OÖ / LINZ. In his address at the turn of the year, Bishop Manfred Scheuer thanks the Upper Austrians for their helpfulness and solidarity during the corona pandemic. The Video message the wording is given below.
“Dear Upper Austrians – everyone who lives here!
At the turn of the year, we wished us a happy new year 2020. Has it been a good year? We look back on a year that would not have been thought possible. The corona pandemic has posed enormous challenges for the whole of society and overturned plans large and small. It has caused a lot of suffering: illness and death, loneliness and social distancing, unemployment and poverty. That is a sad fact.
But there is also a lot to be thanked for: for the helpfulness and solidarity that is shown in the population. For the people who are working to the limits of their resilience in order to overcome the crisis. For everyone – especially in the church – to take responsibility in this situation and to be there for the people with commitment and creativity. I wish us a lot of confidence for the coming year. Confidence that society has learned what solidarity means and that no one should be left behind. Confidence that there will be a reliable agent against the virus. Confidence that there will be everyday life after the pandemic. An everyday life that enables social, cultural and religious life without restrictions. An everyday life that enables visits and hugs. We can bear this confidence and hope before God.
And so I sincerely wish you all the best and God’s blessings for the New Year 2021! ”
Bishop Manfred Scheuer
Novena at the beginning of the year
Under the motto “Start the New Year with God”, the Austrian bishops invite you to a nine-day prayer from January 1, 2021 during the Corona lockdown. The novena starts on the solemn feast of the Blessed Mother Mary; on this day the Catholic Church also celebrates the World Day of Peace. For each of the nine days there is a separate prayer motto, a Bible text and a meditation text.
The texts for the prayer initiative, which will last until January 9, 2021, are published by the Austrian Bishops’ Conference. You are on the Website of the Diocese of Linz retrievable.
A novena is a nine-day prayer. It is prayed on special occasions and in times of crisis.
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