Saturday, October 17, 2020
On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Sí sent by Pope Francis to the entire people of God. Caritas Dalat has organized many events in response to global campaigns on this occasion. After two interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, October 15-16, at Caritas Da Lat office, a forum "Layers in the mission of taking care of the common home" took place, opening the series forum for exchange and learning of the network in the parishes. Present in the forum were representatives of the parish/parishment of Donbosco, Holy Mother of Da Lat, Duc Giang, Kala, Da Loan, Diom and Da Tong.
On the first day, the participants discussed issues related to Land, Water and Air together. Following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, the groups are called by such affectionate names as brother Air, Sister Water and Mother Earth. In this section, the participants raised the negative realities of nature under the influence of human labor and production.
From their own observations and discoveries, participants were able to briefly learn about the Pope's encyclical Laudato sí. From there, a broader perspective is opened not only to see the painful problems of mother Earth but also the problems related to the poor on the margins of society. In the encyclical Laudato sí, the Holy Father said: “Today we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Quote Laudato sí, no. 49). In response to the pope's call, Caritas invites participants to explore the process of change to learn to slow down in the face of excessive exploitation of the Earth and be active participating in caring and nurturing for our planet earth. It was the participants who were inspired by the pope and they engaged in a commitment to pray for and with creation we will be able to live more simply and respond to the care of our common home.
To do that the Caritas Dalat invited participants from families, village peoples, groups and parishes, to come and discussed together to droaden their knowledge and skills such as: Environmental knowledge, Laudato sí message and motivational or communication skills. From those needs, the content of the next learning exchanges has been preliminarily developed and scheduled for organization.
The second day of exchange began with an outdoor Mass with light rain, birdsong and glittering dew drops on the grass. In the midst of peaceful and quite surrounding, the director of Caritas Dalat invites the participants to contemplate and care for God's creation. Following the Mass is the ceremony of planting trees and trees planted together, showing solidarity and caring for the common house.
Participants have collectively committed to participate in the forum and have developed a common set of principles to practice for forum attendees. They themselves have recognized that the issues raised by the Holy Father are really urgent problems. The parishes came together to develop their initial action plans after the kick-off forum. The forum ended with a prayer. The "Song of Creation" by Saint Francis of Assisi was sung by all to the praise of God. Together with Pope Francis, we hope as we look to “the other side of the sun” to “In union with all creatures, we journey through this land seeking God” (Excerpt. Laudato si, number 244).
Tu Huy