Isang Puno Para sa Kinabukasan
Our Lady of Remedies Parish Tree Planting Activity

Some 60 parish volunteers, led by the Parish Priest, Fr. Leo Distor, travelled to Kanlungan at Brgy. Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal on Saturday, October 12 to give their humble contribution for the future by planting indigenous saplings in the area. Taking the challenge posed by the rugged terrain, members of the Ministries, Areas and Organizations, some of whom are in the privileged age group, gamely scaled the mountain side. They were ably assisted by young members of the Sanctuary Assistants, Youth Ministry, and Ticket to Life Scouts of the Parish. Dr. Butch Azanza who is in charge of Kanlungan gave a warm welcome in the Pagbibilog where all participants also introduced themselves and expressed their individual reasons for joining the activity. Liway Arceo-Pablo, who spent some of her youthful time in Kanlungan, arranged the visit and facilitated the activity. The group enjoyed the entire experience as there was a good lunch that awaited them after the tree-planting.

Fr. Leo aptly said that the tree-planting activity is both a challenging and enjoyable trip as it literally required the volunteers to go out of their comfort zone, that is, out of relative ease of city streets, and allowed them to savor the fresh, crisp mountain air and experience the morning fog as well as the scent of wild grass and trees while traversing the tree-shaded muddy and rocky slopes to the planting site. Indeed, it was a rich opportunity for the parish volunteers to reconnect with one another, with nature and with the Creator. As Fr. Leo said, the parish should walk the talk in heeding the call of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si on the Care for our Common Home.

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