Uganda’s Holy Cross Lake View School – transforming young minds and lives

Sr. Stella Watsema, OLGC – Vatican City.

Celebrated under this year’s theme of “Environmental Conservation for Peace and Sustainable Development,” the Green Festival was organised by the Laudato Si Club of Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School, Wanyange, under the Laudato Youth Initiative.  The Initiative is a youth-led climate and ecological action programme rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 ecological encyclical: Laudato Si’.

Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School is a mixed day and boarding O and A level school in Wanyange, Jinja. The school is owned by the Congregation of Holy Cross Province of East Africa and aims to provide holistic, value-based education.

The Laudato Si’ Green Festival

A day packed with events

The lively Eucharistic celebration, celebrated by Fr Mayanja, was attended by several educational institutions headed by the Holy Cross missionaries, government schools and private institutions in the district. Local and national government leaders were also present. The guest speaker at the colourful festival was Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba.

In itself, the Eucharistic celebration was the culmination of a number of activities and events of that day. In all, the activities included a Green Walk; events promoting the good use of technology; tree planting and the distribution of tree cuttings. There was also space for eco exhibitions by students and storytelling as an important tool for Integral ecology.

In his homily, Fr. Peter Caxton Mayanja said failure to recognise Christ makes humans blind even to the responsibilities that the Creator has given them. Drawing on his personal experiences with storytelling and reading, Fr Mayanja spoke about the importance of storytelling for ecological awareness.

Ugandan Minister, Justine Kasule Lumumba at one of the exhibitions

The legacy of Laudato Si’ in Uganda

Fr. Peter said that the messages on the placards for the Green Walk caught his attention and moved him to reflect.

A “Green Walk” is a walk of Faith in which students, heads of schools, religious leaders, and community members of Wanyange march together to raise awareness about caring for creation.

The Laudato Si’ Green Festival is one among many events and initiatives that the religious Congregation of Holy Cross, through its institution – the Holy Cross Lake View Senior Secondary School, Wanyange, is using to encourage learners and young people to take action and protect the environment. The school is not only a testament to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ legacy but also one that seeks to concretise its aims: To teach minds, touch hearts, and transform lives.