Nine young children from the VESCC community received their First Communion on Sunday, 26 April at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vienna, Austria. Fr. Kevin Soars presided over the solemn ceremonies in the presence of community members, and friends, relatives and guests of the children’s families.
A photo gallery of selected pictures is available on this site.
As in the past 11 years, members of VESCC community made the way of the cross by visiting 14 historical and beautiful churches in Vienna. Each church representes a Station of the Cross and prayers of the Way of the Cross are said. Explanation on the history of each church followed the prayers.
The annual Way of the Cross took place on 4 April 2009. A photo gallery, courtesy of Selestina Tjiong, is also available for viewing.
Families with children wishing to prepare for First Communion or Confirmation are asked to be sure to attend the first Whole Community Catechesis on Sunday November 9th at 9:45 a.m. It is still not too late for First Communion Registration and Confirmation Registration.
First Communion and Reconciliation and Confirmation preparations are yearly activities supported by the VESCC community. A gallery of pictures from the First Communion Rites held in April 20, 2008, as well as Confirmation Rites held April 22, 2007 at the Votive Church is available for viewing.
Ten young children from the community, ages 7 and up, received their first sacrament of Holy Communion on 20 April, 2008 at the Votiv Church in Vienna. Selected photos of the ceremony are available here.
The VESCC community recently had portrait sessions for individual community members and their families with the aim of raising additional monies for the Fr. Ungar Fund. The portraits were taken by two talented local photographers: Rodolfo Quevenco, also a VESCC council member, and Dean Calma, long-time supporter of the community, who offered their services for free.
Under the project, printed copies of the portraits will be sold to those interested, with all the proceeds going to the Fr. Ungar Fund. The photos were also to be used to update the office files.
A gallery of some of the portraits can be viewed here.
Virgin Peregrina de la Familia
The Votive Church is the only Church in Austria that has an altar (chapel) devoted to our Lady of Guadalupe. The image at the Votive was ceremoniously consecrated in 1954. It is the most popular and most visited chapel.
The Virgin Peregrina de la Familia, the replica of our Lady of Guadalupe arrived to Vienna from Mexico in November. The image is a gift from friends of the community, Patricia and Paco Caballero of Mexico. The image will visit 20 families of the VESCC Community for 3 days each once in 2 months at which time the family members will be praying the Rosary together.
Fr. Kevin blessed the image of our Lady of Guadalupe at the First Sunday of Advent Mass. If anyone is interested to form another group of 20, please contact Fr. Kevin.
More information of the Pilgrim Queen is available and the worldwide devotion is available on the Lady of Guadalupe web site.
Seven young adults from the VESCC community were confirmed at cermonies held at the Votiv Church last 22 April 2007. A gallery of photographs is available here.
A gallery of pictures from the VESCC Confirmation Rites held last April 17, 2005 at the Votive Church is available for viewing. Twenty-two of our young adults were confirmed on that day. View photos.
As part of its fund-raising activities, the VESCC community held an Advent Bazaar on 5 December 2004 at the Parish Hall in Rooseveltplatz 8. The bazaar was well attended and featured games and activities for children and the youth, souvenir and gift items on sale for charity, multi-cultural food fares from different countries represented, as well as a popular tombola.
Pictures of the event are available to view here.
