Honor in the town hall

The golden Toni and his preachy acceptance speech

Honor to whom honor is due: Cathedral priest Toni Faber with "Krone" journalist Conny Bischofberger and Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig.(Bild: Kristian Bissuti)

Without "beatification" and without "obituary": Vienna's city missionary Toni Faber received the city's medal of honor and will of course be presenting it at the next Opera Ball.

Rarely have things been so pious at Vienna City Hall, when parties of all colors were gathered under one roof, even in one ballroom. No wonder, given the occasion, as cathedral priest Toni Faber was awarded the Golden Medal of Honor of the Federal Capital by Mayor Michael Ludwig.

He is often the protagonist of this section, the parish priest of St. Stephen's, "but I actually prefer to see myself as a city missionary rather than a society priest," he suggested after the award ceremony. But as the saying goes: the end justifies the means. The main thing is that he reaches his flock - even beyond the national border.

This is exactly what our "Krone" interviewer Conny Bischofberger acknowledged in her witty, pointed speech. "I'm glad about that, because it wasn't a beatification or an obituary that was held," Faber said happily to the audience, which also included his mother Maria and his three siblings.

Will he take the medal? "Yes, I will wear it at the Opera Ball!" Typical of our city missionary.