Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vienna (Agenzia Fides) - With a new web site (www.missio.at), a short video-clip to be broadcast on Friday 7 September in the frame of the Papal Visit, and a campaign with 400 posters put up all over the capital of Austria, the Pontifical Mission Societies Austria “Missio” will greet the arrival in the land of Austria of Pope Benedict XVI. The posters portray the Pope with four children and the text “Just a moment with Missio…look at Christ, open your heart, give love” drawn from the Papal Visit motto chosen by the Bishops “Contemplating Christ”, is a call to join the Holy Father and put children at the centre of attention.
The national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Austria, Fr. Leo Maasburg MA, says: “We are very happy that Pope Benedict is coming and with him we wish to give attention to all people but children especially. This is why we have chosen to help former child soldiers return to normal life. With loving care, therapy and first steps towards school or training for a profession, - with our partners in Uganda - we have already helped many of these children start a new life. Today increasing numbers of children are ‘dismissed' from their 'army service' and they need urgent help…”. On the occasion of the Papal Visit Missio is asking Austrian Catholics to support this programme.
In a recent letter to readers of Austrian diocesan newspapers in view of his pilgrimage to Austria, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of his recent journey to Brazil and his meeting with former drug addicts at the Fazenda di Esperanca rehabilitation centre. “They told me that for them to discover God - the Pope writes - means to rediscover joy of life and hope for the future …Let us pray together that my visit to Austria may help us to feel again the joy of God and in this way to build a future of hope”.
Over 500 Austrian children responded to a call by Missio to send letters and drawings to the Pope to illustrate the motto “Contemplating Christ”. The letters and drawings collected in a book will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI at the end of an open air Sunday Mass on 9 September in Vienna's Stephansplatz by the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Austria Fr Maasburg and five children whose names will be drawn out of a hat. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 5/9/2007 - 31 righe, 407 parole)
