Caritas India and Misereor Germany share Lent campaign on Laudato Si’

The campaign in Germany started on 17 February; in India on 18 February. Fr D'Souza calls on young Germans to eat vegetarian, use public transit, and not waste water.


Mumbai (AsiaNews) – For the first time Caritas India and Misereor Germany jointly launched the Lent campaign, which this year will focus on the ecological teachings of Laudato Sì, the encyclical of Pope Francis on the protection of the environment and human communities from the risks of climate change.

"Caritas India and Misereor have been working together for a long time,” said Frederick D'Souza, executive director of the Catholic association, speaking to AsiaNews. The two “have been involved in the development sector for more than 50 years. The success in organising the joint Lent campaign this year has helped bring forward the benefits of mutual collaboration."

The theme of this year’s campaign – ‘Have you changed the world today?’ – is climate change. The programme was developed with a series of preparatory meetings, attended by young people from the development organisation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Germany.

The first was held in May 2017, then in June and February of this year. On 17 February, Fr D'Souza celebrated a solemn Mass in St Lantpert’s Catholic Church in Munich, with which he officially launched the programme in Germany to last until Good Friday.

During the ceremony, he called on young German to be responsible members of the Church and support the value of solidarity.

Avoiding wasting water, using electrical power only when really necessary, taking public transit, eat vegetarian as much as possible, and cutting air travel are some of the practical steps the Indian priest suggested to the young Germans to save the planet.

In India, the Lent campaign was launched on 18 February at the Church of the Sacred Heart in New Delhi.

The event is part of the universal Church’s call to respect the environment, prevent the negative effects of climate change, and act individually and collectively for sustainable production, use and consumption. (NC)