India: Goa Youth Farmers Continue Environmental Mission of Late Priest Fr. Bolmax Pereira

Young farmers of the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club in Goa, India, recently transplanted paddy in the fields where their former parish priest, Fr. Bolmax Fidelis Pereira, had encouraged them to revive agriculture and care for the environment.

The activity was joined by Captain Viriato Fernandes, Member of Parliament for South Goa and a parishioner of Chicalim, along with Fr. Bolmax’s mother, Filipina Pereira.

The paddy transplantation was a continuation of the mission of Fr. Bolmax, a priest of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman who died on May 26, 2026. A botanist, educator, and environmental advocate, he founded and mentored the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, encouraging young people to engage in sustainable agriculture and ecological responsibility.

Chicalim is located in South Goa, on the western coast of India, near the port city of Vasco da Gama in the Mormugao area.

Shogun Fernandes, president of the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, said the group was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic when disruptions in food supply highlighted the importance of local agriculture.

“Fr. Bolmax became our mentor, patiently guiding us and instilling in us a love for farming,” Shogun said. “He channelled the energy of the youth into a force for nature.”

Fr. Bolmax encouraged the youth to practice organic farming, rainwater harvesting, and the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling. He also trained young men and women to operate agricultural equipment, helping them gain practical farming skills.

The club continues his work by promoting sustainable agriculture, raising environmental awareness among young people, protecting mangroves, and encouraging villages to bring abandoned farmland back into cultivation.

Jerico Vaz, field coordinator of the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, said the recent paddy transplantation was an emotional experience without Fr. Bolmax’s presence.

“Planting without him was emotional, but I felt I was continuing his mission,” Jerico said.

He recalled that the priest encouraged young people to plant trees, respect farming, and see care for creation as both a Christian responsibility and a way of life.

Valerie Afonso, a member of the club, remembered Fr. Bolmax as a priest who worked alongside young people rather than simply instructing them.

“He was the first priest I saw entering the fields. He never dictated; he worked alongside us and listened,” she said.

She added that Fr. Bolmax encouraged youth participation in environmental issues affecting Goa, including efforts to promote sustainable development and protect agricultural land.

For the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, continuing agricultural work is a way of preserving the vision of a priest who connected faith with care for creation. His efforts among young people continue through the farming initiatives he helped establish.