Due to the corona, the opening of the Germany-wide caroling campaign could only take place on a smaller scale than originally planned. Instead of the usual 240 girls and boys, Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer welcomed 32 carolers – eight groups – in the cathedral this time. He is happy that they came together anyway, said the bishop. For the diocese of Regensburg, even in times of pandemics, the following applies: “We don’t miss anything. We’ll come up with something. ”The campaign is also organized by the children’s mission organization“ Die Sternsinger ”and the Association of German Catholic Youth. This time the motto is “Get healthy – stay healthy. A children’s right worldwide “. The carol singers want to draw attention to the care of children in Africa.

Austria: carol singers with the Federal President

In Austria, the carol singers of the Dreikönigsaktion have been on the road for four days. Until January 9th, the children dressed as the Three Kings will go from house to house, bringing the blessing for the new year and being bitten for donations for people in need, this year for indigenous people in Amazonia. This Thursday, carol singers – protected with FFP2 masks – visited Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer in the Hofburg. The children from the mostly Croatian-speaking community of Neudorf near Parndorf in Burgenland recited blessings and carol singers in German and Croatian. It is “incredibly important that the campaign can take place this year despite the pandemic,” Van der Bellen told the children. He heard that the donors are also referred to as the “fourth king”. “That shows how important it is for all people to work together and work together. Especially in a crisis, “emphasized the Federal President.

Vatican: carol singers with the Pope

On New Year’s Day, four star singers each from the Diocese of Limburg, Switzerland and South Tyrol will celebrate Holy Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. They carry the gifts to the altar. A gesture with tradition: for the 17th time since 2001, carol singers are experiencing a New Year’s service with the Pope. In 2021, the trip to Rome by star singing children had to be canceled due to Corona.

Biggest solidarity campaign by children for children

The Dreikönigssingen campaign is the world’s largest solidarity campaign by children for children. This year was an anniversary to celebrate: 175 years ago – in 1846 – the then 15-year-old Catholic Auguste von Sartorius founded the “Association of Holy Childhood” in Aachen, thus laying the foundation for the children’s missionary organization “Die Sternsinger”.

(kna / pm / vatican news – gs)