Jesuit institutions in Goa have emerged at the fore front of a quiet energy revolu tion, with nearly 90 percent of their schools, colleges, and res idences now powered by solar energy. The transformation is part of a broader commitment by the Society of Jesus in west ern India to phase out fossil fu els and embrace clean energy, a move that Church leaders in India say reflects Pope Francis’s call in Laudato Si’ to protect “our common home.” Fr Nigel Alphonso, who co ordinates the Goa Province’s ecological initiatives, said the state’s Jesuit institutions have already reached close to full conversion. With installations across Goa and in Belgaum dis trict of neighboring Karnataka, the province now generates 415 kilowatts of power.
These systems are estimated to cut carbon emissions by up to 600 tonnes each year. The Goa Province’s success is part of a larger solar plan in volving the Jesuit provinces of Bombay, Pune, Goa, and Gujarat. Together, they have over 1,300 priests and brothers and oper ate 110 residences, schools, and institutions. In June 2024, Jesuit leaders from the four provinc es resolved to move entirely to solar power within three years. More than half of these institu tions have already completed the transition, while others are in the process.
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The details of the project and the responses of Jesuit leaders were outlined in comments to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), which has reported extensively on the Catholic Church in India’s eco logical commitments. Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, who coordinates the Ecology Plat form of the Jesuit West Zone Provinces, said about 60 institu tions now pay no electricity bills. A former principal of Mumbai’s St. Xavier’s College, Mascar enhas pointed to Vinayalaya, a Jesuit training center in Mumbai, which now runs entirely on re newable energy, charges its elec tric vehicles with solar power, and exports surplus production to the grid. He estimated that the cost of producing one kilowatt of power, about 50,000 rupees, can be recovered in less than three years. The Jesuits of Bombay Prov ince, with its extensive network of large institutions, are already generating more solar energy than the other three provinces combined. Collectively, more than 60 Jesuit institutions across western India have achieved zero electricity bills. In Goa, the impact extends beyond Jesuit institutions. Al phonso has overseen much of the technical work, researching long-lasting solar panels and leading installations with the support of trained electricians. This reduced costs and built lo cal expertise. Two Jesuit schools had already installed solar sys tems in 2019, generating more than their own requirements and transferring the surplus to the state grid. That early suc cess, he said, encouraged other schools, parishes, and religious houses to adopt similar systems. In Gujarat Province, Jesuits have taken the initiative further by promoting sustainable agri culture. Fr Anthony Suresh said four model farms have been developed and more than 100 farmers, including 40 women, trained in eco-friendly cultiva tion. Their goal, Suresh said, is to help at least 300 to 400 farmers achieve self-sufficiency through sustainable practices. Alphonso said the Goa ex perience demonstrates what is possible when institutions treat sustainability as integral to their mission.
