The Epiphany Collection in České Budějovice Diocese Has Commenced
To think about what we have done so far, to do a good deed, to open our hearts and selflessly support those who need our help – these are the goals that the Epiphany Collection, the biggest event of its kind in the Czech Republic, tries to invite all the people of good faith to participate at.
The Epiphany Collection will take place between January 2 and January 14, 2013. During this period, hundreds of Caspars, Melchiors and Balthazars will be passing through the streets and towns within the České Budějovice diocese. There was also a new place added to our list – Koroseky in Soběslav parish and thus, there are 52 places in total. There will be approximately 2,450 volunteers who will participate in the Epiphany caroling. The ceremonial opening of the Collection within the České Budějovice diocese will be held on Friday, January 4 from 2:30 a.m. at the Přemysl Otakar II Square. Father Josef Hugo Pitel will be present, too.
“Two thirds of the money will remain at the place where it was raised. In total, 90% of the money will remain within the České Budějovice diocese,” said the directress of the Diocesan Charity in České Budějovice Michaela Čermáková.
The largest amount of this money (almost one third – 31.8%) will be donated to charity nursing and care services in Borovany, České Budějovice, Kaplice, Milevsko, Písek, Strakonice, Třeboň, Vimperk, and other places.
One fifth of the money will be donated to people, who got into crisis situation, but it was not their fault – for example people struck by floods, storms, fires... More than 10% will be given to institutions taking care of the youth threatened by undesirable social phenomena (10.4%) and another 10.2% will be given to socially disadvantaged families.
Money raised by the caroling will also be given to hospices in Prachatice and Tábor, to Cross-Border Adoption project, to shelters for homeless people, to handicapped people, ill senior citizens, home nursing services, and so on.
The money raised by the Collection will be collected by the carollers who are dressed up as the Three Kings. They will go carol singing in the period around January 6, which is the date we celebrate this occasion. The carollers go from house to house, sing carols, and write “K+M+B” on the doors. While caroling, they give the people small calendars, sweets and other promotional items as well as information leaflets of the local charitable organizations. The carollers are easily recognizable as they carry plastic bags with the logo of our Charity and if asked, they can produce card/letter of attorney.
It is also possible to support the Collection via bank transfer to a special bank account for the purposes of the Collection. The account number is “66008822/0800” (the bank is Česká Spořitelna) and the variable symbol is “777”. You can also make a donation via Donors Message Service (DMS). If you wish to donate via DMS, please kindly type “DMS KOLEDA” and send it to “87 777” (the fee for one DMS is CZK 30 out of which will CZK 27 be given directly to the Charity).
The Diocesan Charity in České Budějovice has organized this charitable event for the thirteenth time. “In the course of all those years, we were able to help people from our region who were struck by floods or found themselves in a difficult situation not through their own fault, and all this was possible thanks to the money we have raised. The money from the Epiphany Collection also helps people in need from Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania and Zimbabwe. We would thus like to ask you once more, if you happen to meet the carollers, listen to their singing, please, and contribute with some money that will help people in need, people struck by natural disasters, or that will be used for supporting various social projects aimed at helping our citizens,” told us the directress Čermáková.
Last year, there were over 2,000 Caspars, Melchiors and Balthazars, and they managed to get CZK 3,870,506 by their carol-singing.
Contacts:
Roman Tlapák, the diocese coordinator of the Epiphany Collection
Mgr. Michaela Čermáková, the Directress of the Diocesan Charity in České Budějovice
