Prayer and action came together in the recently held Laudato Si’ celebrations in Grenada to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ ecological encyclical.
Over 300 students of the St Rose Modern Secondary School took to the streets of Gouyave, St John, Friday May 31, bearing posters and banners, shouting chants of: “The only solution is to stop pollution!” and “Save Mother Earth!” as they took part in their own climate march hosted by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother (SSM).
Bishop Clyde Harvey of St Georges-in-Grenada and several Sisters joined the students, accompanied by a drum corps, which immediately followed a rousing call by the Bishop for students to be advocators for the environment. The Bishop was also presented with a plaque by the SSM.
Marchers colourfully represented the different elements of creation: fire, air, water and earth and delivered strong messages to onlookers including repentance for the way all treat the environment and each other. In keeping with this theme, a minute silence was held during the march to repent for the damage caused by clergy sex-abuse.
The march followed an evening of ‘Education on Laudato Si’ and Vespers in St Peter’s Parish, Gouyave, Thursday May 30. Participants were welcomed by Sr Angella Samuel SSM, who encouraged all to be good stewards of the earth.
Analisa Ramsahai of the Franciscan Institute highlighted the challenges put forward by Pope Francis in his encyclical, following which participants began Vespers. The evening ended with participants sharing what they can do personally and as family to help save Planet Earth.