Open-Air Worship Celebrated in "Laudato Si"
In the heart of Fulda, Germany, a unique event took place as the parish of St. Martin co-celebrated a special open-air Mass in the KulturGarten on the former Landesgartenschaugelaende. The occasion marked the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si," with Catholic associations Kfd, KAB, and Kolping joining forces with the Department of the Church in the World in the Diocese of Fulda to emphasize the care for "our common home" and the responsibility of humanity for the preservation of creation.
During the well-attended Mass, approximately 90 guests recited Kyrie calls and readings, while Eva-Lotte Neuhaus accompanied on the guitar. The homily was delivered by Johanna Elm, who encouraged small steps towards a sustainable lifestyle.
The Mass also served as an opportunity to raise funds for a worthy cause. Proceeds from food and drinks during the event went directly to the missio project "Help for the children of the e-waste dump" in Ghana. Notably, the recycling cross used during the Mass was made from brass found in European air conditioners on an e-waste dump in Ghana, symbolizing the global connection and the shared responsibility towards environmental sustainability.
Silvia Koehler, the referent for the Church in the World in the Diocese of Fulda, stated that the organizers aimed to take responsibility for the environment and set a sign for sustainability and social justice. Despite the identity of the referent for "Kirche in der Welt" in the Bistum Fulda not being explicitly stated in the provided search results, several individuals were mentioned with various roles, such as Maike Pichler (Dezernentin Glaube Erleben), Ute Ramb and Christiane Adler (Gemeindereferentinnen).
The event also provided a platform for guests to meet and exchange ideas about sustainability after the service. Many guests took advantage of the offer to purchase fair-trade products, ranging from coffee to organic mango snacks, further demonstrating the commitment to social justice and ethical consumerism.
As the Mass came to a close, the attendees, some of whom had traveled from North Hesse, left with a renewed sense of responsibility towards the environment and a call to action for a more sustainable future. The celebration in Fulda served as a testament to the power of faith and community in driving positive change for the planet.
