareness among students, staff and the local community to care for our common home.

Our Community distributed 600 plants received free of cost from the forest department and spent Rs. 5000 to purchase additional saplings from the horticulture center. This initiative inspired and motivated a villager in our social work center at Gunmunda village, Mr. Iswar, the husband of our teacher. He approached the forest department and bought 1000 plants at the cost of one rupee each. On 15  August 2023, a memorable  event  unfolded  as  the  villagers with  children and  Sr. Suja  planted trees in   public places, holding Indian flags and chanting in unison, ‘Save the Trees, Save the Lives.’ The Sisters expressed gratitude to Mr. Iswar for his generosity, acknowledging him as a catalyst for positive change.                      

  Sr. Suja Sebastian, Rndm