Quito (Agenzia Fides) - "Become a missionary, putting on a smile for Christmas" is the slogan of the first Festival of Christmas Carols. The festival aims to promote the true Christian spirit of Christmas through music and song. The festival is organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Archdiocese of Quito, the Ecuadorian Bishops' Conference, the National Catholic Radio, Catholic Association for Communication, and the Organization SIGNIS ECUADOR Catholic communications in Latin America and the Caribbean (OCLACC ), with the aim of promoting the artistic culture and religious music to find new talent in groups or choirs who sing religious and popular songs.
With this activity, they also hope to promote the missionary task of Christians, according to the invitation of the Document of Aparecida, to "reach out to individuals, families, communities and peoples, to communicate to them, sharing the gift of our encounter with Christ, who has filled our lives with meaning, truth and love, joy and hope" (DA 548), through music. The competition is open to bands, choirs, and soloists nationwide, who will perform two Christmas songs, which may be unknown or well-known, presented in an original manner. The winners will receive a special CD, as a souvenir from this first festival, along with a financial grant. There will also be a cash prize for the second and third place winners. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2009)