Usually priests serving in their respective parishes are committed only to their pastoral tasks and responsibilities. They will be strictly involved in exercising their priestly duties pertaining to their parish and parishioners. But there are handfuls, who besides their commitment to their task of shepherding their flock, will go a step forward to stay in tune with nature. Their active involvement in gardening within the church premises will invite appreciation from all.
Fr Johnsie Colaco has been serving as the parish priest of St Lawrence Church, Agassaim, for the past six years. When he first stepped into the parish and observed that a good area of church land was barren, he instantly decided to lay his hands on plants.
No doubt, 11 years back, when he served at St Anthony’s chapel, Dessua, Chinchinim as a chaplain and continued with his pastoral work for 5 years there, he beautified the vicinity with plants. When he got transferred to Our Lady of Pilar church, Seraulim, and served there as a parish priest for another 5 years, he turned a barren place into fertile land with mango plantations from the Pernem nursery. “Today, those saplings have turned into huge fruit-bearing trees,” reveals Fr Colaco with pride.
While revealing the secret behind his love for nature, Fr Colaco mentioned that his mother Hortencia was a lover of gardens. “She would take us along with her to work in the fields and that touch with Mother Earth helped us develop that love for nature,” he adds.
Besides him, the love for gardening was inculcated even among his siblings. His elder sister Benecia, younger sister Jenifa and younger brother Luis also picked up the hobby. With the appointment and transfer to different parishes, Fr Colaco carried with him the love for nature through gardening.
Today, the three gardens in Agassaim church compound—near the village panchayat, in front of the parochial house and at the cemetery—is a living testimony of his green thumb. Other than the plants that add beauty to the place, he has utilized the barren land below the priests’ residence by planting fruit-bearing trees, besides vegetables.
A closer look at the kitchen garden will enable you to identify varied banana plantations which include ‘elaichi’, ‘sakar puda’ and the ‘gavtti’ variety picked up from the Sulcorna farm. A little further you will spot chickoo and lime trees, besides mango and pineapple trees.
Fr Colaco says he took up this plantation for 5 consecutive years and even distributed the excess to the parishioners.
Now, during his seventh year of service and additional responsibility as the manager of St Lawrence High School, Fr Colaco hardly finds time at his disposal to dedicate to his plants. “Plants need a lot of care. That special touch, pruning and providing manure makes a big difference,” he explains.
Though he was totally committed to gardening for four consecutive years, his involvement in construction and renovation of the school, besides monitoring of paper work as parish priest due to migration of villagers, robbed him of his hobby. “Due to the golden jubilee celebrations of the school, I had a target to achieve. And I hardly had any help, except for one contractor who helped in civil work,” he informed.
“Mere plantation will not help,” he conceals, “You need a gardener round-the-clock who will work dedicatedly and only genuine love for gardening will yield fruits. Depending on the scope and if the area is vast, then labour, watering, trimming and manure count to a great extent.”
“Today, seminarians at Rachol Seminary are self-sufficient as they are actively involved in paddy and vegetable cultivation,” informs the priest. “The excess products are sold to the neighbouring villagers,” he adds.
The green priest says that when there is ample place in some parishes, priests should get involved at least within reasonable limits to cultivate the barren land and utilize it for some good. “Nature is part and parcel of life. It has a lot to give us. We should relate to nature for a healthier and fuller life,” he concludes.
