Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aachen (Fides Service) - Once again this year, during the first week of the new year around the Feast of the Epiphany children all over Germany will go from house to house to sing Christmas carols and collect money for children in need “Children have a voice - dek mii sitti riak rong” is the motto for this years campaign of solidarity, the 47th , for which Thailand has been chosen as the symbol country.
“Dek mii sitti riak rong” in Thai means “children have rights to claim”. “Because of the terrible conditions under which they live, many children in the world are not allowed to speak. They are not allowed to voice their dreams and aspirations. Children’s rights must be guaranteed everywhere in the world” said Father Andreas Mauritz, President of the German Catholic Youth Association (BDKJ) which supports the Holy Childhood campaign. With their motto the Star Singers want to speak on behalf of all those children whose rights are violated and say that the United Nations Convention on Children’s Rights must be respected.
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).
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 a record amount of 34.3 million Euro was collected in 2004. The children’s collections go to support programmes to help for less fortunate children of evangelisation, education, health care, food supplies, clean water supplies and emergency aid. (MS) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2004 - 29 righe, 329 parole)
