Epiphany this year was a special day of celebration and joy in Peiting: Epiphany, the appearance of the Lord, the revelation of the divine splendor in Jesus.
The corresponding service was a worthy setting to say thanks to the sacristans Markus Jocher and Josef Schleich for 20 years of loyal service in the church.
Peiting
- "Lord, I love the ornamentation of your house, the place where your glory dwells": With these words the psalmist in the Old Testament expresses that God's glory is evident to man in the beauty of the house of God.
In this spirit, the sacristans Markus Jocher and Josef Schleich, actively supported by their wives, spend a lot of time and effort year in and year out for the Peitingen churches of Maria Egg (Markus Jocher) and St. Michael (Josef Schleich).
And not just for the lovingly arranged flower arrangements.
“Both of them have great experience and responsibility.
You are the right hand of the pastor and the good spirit of the congregation, ”said Peiting's priest Erwin Walk in his laudatory speech.
“Both of them prepare services, baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals in a routine and reliable manner.
Everything just fits, from the laying out of the books, the altar candles, the provision of incense, hosts and especially the altar wine, ”continues Walk.
Special instinct
“They know the traditional customs and liturgical procedures and are therefore an indispensable support for pastors and acolytes.
Sometimes it goes so far ", as Walk added humorously," that the 'Dommesner' feels responsible for the stability of the Catholic faith of a bishop. "
Old paraments and historical goblets are held in high esteem: "Our sacristans have a particularly strong feeling for reading his wish from the smallest gestures or looks of the pastor and quickly fetching what is desired from the sacristy."
Also works as a caretaker
Markus Jocher's tasks also include caretaker services in the churches, in the parish center, administrator's house, benefit office and the St. Michael kindergarten.
"He reliably takes care of the many maintenance work, the bells, loudspeaker systems and heating," said Walk praising it.
In order to be able to carry out minor repairs himself, the trained carpenter successfully draws on his manual skills again and again.
Walk and Pastor Robert Kröpfl said a warm “God bless you” to the two anniversary sacristans on behalf of the entire parish of St. Michael for the deep connection with their churches and the faith they have lived.
Since the church choir could not sing due to Corona, Elena Hauser accompanied the organist Hermann Mergler on the clarinet.
They played festive Christmas music by Henry Purcell, Maurice Greene and Georg Friedrich Händel as well as shepherd songs from Jämtland and the "Suite Miniature" by Alexander Gretchaninoff.
Gerhard Hot
