Candlemas and the Common Responsibility Campaign

Candlemas is a day for Christian missionary work: the light of Christ brings light to all nations. That is why the symbolic image for Candlemas is the globe or map of the world. The text for the day is from the Song of Simeon (Nunc dimittis). Towards the end of his life, Simeon saw with his own eyes He who is “the light of Israel” and “the light of the world”. The beginning of the song is used as a song of praise before evening prayer as one goes to sleep: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant”.

Source: www.kirkkovuosikalenteri.fi

Youth in a world full of violence

The Common Responsibility Campaign of 2023 collects funds to prevent and solve violence and conflicts faced by youths. 40% of the collected funds will be donated within Finland. Half of the funds allocated to Finland will remain in local parishes to support youths in accordance with the theme of the collection and to benefit diaconal work in parishes.

The other half of the funds that will remain in Finland will go to the collection’s national partner Aseman lapset ry, which will develop and expand its activities to prevent and reduce violence in schools and among youths.

“Concretely, the funds will be used to disentangle prolonged and expanded bullying cases through our K-0 activities. Funds will also be used in our street mediation activities, where the mediators are professionals of youth work. Both methods can be used to solve multifaceted conflicts. The activities are concrete interventions including training professionals as mediators and experts in violence prevention,” explains executive director Christian Wentzel.

60% of the proceeds will be allocated as usual to international aid through the Finn Church Aid disaster fund. This year’s collection focuses on Finn Church Aid’s work in Kenya where the funds will support education of youths in the poorest areas of the country suffering from drought. The climate crisis is negatively affecting the lives of nomads and making it more difficult to make a living as pastures are becoming smaller.

“This increases conflicts between different communities and youths also get dragged along. Poverty and instability worsen social issues and problems with income, as well as increase the likelihood of dropping out of school. With the disaster funds, we support youths returning back to school after dropping out and aim to keep them in school. We also provide remedial education and psychosocial support. Education provides youths better opportunities for gaining an income as well as promotes peace in their communities,” states executive director Tomi Järvinen.

The proceeds of the 2023 Common Responsibility Campaign will be allocated as follows:

- 20% to Aseman lapset ry and their activities to prevent violence among youths

- 20% to local parishes for activities suited to the theme of the collection or to the parish’s diaconal work

- 60% to aid work suited to the theme of the collection through Finn Church Aid’s crisis funds.

The Common Responsibility Campaign for 2023 begins on Sunday February 5th. The bishop of the Oulu Diocese, Jukka Keskitalo, acts as the bishop for the Common Responsibility Campaign 2023 and President Sauli Niinistö acts as the patron of the campaign.