
As pilgrims of hope, inspired by Pope Francis’ Jubilee 2025 and his call to care for our common home, the Justice and Peace Committee of The Catholic Parish of Worthing and Lancing in the diocese of Arundel and Brighton, participated in a Zoom encounter with Marjorie Engcoy, JPIC Mindanao Animator in the Philippines in the autumn of 2024.
Touched by the encounter and the work of the Columban Missionaries, the parish responded with a heartfelt letter and a generous contribution to the Society. Their actions reflect a spirit of solidarity and hope, answering the call to build a world rooted in justice, peace, and care for creation.
This letter is from the Catholic Parish of Worthing and Lancing in the United Kingdom. Each year we allocate money to help with projects across the world. Our parish is supporting a joint project between the Higaonon indigenous people on the island of Mindanao, Southern Philippines and the Missionary Society of St. Columban this year.
In recent years Mindanao has frequently suffered increasingly violent Typhoons which due to logging of trees in the mountains have caused devastating floods. Members of the Higaonon Indigenous Community in Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao collect the seeds of indigenous rainforest tree species that still survive in the upper mountain slopes and nurture them into young trees that they plant in their tribal ancestral lands. Then they care for them for five years until they are able to start developing into a generation of rainforest trees which will help prevent flooding; these young men are putting the indigenous ecological wisdom they have inherited from their forebears into helping to save our Planet.
The trees are properly cared for by the Higaonon Community and form part of the 84.5 hectares of rainforest land that is cherished by the Higaonon as their last remaining ancestral home.
Through this project, a whole rainforest is being reborn. As the rainforest recovers, the quality of the soil is being rejuvenated and the millennia-old ecosystem is being restored whereby the rainforest trees actually produce rainclouds that irrigate the Higaonon ancestral farmlands.
The Catholic Parish of Worthing and Lancing are pleased to be supporting this project. We are full of admiration with all the challenges that they must face and are encouraged by what they are doing for future generations in the protection of our planet. May the way of life of the Higaonon community in Dansolihon remains vibrant.
Our Parish Priest Fr. Terry Martin comments “I am delighted that our parish is associated so closely with this project. The urgent need to heal and to restore our planet cannot be overstated and it is small, important gestures like these that remind each of us that, both as individuals and as communities, we really can make a difference. We have a mandate from God himself to care for and to till the earth. I praise the initiative of this project and promise to support it with my prayers and the prayers of our parish. The time is now! This is the acceptable day! We cannot wait!”
The tree-growing project in Britain continues to make great strides, with another exciting planting event scheduled for Friday 21st February in the Columban gardens in Solihull. This event will bring together Columban ordained, co-workers and their families, and the local community to plant even more trees across the estate. Additionally, on the 24th February, select schools from the local area will travel to St. Columbans to contribute to the initiative, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship among young people.
“Seeing the saplings thrive in the grounds is truly inspiring.” explains James Trewby, JPE Co-ordinator in Britain. “They’re growing strong and steady, a visible sign of the commitment we’ve made to care for the earth. It’s been fantastic working with the community on this project, there’s a real sense of shared purpose and unity as we plant these trees for the future. It’s always energising to witness the excitement and passion for the environment that people bring to these moments.”
These events are part of the Region’s ongoing efforts to restore and protect biodiversity and our collaboration with the Higaonon indigenous community as part of the Higaonon Tree Growing Project: Seeds of Change which aims to involve communities in the crucial work of nurturing God’s creation while also helping people to develop a meaningful connection with diverse ecosystems in the Philippines.
Talking of the Higaonon Tree Growing Project: Seeds of Change, Marjorie Engcoy, Columban JPIC Mindanao Animator explains, “So far, the saplings planted in January last year are all healthy and thriving. Only a few had died but these have been replaced.” She adds, “There are now a total of 2,000 young trees nurtured at the expansion site in Sitio Langag, Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. The majority of the species planted are indigenous species which are known to thrive in the locale. This was possible through the help of the six organisations or groups that contributed to the programme.”
One of the major challenges that the project faced was very hot temperatures between January to May 2024. It was the hottest recorded for the Philippines. The volunteers had to fetch water from the river, a few kilometres away from the project site, using their motorbikes. This was a basic measure to keep the first batch of young trees planted at the end of January last year.
Towards the end of last year, the construction of the Reception Area began. This area will accommodate a bunkhouse, small function hall, nursery, and toilet cubicles. “Looking ahead to 2025, we will start to explore income-generating projects for the community and by the community.” says Marj. “This is in line with the goal to empower community resilience and sustainability. We will also look to repair the solar powered water system using the financial aid we received last year.”
The project would like to express its thanks to all those who expressed support and commitment to assist it financially.