Vicar General Launches Palm Tree Planting Campaign in his New Parish

In order to conform to the Bishop Trees for Life Campaign (BTFLC), an initiative of the Catholic Bishop of Tombura-Yambio to conserve biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihood through farming, the Vicar General of the Diocese Rev. Fr. Thomas Bagbiowia on Sunday, September 27, launched in his new Parish, St. George Bangasu, the planting of palm trees. A total of 31 palm tree seedlings was planted during the launch.

 BTFLC was launched two years ago in the diocese by His Lordship Barani Edwardo Hiiboro Kussala when he started the coffee planting project in all the 35 parishes of the diocese.

 “St. George Parish is embracing the same initiative as a way of cooperating with God in his creation. By planting more trees, we are actually continuing with God’s work of creation,” said Fr. Thomas.

 “The main reason why the Parish chose palm tree is because of a number of benefits which includes being a source of nutritious fruits, source of natural oil (palm oil), its shade, as well as beautification of the environment,” Fr. Thomas explained adding that Western Equatoria State is known as the green state owing to the fact that it is right at the heart of the equatorial rainforest.

 “God has blessed us with fertile land therefore, we must sustain the greenness of our environment by working together collectively,” Fr. Thomas added.

 He said that parishioners are excited about the initiative and fully support it. For instance, when he asked them to bring seedlings for the campaign launch, they brought hundreds of those, a sign that they are enthusiastic about it.

 “With the palm trees, we want to create the spirit of self-sustainability, reliant-reliance, and self-supporting,” Fr. Thomas said adding that the trees that are being planted now are not only for the benefit of the current generation but also for the generations to come.

“If people plant enough trees now, we shall be conserving our environment and we shall have enough rainfall in the future, which is good for farming. All the good ideas people have needs to be translated into action; just like what we are doing now,” Fr. Thomas explained adding that in every project, it is important to involve people as this will make them own it. This in turn translates to the sustainability of the project.

 “I cannot claim ownership of this project for instance, and I cannot do it alone because I am just a mere servant in this parish, and any time I can be transferred to another place. If therefore I cannot involve the community in this project from the word go, it means that upon my departure to another parish, this project will collapse,” Fr. Thomas explained.

 The palm tree is very important among the Azande people and other communities living in Western Equatoria because from it, they are able to process their own organic oil which is the common cooking oil in the State. The communities as well sell the oil to other states in South Sudan to get income that is then channeled to other family needs.

St. George Bangasu Catholic Parish is a new parish that is only one year old. It was created last year on 13^th September 2019 by Barani Eduardo Hiiboro, the current Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura Yambio during the fifth anniversary of the first native Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Joseph Gasi Abangite.

By: Elias Ginana Mangbondo