On Sunday, 22nd of May 2016 we again had our Open Air Divine Service in the last leper station of Europe, in Fontilles. Our Rector served with the text word out of John 17, verse 21 and 22: “That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one.”
The Rector mentioned that the Trinity of God can serve as an example for us how we can reach oneness. They are always in one accord! They share everything – what belongs to the one belongs also to the other. They testify of one another – the Son glorifies the Father, the Father testifies about the Son, the Holy Spirit, the Father and the Son. They work together for the salvation of mankind.
In order that we are also one with God and his Son we should be in one accord with his will, be like-minded, proclaim his works and serve him.
The Rector told us about one event in his life when he was a young man and went sailing on the sea together with three friends. At the beginning of the journey they were quarreling with one another. Later on during that day a storm came up. All of a sudden they were in one accord! They wanted to survive the storm and anything else was of less priority, their only thinking was the wish to survive.
Priest Marcellino Mukoko from Valencia served along in French and Spanish as well as two Priests from Germany, Priest Burkhardt and Priest Albrecht who were asked by the Rector beforehand if they were prepared to serve along. Besides them the Deacon also served in English so that it was a well rounded beautiful Divine Service in a wonderful atmosphere.
Altogether 154 people participated in the Divine Service amongst them 50 friends and guests.
After the Divine Service tapas were served, one could take part in a tour through the leper station and those who already participated in the tour last year could watch a film about the leper station. After that almost everybody went to the Italian restaurant of Marcello and enjoyed again the in the meantime famous pasta buffet.