Panaji, Oct 30 (IANS): The Roman Catholic Church in Goa, here on Wednesday, urged the faithful to avoid use of plastics and plastic-coated products as well as "toxic material" during celebrations, beginning with the observance of All Souls Day, on November 2.

"The Church urges the faithful to work collectively to educate people on this issue and motivate them to avoid using toxic material," said the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (the media cell of the Church) in a statement.

"From this month onwards, we will have several celebrations in our parishes. Very soon we will celebrate the All Souls Day, wherein the parishioners will beautify the graves of their loved ones with flowers packaged with plastics, thermocol, foam and silver foil," the statement said.

The All Souls Day is observed as a means of commemoration for the departed.

The church's move comes weeks after the Goa banned the use of single-use plastic on October 2.

Catholics account for nearly a third of the state's 1.5 million population and look to the church as religious and spiritual guide.