The core group 20 April — Caritas Commission Chairman, PPC Chair and St Patrick community leader. - Photo: Tevita Naikasowalu
Ecological Conversion - Earth to Laudato Si
Earth Month is too often not deeply embraced or acknowledged because there is a sense that the Earth is something we have every day and is just a “common thing”. This perspective and feeling can overtake our sense of connectedness and ecological awareness, especially if we live in an environment that is not conducive to ecological awareness.
This is a reality for many people - especially children and youth from semi-urban areas like Raiwaqa, Samabula, Vatuwaqa, and parts of the Suva greater area. And imagine those communities that are struggling and living in challenging communities like Nanuku, Wailea, Jittu, Tamavua, Narere etc.
It has been my general observation after visiting most of the communities in Raiwaqa and other city and town-based parishes and communities in Fiji that the topic “Care of Creation and the Cries of the Earth” is drowned out by the roar of fast development, industrialisation, money, fashion, fast foods, television, luxury living, city life, social media and, of course, poverty.
St Patrick community working as a barrack on housing blocks - Tevita Naikasowalu
The other challenge is that this topic about Ecology, Environment, Earth and Laudato Si is contextual and can only be fully appreciated if practised in family and community living. It is difficult to promote the idea of a backyard garden and tree planting if there is no backyard or place to plant a tree, let alone absorb the related theologies. So, Community Awareness and Advocacy has been our strategy to reach out to those people we have noticed are not responding to the call of the parish and commission on this issue.
This work will continue into Laudato Si month (May), which we are in now, and it is encouraging to see signs of interest from the communities. Like the parable of the Sower, this work will have various degrees of success. Nevertheless, our work as the Sower of Seeds for Change continues.
Vinaka
Tevita Naikasowalu, JPIC
Related links
- Read more from the current e-Kaulotu - July 2023
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