The young people of St Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Marsden, Queensland, recently brought Pope Francis’ plea for ecological conversion to life when they hit the streets with garbage bags in hand, for Clean Up Australia Day.
“It was Laudato Si’ in action,” says Parish Priest, Fr Sunil Nagothu SVD, of the Pope’s encyclical on ‘Caring for our Common Home’.
“It is the third time our youth have organised this big group effort for Clean Up Australia Day.
“It’s a good social justice initiative, as well as a way of reaching out into our community and neighbourhood, and of course, in terms of caring for creation and caring for our environment.
“We hope it’s something that other parishes might pick up as well.”
Assistant priest, Fr Firminus (Yon) Wiryono, says St Maximilian Kolbe Parish has been blessed with many wonderful, committed and joyful youth, who, on March 3, took up the challenge of volunteering two hours of their time, following a wonderfully led Youth Mass, to take part in the national Clean Up Australia Day.
The young people hit the streets surrounding the Parish, armed with garbage bags and plenty of enthusiasm for the task at hand.
“This is just one way in which the St Maximilian Kolbe Parish Youth play their part for the betterment of our community,” Fr Yon says.
“The event was well attended by our local youth and we even had our Local Councillor, Jon Raven, join our group of about 30 young people and other parishioners in picking up of rubbish around our local area.
“Their great efforts were rewarded by a sausage sizzle for all those involved. Without doubt, we are so proud of our young people.”
Fr Yon says that taking part in the Clean-up Australia initiative was part of a broader campaign in the parish to be proactive in caring for the local environment and being ecologically sustainable.
And while their actions were carried out at the local level, in Laudato Si’, Pope Francis encourages such local efforts for the impact they have.
“We must not think that these efforts are not going to change the world,” he says.
“They benefit society, often unbeknown to us, for they call forth a goodness which, albeit unseen, inevitably tends to spread. Furthermore, such actions can restore our sense of self-esteem; they can enable us to live more fully and to feel that life on earth is worthwhile.” (Laudato Si’ 212)