Some had already lost faith. But Father Andreas Iwanicki, Guardian of the Mariabuchen Monastery, is certain: “The trust in the Mother of God worked.” It is not for nothing that the guiding principle of Mariabuchen 2023 is: “Mary, ask us for the spirit of renewal!” Mary apparently heard the believers and the very earthly expression of her answer came suddenly and unexpectedly in June from the budget committee of the German Bundestag. This provides 240,000 euros from its special monument protection program for extensive interior renovation of the pilgrimage church.
“Everything takes time. And now it really is time,” says Father Andreas Iwanicki as he tours the church. The black on the walls and ceilings: He doesn’t know it any other way. The last interior renovation took place in 1995, for the 600th anniversary of the pilgrimage site. Since then, a lot of candle soot, moisture and dirt has settled on the ceilings and walls.
In the middle of preparations
Now it is time for the church to shine in its new glory. The pilgrimage organization and the Mariabuchen Nursing Foundation are in the middle of preparations for this. “Conversations with the architects are ongoing. I hope that we can put out the tenders at the end of the year and then award the contracts,” says the Franciscan Minorite. This is also a good timing, as the renovation of the Schönau monastery church is scheduled to end at the end of November. Hopefully corresponding specialist companies would then have capacity again.
Completion probably by Advent
The plan is to start the renovation after Easter and, if everything goes well, to finish it in Advent 2024. Despite the extensive renovation, the church should not be completely closed. A renovation in two phases should make this possible.
“We first want to renovate the church interior. During this time we can continue to use the chancel. Then the chancel will be renovated and we will move to the church space,” explains Father Andreas Iwanicki. This means that all pilgrimages, church festivals and services can take place regularly – without having to set up a tent outside.
A comprehensive concept is now being developed for the renovation. In addition to the ceilings and walls, the windows, benches, altars and paintings are also being renovated. The floor needs to be sanded, the doors replaced, and a crack in the ceiling between the chancel and the church needs to be repaired. “Basically it affects everything except the heating,” says the Monastery Guardian.
He is particularly interested in the gray color of the benches and the gallery, which should be replaced by a natural color. After the renovation in 1995, the benches already had this natural wood tone. But those responsible at the time probably decided that the color was too dark. This is how the gray paint came about.
Completely new atmosphere
The natural color is now reappearing in many places due to the aging paint. And, as Father Iwanicki thinks, the natural tone fits the church much better and appears friendlier and more natural. After the renovation, the pilgrimage church will not only shine with fresh splendor, but will also have a completely new atmosphere as a result of the renovation.
The total cost of the renovation is estimated at over half a million euros. The funding from the monument protection program is 50 percent, the remaining 50 percent must be provided by the nursing foundation and the diocese. Due to its supra-local and historical significance, Mariabuchen is classified in category A when categorizing the church. It also receives subsidies from the diocese for general renovation.
Nevertheless, at the beginning of the year people were anything but optimistic that a renovation could start so quickly. “We only had six weeks to submit the application. I am all the more pleased that it has now worked,” said the priest.
Mariabuchen is currently experiencing further renewal on a different level. The Mariabuchen pilgrimage organization, which has the task of supporting pastoral care and its facilities on site, held its meeting last Sunday. Remi Rausch, who chaired the pilgrimage organization for 38 years, did not stand for the regular elections again and is therefore leaving the board.
The renovation of the pilgrimage church: It is the best farewell present for the 70-year-old. Rausch has accompanied the history of the pilgrimage site for more than half a century, having already been active as an altar boy at the age of 16.
Experienced a lot
Rausch has experienced a lot, from the founding of the pilgrimage work by Father Arno Fahrenschon in 1969, the demolition and construction of the monastery in 1971/1972, the departure of the Capuchins in 2022 and the new beginning with the Franciscan Minorites from Poland to the 600th anniversary with the The last major interior renovation in 1995 and the demolition and construction of the Waldrast restaurant in 2012.
Having always had a connection to the place of pilgrimage, Rausch has led the fortunes of the supporters’ association since 1986. “We organize the festivals and concerts, have formed a working group, create the newsletters and the annual theme, and support pastoral care where we can,” says Rausch. He can no longer count the number of volunteer hours he has spent over the past 38 years. But one thing is certain: he would not have been able to do this without the support of his wife Johanna. His wife and his family with three children and five grandchildren have always been a great source of support.
Still very active
However, for reasons of age, intoxication does not stop. He is still active, for example as a deacon in his civilian job in the Lohr parish community of 12 Apostles at the Gate to the Spessart. Until 2018, Rausch was division director of Sparkasse Mainfranken in Würzburg. And currently holds other honorary positions, for example as board member of the Marienverein Würzburg or as president of the KAB Lohr. “It was simply time to free up my place in the pilgrimage work. There are also others who have new ideas and want to get involved,” says Rausch. His successor as board member will now be the previous second chairwoman Magda Hartmann, who was unanimously elected on Sunday. Lars Schäfer will be the second chairman.
Saying goodbye is not easy for Rausch. However, it won’t be a real farewell either. “Mariabuchen is like little Lourdes for me. I will continue to be there again and again,” says the 70-year-old. He is also eagerly awaiting the renovation. Ultimately, Mariabuchen is an important place that combines tradition and modernity and must be preserved.
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