19 January 2025, Vienna - Bishop Franz Scharl of the Archdiocese of Vienna led the celebration of the Mass for almost 1,000 devotees during the Feast of Sto. Nino de Cebu at the Salvator Am Wienerfeld Church in Vienna. The mass was concelebrated with Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy (FCC) priests led by FCC Parish Priest Fr. Ely Dalanon.
The Sinulog Sto. Niño Devotees, in cooperation with the FCC and the Kapunongan ng mga Bisaya sa Austria (KBA), hosted the Holy Mass and held Sinulog Festivities for the feast of Sto Niño (Child Jesus) afterwards.
In his homily, Bishop Scharl called for the Filipinos in Austria to place Christ in the center of their daily life. Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas said that Filipinos in Austria, especially associations like KBA, truly live out this call, acknowledging the number of year-round activities of the organization to help not only communities in Austria but also those in the Philippines.
The mass was followed by the Sinulog Festival grand parade, song and dance performances by different Filipino associations from Vienna, Wiener Neustadt, Niederosterreich, and the surrounding areas. END.