As of: January 21, 2024, 7:20 a.m
By: Nicole Kalenda
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The paths part: Pastor Johannes von Bonhorst and the parish council chairwoman Christine Hallinger, here at the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Church of St. Elisabeth in 2022. © Dagmar Rutt
He makes his first communion, then Johannes von Bonhorst says goodbye.
The head of the parish association in Würmtal and pastor of St. Elisabeth Planegg is striving for relaxation and a new place of work.
Planegg
– Pastor Johannes von Bonhorst leaves the Würmtal.
At his own request, his time as head of the parish association in Würmtal and pastor of St. Elisabeth in Planegg ends on April 30th.
What happens next remains to be seen.
In response to Merkur's request, the Archbishop's Ordinariate of Munich stated that it was "currently unable to provide any information on this matter".
Von Bonhorst informed the parish council of St. Elisabeth last week.
“We were very surprised when he told us this at the meeting,” says chairwoman Christine Hallinger.
“I would have been happy if we had continued on the same path together.” She actually expected that the 60-year-old would stay in Planegg until he retired.
Von Bonhorst has other plans.
In a newsletter he informed the parishioners that he had asked for his release from his duties and that Archbishop Reinhard Cardinal Marx had granted this request.
He continues: “I will apply for another position.”
Came to Planegg in 2015
When von Bonhorst was introduced into office in October 2015, he was familiar with the Würmtal and was no stranger there.
Growing up in Pasing, he led the parish of St. Benedikt in Gauting from 1999 to 2004 before taking on a new position in Wolfratshausen.
Von Bonhorst was given the task of forming the parish association in the Würmtal from St. Vitus in Stockdorf and St. Elisabeth in Planegg.
The merger of the parishes coincided with his entry into office.
Regarding the reasons that led him to leave the Würmtal, von Bonhorst says: “I am now in my ninth year as head of the parish association in the Würmtal and I will turn 61 in a few weeks.
I have come to the inner certainty that a change of position will open up new perspectives for me and the parish association." Over the next few weeks he will "discuss options for my next position" with the human resources department of the Ordinariate.
Von Bonhorst continued: “I also intend to relax a little and go on vacation.” He wishes God’s blessing to his successor.
In the newsletter, the priest wrote that the archdiocese would create a temporary solution.
The Ordinariate itself says that nothing can be said about it until next week.
The chairwoman of the parish council, Hallinger, speaks of uncertainty within the parish: “We are sitting there now and don’t know what will happen next.” Together with the parish council of St. Vitus, they have just decided to “join forces in order to work together successfully”.
Now she hopes that it will remain with the parish association in Würmtal and that it will not be absorbed into an even larger association.
“We would really like to have our own priest.”
The date April 30th was deliberately chosen.
Hallinger says that Bonhorst is very concerned about organizing the preparation for the First Communion, in which he explains the parts of the Mass in detail in a way that is suitable for children.
The priest completes the first communion, which will be celebrated this year on April 14th, 21st and 28th, before he leaves St. Elisabeth.