Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Mangaluru, April 16: Papaya plantations from St Joseph Church in Soorikumeru have created magic in distant Sampaje village of Madikeri. The grown up plantations of St Francis Xavier’s Church in Sampaje have captured the hearts of all who had seen it.

Sampaje Church parish priest Fr Navin Prakash Pinto who had visited Soorikumeru Borimar Church last September was inspired by the revolutionary plantations of the parish priest of Soorikumeru Church, Fr Gregory Pereira. He decided to carry out the plantation at his own parish mesmerized by looking at the yams, drum stick, spinach, green leafy vegetables, ash pumpkin creepers and sweet potatoes grown under the initiative of Fr Gregory Pereira.

Subsequently, he planted them at his parish. The papaya plants, spinach and beans taken by Fr Pinto from Soorikumeru Church have grown up and turned to be a beautiful vegetable garden in Sampaje Church.

More than 85 papaya plants in Sampaje resemble to those in Soorikumeru Church. The vegetation had in turn inspired several others. It paved the way for similar activities in other churches too. Fr Pinto expressed his gratitude to the parish priest of Soorikumeru Church. The parishioners also participated in this initiative.

The parish priest of Soorikumeru, Fr Gregory Pereira had shown that the church can also become a model for agriculture.