Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aachen (Fides Service) – Yesterday January 6th Feast of the Epiphany, for the 46th time German children all over the country took part in the traditional star singers collection for children in need. Dressed as the Three Wise Men who came from the East to adore the new born King, Infant Jesus in Bethlehem, about half a million children sang their way from door to door. Children in 13,000 Catholic parishes knocked at front doors, sang their carols in exchange for offerings and then left their traditional mark on the door- C+M+B (Christus mansionem benedictat 2004 – Christ blesses this house).
Gufantanya kubaka was the motto chosen for Star Singers collection this year. Gufatanya kubaka is Children build bridges in Kinyarwanda one of the three official languages in Rwanda. Rwanda, torn apart by a bloody genocide war in 1994 between Hutu and Tutsi is still in need of reconciliation, hence the need to build bridges, the symbol of this year’s solidarity campaign. With the money collected Star Singer children want to support reconciliation in Rwanda. The children prepared for the event following this year’s special campaign material aimed at increasing awareness of the needs of children in poor countries.
Children in Rwanda are not the only destination of the Epiphany collection. Star Singers aim to support no less than 3.000 projects to help children in Asia, Oceania, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Started in 1959, the Star Singers initiative has grown to be one of the most successful children helping children campaign in the world. The total amount collected so far is 280 million Euro in support of projects to help children all over the world. The amount collected has grown steadily over the years, and last year reached a record high of 32,17 million Euro spent to support programmes of evangelisation, education, health care, food supplies, clean water supplies and emergency help
Every parish group and movement organises its own Star Singer group. The children, aged between 8 and 13, are accompanied by adults (90.000 all over Germany) who also help with year long preparation for the annual event. During the year the children learn to make their clothes, practice the songs and memorise the official formula for the Blessing. Many parishes organise regular meetings for Star Singers during the year.
Every year the campaign is officially opened in one of the 27 dioceses in Germany. But every diocese organises its own Star Singers collection in the different parishes and very often the bishop himself takes part. Before setting out on their mission the children and accompanying adults take part in a special early evening Mass. See more information www.sternsinger.org. (MS) (Fides Service, 7/1/2004 – 42 lines, 542 words)
