"BECOME A MESSENGER OF LOVE!"

Bonifatiuswerk launches nationwide diaspora campaign in Hildesheim

The Bonifatiuswerk of German Catholics launched the nationwide diaspora campaign of the Catholic Church with a pontifical mass in Hildesheim. (Foto: Oliver Gierens)
The Bonifatiuswerk of German Catholics launched the nationwide diaspora campaign of the Catholic Church with a pontifical mass in Hildesheim. (Foto: Oliver Gierens)

07.11.2021

On 7 November, the Bonifatiuswerk of German Catholics launched the nationwide diaspora campaign of the Catholic Church with a pontifical mass under the coronavirus protection measures in force. The motto of the campaign is "Become a messenger of love!". Bishop Heiner Wilmer SCJ celebrated the mass together with Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs from Riga in Latvia, Bishop David Tencer from Reykjavik in Iceland, Bishop Erik Varden from Trondheim in Norway and Bishop Wolfgang Ipolt from Görlitz.
 

The motto fits these times

"How badly we people long for positive news, for messages of hope and love, especially in these times which are challenging in so many ways," the Managing Director of the Bonifatiuswerk, Ingo Imenkämper explains the significance of this year's motto. Therefore, the motto "Become a messenger of love!" is very fitting. Imenkämper launched the campaign in place of Monsignore Georg Austen, the Secretary General of the Bonifatiuswerk. The latter had to withdraw at short notice from the launch of the campaign in Hildesheim for health reasons.
 

Diaspora Sunday is on 21 Novemer

At the subsequent ceremony for the diaspora launch – which for the first time in two years could be held as a face-to-face event in compliance with the applicable coronavirus rules, the President of the Bonifatiuswerk, Heinz Paus, recalled the over 170-year history of the organisation, which has repeatedly been shaped by historical upheavals.

On 21 November, the so-called "Diaspora Sunday" is celebrated. On this day, the collections in all Catholic services in Germany are taken for the projects of the Bonifatiuswerk.

(gio)