CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Austria: record of donations for the Star SingersA new record of donations for the Austrian Star Singers: in the traditional fundraising campaign at the end of the year, the Star Singers of Katholische Jungschar have raised over 15 million – about 65,000 more than during the 2011 campaign. This was reported by the Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress, citing a press release by the abovementioned organization stating that "Every single Euro being raised is a powerful sign that Austrians do care about the fate of our poorest brothers and sisters who live in the poor regions of the South". The money raised this year will be used for about 500 aid projects in 20 developing countries. This fundraising action involves every year about 3,000 priests and 85,000 Star Singers, i.e. children dressed up as the Three Wise Men who go around singing door to door to collect contributions for the poor, along with 30,000 young people and adults who accompany them. The press release does not spare some criticism on the "deep cuts" made by the State to the activities of cooperation to development: "Every year the same scene: Austrian people knowingly engage in solidarity and fill the coffers of the Singers", while "the Federal government finds nothing better than saving on the skin of the poorest", said Elke Giacomozzi, federal president of the organization who, with an appeal addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Spindegger and the government, called for "not dealing the fatal blow" to the activity of cooperation to development by means of further cuts.Czech Republic: pastoral theologians met in PragueAbout 70 pastoral theologians from 14 counties of Europe participate at the international conference on "Christian identity in Europe" held in Prague on 19-22 March. "We hope that our joints symposium will strengthen international contacts and that it will contribute to mutual openness among pastoral theologians", says Prof. Richard Hartmann, president of the German speaking conference of pastoral theologians. He expressed hope that the event would become a place where the pastoral theologians take notice of the differences in their reflection on the situation of the Church and its pastoral work, as well as of the elements that unite their views and attitudes. "Purality of Europe reflects in various realities of the society, related to various pastoral theological perceptions. We can encounter tensions but we believe that we can manage them with mutual respect and good will", say the organizers of the event, organized by the German speaking conference of pastoral theologians and the Association of pastoral theologians of Central and Eastern Europe. Belarus: youth spiritual retreatA spiritual retreat for young people from the student association "Eagle" took place on 14-16 March in Grodno, Belarus, inspired by the Year of Faith. Young girls and boys reflected on various topics regarding their personal faith and tried to answer the questions associated with spiritual formation and presence of God in their everyday life. Organizers of the retreat traditionally held in the Lenten Period were surprised by growing interest of youth to participate at the event. "Despite a general prejudice that young people don’t want to be mentored and don’t want to listen, their interest was enormous", commented Rev. Antoni Gremza who conducted the retreat.
