St John Bosco Parish, Jakarta, Indonesia, 11 February 2022 -- Christian faith values the dignity of all creation and having concern for the creation or the environment is an integral part of that faith. Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato Si” emphasized the Church as a movement of faith; that Christian faith must be actualized in real action. The encyclical also called for ecological conversion which is interpreted as an attitude of faith that is willing to care and respect every creation, for the good of the creation in its dignity and worth, as well as for the sake of living together.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made us aware the importance of taking care of the earth. When we attempt to reduce air pollution that is coming from factory smoke and vehicles, the sky becomes brighter and cleaner and the air we breathe becomes healthier. Another way to reduce earth pollution is by reducing organic waste. It is said that organic waste can be decomposed in nature. While this claim is true to some extent, but excessive amount of organic waste that is not managed properly will only bring disaster to the earth and its living being. But, the good news is that organic waste from the kitchen can be a blessing. It comes in the form of Eco Enzyme.
This liquid that comes from the fermentation of organic waste, like fruit peels or pieces of raw vegetables, mixed with molasses or palm sugar, cane sugar or brown sugar has a million benefits. Some of the benefits include natural household cleanser, it can also be used as treatment for various wounds, and also to improve air and water quality. The process of fermenting the organic waste into the useful enzymes will take about 3 months.
Two years earlier, St John Bosco Parish, Jakarta, began to launch the Bosco Eco Enzyme (BEE) community, whose members are parish priests and parishioners, religious, housewives, students, and some government officials whether they’re Christians or non-Christians. The BEE community movement is a form of concrete action to respond to the call of ecological conversion, especially in the efforts of saving the Earth. So, the BEE community members have been fermenting organic waste from their homes for the past two years. In results, the community has delivered Eco Enzyme to purify water and air to places affected by natural disasters like Earthquake in Samarinda (2021) and to Kudus city, the black zone of Covid-19. They have also conducted various webinars and lectures sharing information about the making and the benefits of Eco Enzyme.
And by doing this, everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or status is invited to become a blessing, not only for the present time but also for the future our children and grandchildren. The BEE community has not only become the LANGUAGE of introducing and sharing the benefits of the Eco Enzyme but also a place where we embrace our non-Catholic members to be involved and feel united in caring for our common home, the mother earth.
On the feast of its patron, the Bosco Eco Enzyme is determined to improve the water quality of an 11-hectare lake located in the parish area by pouring Eco Enzyme into it after examining the water quality of the lake. Every week, the parish collaborates with several Eco Enzyme communities and local government to pour 250 litters of Eco Enzyme. This sure is a big project and commitment. But we hope that by pouring our heart and works into this joint project, which serves as a concrete manifestation of ecological conversion, it will bring blessings to the earth and to us – humans who inhabit it.
Let us turn organic waste into blessing.
