-News : Alfred Furtado, Pics : Joseph Fernandes
Barkur, July 12, 2026
The parish of St. Peter Church, Barkur, came together over the weekend to celebrate Vanamahotsava, combining a hands-on cemetery restoration effort with a broader community program centred on environmental care.
The observance began on Saturday, July 11, with a cemetery cleaning drive held from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm under the guidance of Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Ronald Miranda. The initiative was jointly organized by the Catholic Sabha Church Unit, the Environment Commission, and the Labour Commission. Parishioners turned out in strong numbers to clear the cemetery grounds and plant flowering saplings, restoring the sacred space ahead of the main celebration.
The drive was attended by several members of the parish leadership, including Joseph Fernandes, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Committee; Sabita Picardo, Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Committee; Joseph Fernandes Kudru, Co-ordinator of the Pastoral Commissions; Ripon D'Souza, President of the Catholic Sabha and Convener of the Labour Commission; and Rupert Dias, Convener of the Environment Commission. Their participation lent weight and direction to the effort, and organizers said the cooperation across parish groups was key to its success.
The following day, Sunday, July 12, the parish formally observed Vanamahotsava under Fr. Miranda's leadership. The program underscored the Church's call to be stewards of creation and to build a greener, more sustainable community. Speakers reflected on the responsibility of caring for the environment as an extension of faith.
At the close of the celebration, saplings of flowering and fruit-bearing plants were made available for parishioners to purchase, giving families a tangible way to carry the spirit of the day home and contribute to greening the parish and surrounding areas.
Organizers described the two-day observance as a fitting reminder of the Church's teaching on creation care, drawing on the words of Genesis 2:15: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden to work it and take care of it."