The inaugural ceremony started with a prayer. After that Rev. Fr. Binny Nedumpurath (Director, Chethana) delivered the welcome speech and Dr. Haridas V. R (Zonal Manager, Caritas India) addressed the gathering with an introduction on the second encyclical of Pope Francis – ‘Laudato Si’. His Grace Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios (Bishop, Mavelikkara Diocese) inaugurated the Seminar by lighting the lamp. On this occasion Rev. Fr. Paul Moojely (Ass.
Director, Caritas India) published ‘Haritham’, annual report (2014-2015) of Chethana and it was handed over to Msgr. Varghese Mattamana (Vicar General, Puna-Kadkhi Exarcate). Rev. Fr. George Vettikkattil (Director, KSSF), Msgr. George Charuvila (Vicar General) and Rev. Dr.Vincent Kundukulam felicitated the function. Rev. Fr. Lukose Kannimel (Regional Director, Chengannur) proposed the vote of thanks.
Rev. Dr. Vincent Kundukulam proposed that this encyclical is written for every creature in the universe, for the entire globe and the Pope Francis considers the entire world as a single home. In this encyclical the Pope declares that conversion should happen in every human, a sort of environmental conversion. Every home, parish, seminary, school, college etc should be consisted of a garden which yields not only blooming bushes but also medicinal plants. Our liberalized economy should be changed and also the model of development. We have to refuse the use of plastics or to reduce it and also reuse if possible so that the pollution can controlled and can save the earth and the creatures from the harmful radiations as a result of the radioactive nature of these plastic wastes under the soil. Apart from that pollution and climate change can also be taken as major issues to get dealt with, particularly due to the deforestation for agricultural purposes and water is increasingly being polluted, privatized, and wasted, which lead to problems for the poor. The so-called modern culture of the human beings is ignoring the fellow living beings on the earth and it leads to the extinction of thousands of species from our globe. Avoid the use of plastics and do adopt proper waste management techniques so that we can avoid world war III for water amongst the nations.