Solidarity award to Austrian FMA

Linz (Austria). On 11 November 2024, the 30^th Linz Diocese Solidarity Award was given at the Landhaus in Linz, the seat of the Danube Region in Upper Austria, in recognition of social commitment to human dignity, for a just and peaceful society and for the safeguarding of creation.

Sister Zäzilia Holzer, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of St. Mary D. Mazzarello Province (AUG), received the Award for her project “Spielebus (game bus) Vöcklabruck”.

Selected from about 40 candidates, Sister Zäzilia, along with seven other winners, received the award from the Bishop of the Diocese of Linz, Mons. Manfred Scheuer, and the governor Thomas Stelzer.

On the Website of the Diocese of Linz award’s motivation can be read:

In an age of profound social change, solidarity and hope are fundamental pillars that sustain us as communities and individuals. It is our responsibility, especially as Christians, to commit ourselves to human dignity, a just and peaceful society, and the integrity of creation. The Solidarity Award of the Diocese of Linz values those who take on this commitment in an extraordinary way, to help people in economic difficulties, marginalized groups, people with disabilities, migrants or children from precarious contexts. 

The “game bus” of Vöcklabruck: 7 years of commitment

Since 2017, Sister Zäzilia Holzer has been travelling every Friday with a bus equipped with games to spend time with children in an area of Vöcklabruck, Austria, which is characterized by various social challenges and a high percentage of people with a migrant background. “There are many condominiums with very small apartments.” – she explained during the award ceremony – “Children therefore spend a lot of time outdoors and this creates problems with the neighbors.” To counter this situation, the Salesian Sister started this project.

At first, the community and parish were skeptical that it would work. She often felt like Don Bosco when he and the group of children, were sent from one meadow to another because “they did not want them here”. The “game bus” is now a reference point for children and families in this area of Vöcklabruck.

“Every child comes to the game bus voluntarily. There is no registration, no pressure to perform, no instruction,” explains Sister Zäzilia. “Our goal is to offer children an open meeting place, where they feel at ease and can have positive experiences in the group. There is always a sandwich, water, and an apple,” she adds. “Eating together is something very special: not only play, but to eat and talk together. This brings up topics of interest to children.”

In addition to fun, the FMA also teaches social values such as sharing, listening, and peaceful interaction through the game bus. “Here you meet children from many nations. It is important to me that they learn to get along without being aggressive, and also to apologize,” she says. Playing together becomes a unifying element, regardless of age, origin or language. “The game is a common denominator that excludes no one.”

To Sister Zäzilia, the wish is to continue carrying out this very “Salesian” initiative that enriches and builds the community and be an example and encouragement for many, especially for young people, to be missionaries and missionary carers in order to give full life to the most vulnerable groups of society.