Warsaw – More than 12,000 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo received support last year thanks to the initiatives of the Star Singers in Poland.
For over forty years, during the Christmas season, tens of thousands of children, young people, and adults throughout Poland have participated in this traditional Christmas activity. Bringing the Gospel, announcing the birth of Jesus with hyms and joy, is the central focus of the Star Singers’ initiatives, which embody the motto of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood: “Children help children.”
For this year’s edition, as explained at the press conference held on December 18, the funds raised will support projects in Sri Lanka, a country where most children are denied access to housing, education, and healthcare. Each year, the National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland provides an information booklet about the chosen country and the annual project; texts for the animation of the Star Singers’ Sending Mass; a catechetical outline with activities for children; a campaign poster; and images, videos, and photographs about the campaign and the situation of children in the selected country.
“The ‘Missionary Carol Singers’ campaign supports children and young people living in mission territories, but also contributes to the development and formation of all participants,” reads a statement from the Polish PMS sent to Fides. “By participating, the young Star Singers learn about distant countries and different cultures, geography, foreign languages, openness and sensitivity towards others, and strengthen their self-confidence and trust in others. They develop their artistic and theatrical talents.”
The press conference, during which, as every year, the children and young people shared testimonies about their experience, was followed by the Little Singers’ visit to the Archbishop of Warsaw, Adrian Galbas, on December 19. Immediately after the festive carols and missionary performance, the Christmas gathering of the Presidium of the Episcopal Conference and all the staff of the Secretariat of the Polish Episcopal Conference began.
On Saturday the 20th, a third group of children and young people represented the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood and the Star Singers at the Sri Lankan Christmas gathering in Warsaw. Sri Lankan citizens residing in Poland participated in a Eucharistic celebration in the Sinhalese language and rite. Among those present was the Sri Lankan ambassador to Poland, T. P. Dharmasen. The initiative received significant media attention: on Sunday, December 21, a group from the Star Singers also appeared on the television program “Między Ziemią a Niebem” , broadcast on TVP1, the Polish public television channel.
Sister Monika Juszka, national secretary of the Pontifical Society of the Childhood Missionaries in Poland, concluded: “I truly wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those involved in organizing the Star Singers’ campaign and to all the benefactors.” Behind all the effort of the singing and the collected offerings, I see the faces of children from many parts of the world who, thanks to you, have the opportunity to learn to read and write, and do not die from malaria, dengue fever, or other infectious diseases. Thank you for your presence, for your help and for showing your concrete closeness, as collaborators of the Holy Father, alongside him and the Pontifical Mission Societies, with the brothers and sisters who are in every corner of the world.”
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