Bonifatiuswerk opens diaspora campaign of the Catholic Church in Mainz

03.11.2019

The Bonifatiuswerk and the Diocese of Mainz have opened the nationwide diaspora campaign of the Catholic Church in Mainz Cathedral. In view of the increasing de-Christianisation of society, the Secretary General of the aid organisation, Monsignore Georg Austen, said at the opening service in Mainz: "Coming out of our shell is the commandment of the hour for us as Christians. Through baptism and confirmation we are empowered and instructed to use our skills and gifts to carry the Good News into society and to help build the Kingdom of God. Even though we, as Christians, are decreasing in number, many believers are doing valuable work for the entire community."
 

Become a founder of faith

The Bishop of Mainz, Peter Kohlgraf – who celebrated the festival service with ten bishops from Northern Europe and the Baltic States – called upon the congregation in his sermon to follow the example of Saint Boniface. Every Christian must courageously profess their faith and propose it to others. With reference to the motto of the diaspora campaign "Become a founder of faith", Bishop Kohlgraf said: "May St. Boniface be our motivation and guiding figure: to remain a pilgrim Church, a worldwide community with a credible form of life."

The diaspora campaign is a nationwide solidarity campaign of the Catholic Church. The Bonifatiuswerk collects donations for Catholics who live in a minority in Germany, Northern Europe and the Baltic States. In 2018, 2.2 million euros were donated. On behalf of the Holy See, the Apostolic Nuncio in Northern Europe, Archbishop James Patrick Green, gave thanks for the support of the Bonifatiuswerk. "Without this help the effective proclamation of the Good News in the Nordic countries would be almost impossible."

(pk)