Our link Diocese of Luleå

Published on: 24 May 2022

The Diocese of Luleå in northern Sweden is finding ways to show the church can be counted on in a crisis, be a neighbour in times of need.

Maria Klasson Sundin, Bishop’s Chaplain, explains she wants the population to notice “The church is doing a good work, and I could be part of that”. One strand of work is caring for refugees and Maria speaks of the speedy response to the Ukrainian crisis, as connections were already in place after an influx of refugees in 2015.

The church also has wounds to heal where, in the past, it was not a good neighbour to the Sami people. Despite having Christian traditions woven into their nomadic lifestyle of following reindeer, Sami culture was looked down upon, even cruelly discouraged. Now the Sami people are valued, their language is included in liturgy, and their habit of blessing and thanksgiving in all kinds of situations is encouraged.

www.svenskakyrkan.se/luleastift


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