It was 100 years ago when more and more people settled in the up-and-coming industrial city of Offenbach in the area south of the Main-Bebra railway line and the parish of St. Paul was bursting at the seams. So she built an emergency chapel on a plot of land at Friedrichsweiher for 35,000 marks within six months – and on April 1, 1921 founded the parish of St. Josef. 4871 souls belonged to the new district. The first pastor was the chaplain of St. Paul, Peter Helmig.
Offenbach – Today Michael Kunze, also known to many as the long-time dean of Offenbach, is now the seventh pastor of the community. The emergency chapel was replaced in 1932 by one of the largest churches in the city – the Josefskirche with its two striking towers. As in almost every parish, the number of members is decreasing – but it still counts 4,140. “But many young families are moving to the suburbs”, regrets Kunze. Nonetheless, youth work remains one of the main pillars: group lessons, tent camps, various activities, the young choir of St. Joseph, which is well-known beyond the city limits – all of this characterizes community life. If it’s not Corona …
The pastor regrets that the anniversary falls within the pandemic of all places, as does Heike Wurzel, the parish clerk for many years, and Franziska Kaschky, the parish secretary. An appropriate celebration is out of the question. It is already severely restricted what church means otherwise: fellowship in faith, togetherness, closeness. “The singing, the conversations after the services, the visits from the anniversaries – all of that is very missing,” says Kunze.
The reduced contact adds to an already difficult time for the Catholic Church. Be it abuse or the Vatican’s rejection of the blessing of homosexual couples: “Whenever such topics arise, it is noticeable in exits. Unfortunately with us too, ”the pastor knows. He is not afraid to tackle these issues in church services. “The basic question is always: How would Jesus have acted? He would certainly not have sent anyone away to ask for a blessing. “
He hopes that the church will succeed in bringing its message, the power of common faith, back into society more strongly – and in being heard. Another task for the future, especially in Offenbach, is an administrative change. In addition, the “pastoral path” on which the diocese of Mainz has embarked must be implemented: “What do people need? And how do you get that from us? “
In front of the figure of Saint Joseph of Nazareth (from left): Parish Secretary Franziska Kaschky, Pastor Michael Kunze, Parish Advisor Heike Wurzel.
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Reaching people is particularly important now. “Children have not had group lessons for a year, adults can watch church services on TV and drink coffee at the same time. How do we get them back to us? ”Asks Kunze. The church is no different from many associations.
Even the 75th anniversary was not celebrated on the actual birthday, April 1st. Because in 1996 this fell on a Carm Monday. The parish priest at the time, Hans-Peter Weindorf, thought that this was not the time for a happy festival. It was postponed to the end of June.
It is clear to everyone that we will not be able to celebrate our 100th birthday anytime soon. Maybe not even this year. Kunze: “A big party is not planned within two days. But maybe we can celebrate 101 years properly … “(By Veronika Schade)
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