16.12.2020,
The fourth Austrian Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast took place in the Vienna Hofburg Palace on the feast of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The motto for the event was Hope in the Crisis. The online Advent prayer was organized and moderated by Dr. Gudrun Kugler, ITI graduate and current member of the Austrian Federal Parliament.
The intention of the prayer was to pray for hope in this time of Coronavirus crisis, to implore God’s help for those who have been affected by the virus, to pray for the healing of the sick and for comfort for the victims of terrorism, for the protection of civil authorities and for wisdom for our leaders in this time of global challenge. In the opening address of the ceremony, Dr. Kugler emphasized: "We are not gathered here in the name of political parties, nor in the name of Parliament or any other institution, but as delegates with personal faith."
The common prayer united politicians of different parties and members of different confessions and creeds in the hope for an end to the Coronavirus crisis. Some of the respected and venerable guests at the event included Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council; Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler, President of the Federal Council; His Eminence Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna and Grand Chancellor of the ITI; the Bishop of the Evangelical Church; the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Vienna; and the Bishops of the Serbian, Coptic, and Greek Orthodox Churches in Austria.
Parliamentarians gathered in the Hofburg to pray together with religious representatives whose prayers and intentions were broadcasted live from their residences and churches. His Eminence Cardinal Schönborn prayed that all those who had faced the pandemic would experience the love and help of God. Rev. Yuriy Kolasa, ITI graduate and now Vicar General for the faithful of the Eastern Catholic Churches in Austria also joined the broadcast from the ITI Byzantine Chapel, and prayed in gratitude for the country of Austria and its civil authorities.
In this short video you can watch some of the highlights of the event.
You can read more about the event in Dr. Gudrun Kugler’s report.