Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – After ten years as President of the Holy Childhood Association in Germany and the Star Singers' campaign ("Sternsinger"), Monsignor Winfried Pilz leaves his office at the end of March. On the occasion of his retirement, Msgr. Pilz has come to Rome with a large group of collaborators. Thursday, March 4th, they met with the staff of the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood, visiting the offices of the Pontifical Mission Societies and Agenzia Fides, as well as the rest of the Palace of Propaganda Fide in which they are located.
In his welcome speech, the Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Fr. Timothy Lehane, SVD, thanked the German Holy Childhood Association for the important work they do in promoting missionary activities among children and with the collections they make for their peers in need around the world. Speaking of his experiences during the mission trips to countries, Fr. Timothy spoke of the importance of helping children understand the important contribution they can make, even at a young age, to the mission of the Church. He also quoted Pope John Paul II, who called children “great little missionaries.”
The meeting with those involved in the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood was an opportunity for a fruitful exchange of experiences on methods and criteria in missionary work among children, and the distribution of subsidies for projects to help needy children in mission territories. Mons. Pilz, who has led the German Holy Childhood Association since 2000 with great success, following his term, was asked by the German Bishops' Conference to take responsibility for the German-speaking Catholic community living in Prague (Czech Republic). (MS) (Agenzia Fides 05/03/2010)
