Monsignor Vlastimil Kročil, Bishop of České Budějovice, blessed a special batch of pale lager brewed in Budweiser Budvar Brewery today

This morning, the Bishop of České Budějovice Monsignor Vlastimil Kročil gave a benediction to a special batch of pale lager at the national brewery Budweiser Budvar’s brewing house. The “Blessed Lager” had been primarily brewed for charity purposes and it will be sold on České Budějovice Square during the Advent Market. The whole proceeds from the sale are intended for the Diocesan Charity of České Budějovice. Volunteers from the brewery, the Diocesan Charity of České Budějovice and the Bishopric of České Budějovice are going to voluntarily help with hand-packing and selling the “Blessed Lager”. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Diocesan Charity of České Budějovice. Additionally, 124 hand-packed 1-litre bottles will again travel to the Holy Father, Pope Francis as a personal gift.

České Budějovice, 4th September 2019 – This afternoon, the national brewery Budweiser Budvar’s brewing house experienced the blessing of a special batch of pale lager performed by Mons. Vlastimil Kročil, Bishop of České Budějovice. As last year, the lager is primarily intended to raise funds for charitable purposes. The “Blessed Lager” will be sold - and also drawn at several selected locations - during the České Budějovice Advent Market as a limited edition of several thousands of hand-packed bottles. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Diocesan Charity of České Budějovice. Part of the “Blessed Lager” - 124 hand-packed 1-litre bottles- will again travel as the brewery’s gift to the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

“Hand-packing and sale of the Blessed Beer can almost be considered a tradition of our brewery. Last year we managed to donate CZK 216,000 for charitable purposes, primarily thanks to volunteers from the brewery and the Bishopric of České Budějovice. I would like this year's sum to be even higher,” says Petr Dvořák, Budweiser Budvar’s managing director.

“It is a great pleasure to give a benediction to an extraordinary batch of České Budějovice beer for the third time. Last year, this initiative took a definite form of charitable aidat a local level. The proceeds from the advent sale of the blessed batch of beer were donated to the Diocesan Charity of České Budějovice to work with volunteers who take care of the neediest people living in our town. This year as well we want to jointly support this effective help and service for our fellow citizens and charity clients in the same way. I am pleased that this effort is apart from us also supported by the Region of South Bohemia, the Town of České Budějovice Authorities, Budweiser Budvar, the Diocesan Charity and the Embassy of the Czech Republic at the Holy See that together with us presents this jointwork to the Holy Father.  I believe that during this year's Advent we will again meet people of goodwill who will support this humanitarian aim with us,” says Mons. Vlastimil Kročil, Bishop of České Budějovice.

The “Blessed Lager” was brewed using the same recipe as Budweiser Budvar Premium Lager, which ranks amongst the most famous products from České Budějovice in the world - it is known to consumers in almost 80 countries, participating in Czech beer exports by about one fifth.

The joint project by the Bishopric of České Budějovice and Budweiser Budvar is to support social services and more effective assistance to the clients of the Diocesan Charity established by the Bishopric of České Budějovice, and at the same time to stimulate the general public to contribute to this purpose. The Town of České Budějovice, the Region of South Bohemia and the Embassy of the Czech Republic to the Holy See provide the project with significant support.

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