Catholic organizations, educational institutions, and parish communities across Karachi, southern Pakistan, gathered on September 1, 2026, to observe the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, launching a joint initiative to promote environmental stewardship and grassroots ecological action.
The event was organized by Caritas Pakistan Karachi in collaboration with Holy Family Catholic church, Kemari, Sacred Heart School, St. Mary’s School, and the Franciscan Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission.
The program aimed to mobilize local communities around the urgent protection of land, water resources, marine life, and urban ecosystems.
The observance opened with a Eucharistic celebration at Sacred Heart church, bringing together clergy, religious leaders, educators, students, and parishioners.
In his homily, Fr. Gul Shahzad OFM, the Parish Priest, emphasized humanity's spiritual responsibility toward environmental preservation.
"God has entrusted humanity with a beautiful world, and maintaining its harmony is our shared responsibility," Fr. Shahzad said. "Earth is our mother. Just as we love and care for our human mothers, we must care for Mother Earth in the exact same manner."
He recalled the teachings of Pope Francis in his landmark encyclical Laudato Si', reminding the congregation that the environmental crisis is deeply connected to a moral and spiritual crisis.
Fr. Shahzad urged the faithful to undergo a true "ecological conversion," noting that protecting our common home requires rejecting a throwaway culture in favor of a lifestyle rooted in gratitude, simplicity, and care for the vulnerable.
"As Pope Francis reminds us, everything in God's creation is interconnected, and hearing the cry of the earth means listening to the cry of the poor," he added.
Mansha Noor, Executive Secretary of Caritas Pakistan Karachi, echoed this call, stressing that spiritual reflection must translate directly into tangible ecological action.
"A clean, safe, and sustainable environment is a precious gift we owe to future generations," Noor stated. "Protecting our trees, oceans, and wildlife is not an optional goodwill gesture, it is an urgent duty."
He emphasized that meaningful environmental protection requires a shift from passive awareness to active community participation at the household and parish level.
Furthermore, he urged civil society and faith-based groups to collaborate continuously in planting native trees and restoring degraded urban spaces. By embedding ecological responsibility into daily routines, he noted, local communities can build lasting resilience against regional climate challenges.
Following the Mass, participants engaged in a series of environmental awareness activities. School children led a peaceful walk carrying small potted plants and displaying posters with environmental messages.
During a workshop, Caritas Project Officer Sarfraz Anwar highlighted the vital role trees play in producing oxygen and stabilizing local climates, referring to Earth as humanity's "common home."
Responding to the session, students and parishioners pledged to reduce single-use plastics, prevent water waste, and care for local greenery.
The event concluded with a communal tree-planting drive on the parish grounds, following a blessing of the saplings with holy water by Fr. Shahzad.
Church leaders noted that the event aligns with the vision of Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si', reminding the faithful that caring for creation requires an ongoing commitment rather than a single annual observance.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
