On Saturday 30 September, in the setting of the garden in Via Santa Maria in Cosmedin, 80 young people from various European countries were welcomed for the Together workshop. There was much food for thought: how to welcome and protect the gift of creation? How does climate change affect our lives and those around us?
The Taizé community, which had proposed to Pope Francis this gathering of the People of God preceding the Synod, involved the Sisters of Charity of the Generalate to organise one of the thematic workshops. The theme chosen was: “All Living, All Interdependent”, according to Integral Ecology, because being living means being in relationship, being connected and interdependent with all living beings.
The Workshop involved a multicultural team of Sisters of Charity together with young lay people committed to ecology and to serving the poor, with their different skills.
The opening was a moment of prayer in the Cathedral of Creation, in the large garden of the Generalate: the various countries gathered listened to creation.
From there, the journey started towards the Chapter House, where the young people were invited to make an ecological choice, the very place where the Sisters of Charity make their important decisions.
After a time of reflection, the young people were invited to divide into three sub-workshops:
- “Climate change: terror of the poor”: sister Maria Luisa C. highlighted the link between ecology and the poor, explaining the difficulties that climate change creates for the most fragile
- “Everyday ecological spirituality”: Stephen and sister Jessica highlighted how spirituality offers a profound sense of renewal in lifestyle and ecological choices.
- “Do economy and ecology go hand in hand?”: Giandonato highlighted the link between ecology and economy.
At the end of the workshops, just to give the sense of interdependence, each sub-workshop shared its reflection, composing a symbol with puzzle pieces: everyone thus found themselves together as Custodians of Creation.
The group of participants then began their walk to join the rest of the young people, who had gathered at the Cathedral of St John Lateran, and then headed towards St Peter’s Square. The team of volunteers shared a convivial meal, to rejoice in this service experienced together. Then, they too on their way to the celebration with the pope and the other representatives of the Christian religions.
