Between December 27 and January 6, 85,000 star singers will travel across Austria to bless houses and apartments and collect donations for the Global South this year. A Carinthian group was allowed to represent the New Year’s Mass at the Vatican.
Emma, Jana, Luzia and Samuel are enthusiastic star singers from the Neuhaus/Suha parish. “This is my third year as a star singer. What I especially like about it is that you can go out with people you like, sing songs and raise money for people in poorer countries,” Emma explains. On their trip to Rome for the New Year’s Mass with Pope Francis, an extensive program could not be missed: a visit to the Papal Swiss Guard with a guided tour, a joint Mass and a dinner with the other European delegations. “It is a great pleasure for us to have the Austrian delegation of star singers here in Rome this year,” emphasizes Irina Kolland, regional manager of the Young Church of Carinthia.
After the New Year’s Mass, the star singers were able to walk through the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica to St. Peter’s Square to participate in the Angelus prayer with Pope Francis. “I was a little excited before we saw Pope Francis. It was also very spectacular when so many bishops entered St. Peter’s Basilica,” says Emma after the New Year’s Mass.
About 500 projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America are supported by the Sternsinger in Austria. “I’m happy that people here are willing to donate a few euros that can make a big difference in the world,” says David Hofer, Epiphany campaign project officer, and Jessica Weyrer, project representative, adds proudly. “Over the past 70 years, more than 44 million euros have been donated to the star singer campaign in Carinthia, and in the whole of Austria this is even more than 520 million euros.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
