By Fr. Apiire Berry, CSC | Laudato Si’ Club of St. André Bessette Catholic Parish Koch Goma, Gulu.| Sept 29th 2025
In joyful celebration of the Season of Creation 2025, the Laudato Si’ Club of St. André Bessette Catholic Parish, Koch Goma, held a full day of inspiring and impactful activities aimed at deepening ecological awareness, honoring local environmental champions, and inspiring action among the youth. The day was a testament to the power of faith in action and the sacred call to care for our common home.
1. Launching a Laudato Si’ Club at Goma Central Primary School
The day began with the official launch of a Laudato Si’ Club at Goma Central Primary School, marking a milestone in environmental education within the community. The opening included a prayer and formal introduction of the club before the entire school body of over 500 pupils.
During the session, facilitators explained the meaning of Laudato Si’, summarizing Pope Francis’ encyclical and outlining the vision, mission, and goals of the Laudato Youth Initiative. The club’s formation was received with great enthusiasm, and all pupils were officially enrolled. The school also unveiled a new club patron, affirming their commitment to raising a generation rooted in ecological spirituality and action.
2. Tribute to Mr. John Odaki: A Legacy of Trees
The second activity was a pilgrimage to the home of the late Mr. John Odaki, a beloved parishioner and passionate environmentalist, buried just three weeks earlier. Mr. Odaki was known for planting large muvule trees at the parish—trees that now offer a sacred space where Christians gather to pray.
The club paid tribute by planting three avocado trees on his land. His widow was moved to tears by this gesture of remembrance. A talk on permaculture and healthy farming practices followed, sparking discussions on the impacts of deforestation and the changing climate in Koch Goma. Fr. Berry, CSC, praised John’s steadfast commitment to conservation even in old age. In his honor, the school will establish the John Odaki Memorial Garden at Goma Central Primary School. The visit ended with prayers at his graveside.
3. Honoring the Late Thomas Kidega: A Family of Environmentalists
The third stop was a visit to the home of Mr. Thomas Kidega, another respected environmental advocate, also recently deceased. Fr. Berry, who once celebrated Mass beneath Kidega’s grove of mango trees, reflected on his devotion to caring for creation.
A profound surprise awaited the club, Thomas’s mother, Doreen Anek, now nearly 80, welcomed them and shared her personal reforestation project, including over 350 thriving malinya trees. Her words about planting for the sake of her grandchildren deeply touched and inspired the youth. Her vegetable gardens and environmental ethic revealed a powerful legacy of green stewardship. The club concluded the visit with a prayer at Kidega’s grave.
4. Forest Walk and Green Mass with Mr. John Bosco Okulo
The final event of the day was hosted by Mr. John Bosco Okulo, the Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson and a dedicated mentor to the Laudato Si’ Club. The students toured his forested home, encountering a variety of trees including pine, barma teak, indigenous species, cashew, banana, and more.
The highlight was a natural stream teeming with aquatic life, flowing 23 hours a day through his verdant land. It was beneath this “living stream” that the group celebrated a Green Mass, with Fr. Berry’s homily drawing on Genesis to reflect on our sacred role as co-creators with God.
The forest setting became a sacred space, immersing participants in the awe and beauty of God’s creation. In his closing remarks, Mr. Okulo passed the symbolic baton to the youth, urging them to become change-makers and caretakers of the Earth.
The day ended joyfully with a traditional Acholi meal, featuring malakwang, ugali, beans, and sweet potatoes, a celebration of both community and creation.
The Laudato Si’ Club of St. André Bessette Parish marked the Season of Creation 2025 not just with words, but with action, prayer, remembrance, and community engagement. These activities reflected the spirit of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, calling all people of goodwill to ecological conversion and to recognize creation as a gift to be cherished, not exploited. As the day ended, the youth of Koch Goma carried home more than memories, they carried a mission: to be co-creators with God and guardians of our common home.
