On July 7, 2025, Our Lady Mother of the Poor Church in Tilamola, Goa, organized an eco-friendly initiative that brought together parishioners, students, and the Diocesan Commission for Ecology under the guidance of Parish Priest Fr. Aldrin D’Costa, along with Assistant Parish Priests Fr. Aidan Manuel Fernandes and Fr. Denrish Clyde D’Costa, the event promoted ecological awareness and sustainable practices.
The programme began with a prayer led by Fr. Rosario Oliveira( Parish Priest of Se Cathedral Old Goa) and resident of the Tilamola village. This was followed by Villagers along with Students of Our Lady Mother of the Poor High School Tilamola and Immaculate Conception High School Paroda marched in the Paddy Field. The teachers and headmistress also joinedthe students in this resourcefulness. Cultivation was carried out as hands-on experience in fields, with enthusiastic participation from villagers guiding the students while Diocesan Commission for Ecology member Mrs. Mabel Menezes showed support for the initiative.
The event aimed to promote ecological awareness, provide hands-on experience in sustainable practices, and help students develop a deeper understanding of nature connect and instilled a sense of responsibility to our land. They successfully cultivated the area given with utmost joy. The programme ended with meal prepared by villagers, fostering community spirit.
“The main motive was to bring the parishioners together. Usually we complain that people don’t come to the church but if we create an oppertunity than there is a possibility that they come. Since most of the people are farmers we decided to get together to work in the fields”. Fr Aidan Manuel Fernandes, Assistant to the parish priest.
“This activity has given our students a very rich and variable hands on experience of cultivation. This will develop in them love for nature and also to live with sustainable leaving and even spark an intrest in potential future career .” Mrs Gretta Menezes, Headmistress of immaculate conception high school Aveddem Paroda
“I thank the priests in our parish for giving us this oppertunity to come together and work with each other. Also many students of tilamola school and paroda school came and worked along with the people. We thank our priests for also providing us with food.” Mrs Alcina Fernandes, parishioner
“As the pastoral letter invites you to care for the nature, we the Tilamola parishioners has come together to care for the Mother Earth. By cultivating the filed we have done it. People of Tilamol are farmers. They love to cultivate the filed. It so much of the unity and dedication.”Fr.Aldrin D’costa Parish priests.
I thank Fr.Aldrin for giving us opportunity to be a part of this event. It was a wonderful experience of learning traditional method of cultivation. It was pleasure to see all age groups joined in for this activity showing their love and care to the mother earth. Mabel Menezes ( Member of Diocesan commission for ecology)
