- svd-prms
- / GER
- / Celebration / SVD@150
Sankt Augustin Community Celebrates the Light
Sebastian Quillmann
More than 3,000 visitors enjoyed an evening that shed light on the colourful history and mission of the SVD. A particular highlight of the programme was a pretend interview with our founder, Arnold Janssen, featuring extracts from his letters. Fr Bernd Werle SVD voiced Janssen. Other performances showed how the SVD has grown into a global, intercultural community.
One showed how Josef Freinademetz came to love the Chinese culture. Another one told the story of how the SVD started the first seminary for young African Americans in the USA. The audience also learned about the Roscommon Consensus, which brought Divine Word Missionaries from around the world to Europe.
Outside of the church, the SVD and their guests had a lively get-together with illuminated tents, food and drinks. Our guests stayed late into the night, enjoying the special atmosphere of the architecture and the colourful lighting.
The light festival was made possible by the help of many people on and behind the stage, including artists, volunteers, technicians, and organizers. “This celebration was about our history, but also about what happens when many people share their gifts,” said the organizing team.
The visitors’ enthusiasm and the unique atmosphere will be remembered for a long time. The team has experienced the feeling of witnessing to the light. As the word of the event spreads, so does the Divine Word. And the light continues to shine.
