In 2020, the Vienna Catholic Schools had planned a pilgrimage day with lots of activities for School Children in some of the many sites associated with St Clement in the City Centre of Vienna, but like too much else, it was cancelled due to Corona.
Finally, three years later, it was able to take place. Yesterday, 11 May, the 600 children all visited the Redemptorist Church of Maria am Gestade to learn something of Clement’s life. Some visited a bakery in memory of Clement’s formation as a Baker; others visited St Anna, or the Minoritenkirche, or the Kirche am Hof, all of which were associated with St Clement.
At noon all the children took part in a lively Liturgy of the Word led by the Rev. Nikolaus Krasa, Vicar General of Vienna Archdiocese, in Stephansdom (The Cathedral of Vienna), and then by kind invitation of Cardinal Schönborn, all were able to have some lunch together in the Cardinals courtyard.
The Redemptorists at Maria am Gestade, along with some of our lay associates, were delighted to be a part of such a wonderful day. We hope that this will become an annual event and that many more Children may come to learn about the life of the Patron Saint of Vienna.
Dominic O’Toole, C.Ss.R., Maria am Gestade, Vienna
Photos: Erzdiözese Wien/Florian Feuchtner
