Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Fides Service) - In dioceses all over Spain the Pontifical Mission Societies will celebrate the Feast of Star Sowers, Holy Childhood children go into the streets to offer Christmas greetings on behalf of missionaries and pin a star on the coat of the people they meet. The stars are a symbol of the joy of Christmas and the good news of the birth of Jesus who reveals God’s immense love for all men and women. The initiative of Star Sowers was started 28 years ago in Madrid and every year it has involved more and more towns and children all over the country, reaching the present number of 100,000 participants.
The essence of Star Sowers is that there is more joy in giving than receiving like missionaries who give all and expect nothing in return. The other element is that while on World Mission Day Holy Childhood children collect money for the missions, at Christmas they go out to thank people for supporting the missions and the missionaries. Children prepare to take part with special catechesis and a prayer before they are ‘sent out’. They spend the whole day distributing Christmas wishes and stars and then meet again at the end of the day. Star Sowers day is held on a day between the 16 and the 24 December in different towns.
“Star Sowers” also serves to launch Holy Childhood Campaign 2006. In the setting of the 5th centenary of St Francis Xavier which opened on 3 December, the PMS have planned various activities including series of conferences on the figure of St Francis Xavier, mission meetings, launching of publications, video, DVD on the saint. For the 10th year running the PMS are launching a Christmas Call Campaign to offer missionaries free telephone calls to their relations over Christmas. The Campaign lasts from 13 December to 10 January. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2005, righe 27, parole 395)
