About 40 children of St. Andrew’s Church in Bandra, Mumbai, marked Care for Creation Day on September 20 with a symbolic water ritual highlighting the theme “Living Waters.”
The children gathered at the entrance of the historic parish church, where each received a paper cup half-filled with water. Holding the cups in both hands, they raised them as a simple reminder that water is a precious gift that must be valued and protected.
The children then entered the church in procession and, upon reaching the altar, poured the water into an earthen pot placed near the baptismal font. The collected water will be used for baptisms celebrated in the parish, linking care for creation with the Christian sacrament of Baptism.
The activity was intended to help the children recognize the value of water and their responsibility to conserve it. It also emphasized how individual efforts, when brought together, can contribute to caring for creation.
Catechists filled the cups from glass and steel bottles rather than plastic containers, reinforcing the parish’s effort to promote environmentally responsible practices.
Nicole D’Souza, “Jesus and Me” Coordinator, said the activity made her reflect on how easily water can be taken for granted in a city where it is readily available.
“As the children stood outside the church, patiently waiting for their turn to have their cups filled with water, I was reminded of just how precious this resource is,” she said. “It made me think of the many people living in places where water is scarce and every drop is precious.”
The activity also encouraged the children to consider practical ways of conserving water in their daily lives.
“We learnt that water is precious and is a gift from God. We learnt how to save water and not waste it in our daily lives,” said Mary Olanrewaju, a Class 8 student. “By saving water, we care for God’s creation and protect our future.”
St. Andrew’s Church is one of Mumbai’s historic Catholic parishes. Founded in 1575 in Bandra, a suburb of Mumbai in western India, the church has remained an active faith community serving families, young people and Small Christian Communities. Its historical and architectural significance was recognized with an Urban Heritage Award in 2002.
Through the Care for Creation initiative, the parish connected its long Christian heritage with an ecological concern affecting communities across the world, encouraging children to see water not simply as a natural resource but as a gift to be conserved and responsibly shared.
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
