Nambuma Parish: Local Chiefs Embrace Tree Planting Initiative Inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’

Father Maxwell Kubalasa, of Christ the King – Nambuma Parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lilongwe, organized a tree planting event, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’. The event aimed to address pressing environmental concerns within the community, including deforestation, food waste, and resource mismanagement.

Father Kubalasa, who has witnessed these issues firsthand during his three years at the parish, emphasized the urgent need for environmental stewardship. He observed a troubling disconnect between food scarcity and waste, noting instances where villagers consume less nutritious foods like pumpkin leaves during lean season, while simultaneously experiencing significant food waste, when they harvest, within their own communities.

The tree planting event garnered strong community support, drawing 102 local chiefs.

“I spoke to one group village headman who said, okay, I will talk to my fellow group village headmen, so that we mobilize the chiefs to come,” Father Kubalasa explained. “And you see how eager they were to plant the trees.” Each chief received a seedling to plant on their own property, serving as an example for their villagers.

Father Kubalasa expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “This is just a starting point. Next year, we’ll have something much bigger.” He emphasized that Laudato Si’ serves as a crucial reminder of our responsibility to protect the environment. “Once I was asked to summarize it, I discovered the depths of the letter,” he said. “That there is someone here who is crying, okay, for the earth. And is doing it to make us aware of how much destruction we have done to the earth and what we need to do to reverse the situation.”

In his speech, Chief Malovu acknowledged the gathering as a crucial step in addressing the community’s environmental challenges and promised to ensure that his people receive the necessary training.

In her remarks, Angella Kamduliro, chairperson of the St. Andrew Kagwa Small Christian Community at the parish, emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in the fight against environmental degradation.

This community-led initiative underscores the significant impact of Pope Francis’ encyclical in inspiring environmental action and fostering a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with the natural world.