How does cooperation work in a city? Who stands up for children’s rights? And what different cultures are there to discover in the world? – Around 700 children between the ages of eight and 14 are pursuing these and many other questions for a week together with their group leaders from the Catholic youth group from all over Austria. The “Kaleidio” – Austria’s largest youth group and altar boy camp – will take place in Steyr this year from July 10th to 16th and offers the children and their volunteer leaders the opportunity to get impulses for a child-friendly church.
The Kaleidio is taking place for the third time. After the youth camps in Linz in 2014 and in Schwaz in Tyrol in 2019, preparations are now in full swing: The children and their carers are accommodated in the classrooms of three schools in Steyr. Every day, different workshops and adventures await the participants in order to make the community and faith tangible. “In addition, the children and their group leaders should be encouraged to ask critical questions – especially in the current time. The most important thing for us is that the church is made child-friendly together,” says Lukas Plöbst from the overall management of the Kaleidio.
But it is not the child-friendly design of the church that is decisive for the young crowd at Kaleidio. Protecting the children and dealing with the current corona situation is also a top priority: “We have taken preventive measures and want the boys’ group to be a safe place for the children,” says Plöbst.
75th birthday of the young people
In addition to the different worlds of experience and courses, a joint service with youth bishop Stephan Turnovszky and former members of the Catholic youth group should be an unforgettable experience for the participants.
Not only is the third Kaleidio celebrated, but also the 75th anniversary of the Catholic youth group: the children’s organization was founded in 1947. “We are very pleased that we were able to accompany many children during this time and that the number of participants remained constant even in times of the corona pandemic,” says Barbara Grüner, chairwoman of the Catholic youth group in Austria.
Source: Nachrichten
