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Religion

Faith Matters - Open to Everybody

January 3, 2021

The Catholic Church of St Theodor and St Elisabeth in the western German city Cologne is located in a district known as a social flashpoint. The parish priest, Father Franz Meurer, views building community as his top priority. Not just in the Church but in daily life. He has established a second-hand clothing store, a furniture and bicycle warehouse and a food bank - all open to everybody.

https://p.dw.com/p/3nTDj

Elmar Schulze-Tigges and his wife Miriam run an educational project for children on their 400-year-old family farm in western Germany. The farming methods they use are all ecology-friendly. On the UNESCO-commended educational farm the kids from diverse social backgrounds learn where food comes from and that we can achieve greater success by working together. Data centres are usually energy-intensive. Stefan Maier established a business constructing energy-efficient data centres. Taking things a step further he modelled his business on community-enhancing values, such as sustainability, equality and fair pay. He and his team are convinced that sustainable business practices are possible and that it isn’t necessary to do business at the cost of future generations. Maria Baum is nearly 100-years-old. She is confined to her bed and knows she will die soon. But she loves life and has no fear. Babette Hünig from a mobile hospice service visits her regularly. She understands that birth and death are the cornerstones of life on Earth, during which we are constantly in need of other people. The protagonists in these various stories have something in common: strong human relationships are amongst the most important things in their life and in their work.