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The blessings of the Christmas carol singers also come via video and mailbox due to this year’s wreath – strict hygiene concept for on-site visits – donations to Dreikönigsaktion financial aid for one million people in poor regions every year
Vienna / Salzburg (KAP) – The children of the parish of Strasshof (Lower Austria) opened this year’s Christmas carol campaign with a visit to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. On Monday, at the Archiepiscopal Palace in Vienna, the cardinal blessed the boys and girls disguised as Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar on behalf of the many “Holy Magi” from all over Austria.
Until January 6, the Campaign of the Magi of the Catholic Youth Group meets for people in need in developing countries. Carol singers bring their year-end wishes this year, for the coronavirus, without singing, with distance and protection in mouth and nose and in some communities exclusively by mail. If you wish, you can participate as the “Fourth King”, send Christmas carol greetings online to family and friends and request donations for “Help Under a Lucky Star”.
Schönborn: Be generous this year too
This year, the Christmas carol singers especially defend the continued solidarity in Austria even in difficult times, said Cardinal Schönborn at the meeting with the queens and kings. Typically more than 80,000 children are in Austria these days. “They do it with enthusiasm and for very good causes, that is, to help children around the world in emergency situations. I can only ask that the people of our country be as generous with children as they have always been in the past. last years. were. “
“There is nothing that can generate more hope than children who defend other people in this world in their free time,” said Martin Hohl, president of the Austrian Catholic youth group, during the visit to the palace. “Especially in times when many people live alone and suffer a lot from the fact that social contacts have to be restricted, it is a special sign when children visit people and bring the Christmas blessing, of course, in fulfillment of Corona’s safety regulations. “
Lackner: “Don’t forget others in your own need”
Despite the corona pandemic, several children, adolescents and adults also set out to sing Christmas carols in the Archdiocese of Salzburg. Where no group can go from house to house, the blessing reaches people in many other ways, the archdiocese noted Monday to the carefully maintained distance and protection of the mouth and nose, to video greetings and blessings in the mailbox. Despite the pandemic, this year the message of the Magi will be carried and, at the same time, donations will be requested for aid projects that allow families in South India to have a better future.
“God is close to us, especially in these difficult times,” said Salzburg Archbishop Franz Lackner at the start of this year’s Christmas caroling campaign under special auspices. “When the boys and girls of Austria set out to collect donations for people in need, this is an expression of a Christian image of themselves: in your own helplessness, in your own need, don’t forget the needs of others,” says Lackner . . The President of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference thanked all who supported the Christmas caroling campaign with a heartfelt “Vergelt’s Gott”.
Sternsinger special hygiene concept
Carol singers can collect donations according to special rules of distance and hygiene even in the current confinement. The traditional relief operation is considered a voluntary activity that cannot be postponed and is included in the professional activity in the sense of the Ordinance of protection measures Covid-19. Those responsible have also presented a Sternsinger hygiene concept coordinated with experts to the health authorities. For parishes there is the guideline “Carol Singers Campaign 2021 – But Sure!” with tips and all the guidelines.
Consequently, Christmas carol groups cannot enter living spaces this year. Because chanting should also be avoided, the “Holy Kings” can only convey New Years blessings and wishes in the form of traditional sayings by singing stars. At a distance of at least one meter, the blessing “C + M + B” (Latin abbreviation: Christ mansionem benedicat; translated:
Christ bless this house) at the doors are respected.
Also a virtual tour
Whether the carol singers move from house to house or switch to alternative blessings and fundraising options is decided by the respective parish throughout Austria. Where visits are not possible, the “Sternsingerpost” is distributed, which in many places also contains a specially designed letter of blessing.
The online highlight of this year’s Christmas carol campaign is the virtual Christmas carol greeting. At www.sternsingen.at/virtuellerbesuch, everyone can submit videos of Christmas carol singers with blessings for the New Year, including personal dedications to family and friends, and ask for an Epiphany donation.
Help a million people
In terms of total donation, the Christmas caroling campaign is the largest collection in Austria. “Each year, one million people benefit from Epiphany-supported projects,” explains Veronika Schippani, president of the Catholic youth group for the Archdiocese of Vienna. Donations to Christmas Carol singers enable around 500 aid projects in 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America each year. A year ago, children raised around 18.4 million euros in Austria.
The funds go to projects such as supporting farm families in South India, the example country for this year’s campaign. There, climate change is putting farmers’ livelihoods at risk. Extreme periods of drought lead to poor harvests and famine, storms and heavy rains destroy fields. Donations to carol singers help to build small storage tanks for rainwater or to convert them into other types of grain that can better cope with the drought.
(IBAN of the donation account: AT23 6000 0000 9300 0330, account holder:
Dreikönigsaktion or online at www.sternsingen.at/spenden)
((end)) GOOD / RME
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