The Redemptorists in Vienna are helping the refugees from Syria and Iraq

For a month, the Redemptorists together with their parish in Vienna (Hernals) have opened their premises for refugees from Syria and Iraq. Every day the Congregation provides accommodation for more than one hundred people. Mainly they are refugees who are only in transition and they usually have to spend the night outdoors in parks. The Redemptorist rector, Fr. Lorenz Voith said, “We need to take concrete action.”

In recent decades Redemptorists have always been actively involved in Vienna for the concrete assistance of asylum seekers. Among them there were refugees from Vietnam or from the Balkan war. In a special way in this current crisis situation, the Redemptorists take care of many people in need as quickly as possible and non-bureaucratically. “We cannot just preach; we need also to take concrete actions” is the motto of Fr. Lorenz Voith, Rector of the local community and President of the Conference of the Religious of Vienna.

The Redemptorists provide daily accommodation for more than one hundred refugees.

Most of the refugees are in Vienna only for a short stopover and they want to travel on to Germany or Scandinavia. They have already had a long and often dramatic journey, and they are they are tired and hungry. It is mainly women and children who have found hospitality in our parish. All of them have experienced many hardships. “If we will not help them they will have to stay in public parks during the nights” states Fr. Voith. “We provide the possibility for overnight accommodation, a place to rest where they can receive food, drinks, washing facilities, and so on.”
Our confreres have received great assistance from many volunteers who are helping with great commitment. Fr. Voith says: “We are very grateful for the great contribution of clothes and other necessary things for these poor people. Of course, we still need more help”.

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