Columban Eco-Challenge 2020
Our planet earth is ailing and perhaps even dying because we humans are plundering and polluting it. We presume that it will always be a giving mother to us. But our children are discovering that we are not thinking of them. But our sick mother de earth will not be able to give all the children what they need for life.
This year 2020, in line with Pope Francis’ call to Ecological Conversion and one of the prepositions and new directions coming from the Archdiocesan Synod here in Fiji is “Care for the Earth.”
We launched a project in March: "Columban Eco-Challenge 2020”. The theme was: Our World, Our Environment, Our Responsibility! There were twelve teams registered with sponsors. Money raised will be dedicated to our Pacific Seminarians and Lay Missionaries.
We invited teams to participate in healing the damage to air, water, land plants and animals. The teams were asked to find ways they can contribute to reduce warming of the atmosphere, the pollution the seas and rivers, restore health to the soil, nurture plants and animals.
The Real Patriot Team of Dogoru led by Jennifer Lunor, Columban Lay Missionary assigned in Dogoru, Labasa.
We were just three weeks into the project, when Fiji was affected with the Coronavirus. There were restrictions to movements and gathering of people. This disrupted our group activities on the project. However, some teams never gave up, they continued with backyard farming, cleaning of the rivers, planting of trees and flowers. Some individuals did their own planting.
St. Peter Chanel Team led by Evangeline Ucol, Columban Lay Missionary assigned in Ba.
The following teams showed interest: Earthworms, Thorn birds, Greenies, Kulawai, Real Patriot, St. Patrick, Rhanella, St. Peter Channel, St. Joseph the Worker- Sparkle, Gusunituba and Camanivanua.
The Eco Challenge competition ends on 28th August, 2020.
“Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God's Plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.” Pope Francis
Vitalina Vukinagauna
Project Coordinator
Columban Eco-Challenge 2020
