On Saturday there was a reason to celebrate on the Starnberg church square: 42 confirmers received the sacrament of confirmation.
Starnberg
- It has become a really unusual sight recently: Many people in festive clothes on the church square in Starnberg.
On Saturday, however, after a long wait, there was another reason to celebrate: 42 confirmed people received their confirmation in the Church of St. Maria.
Families, company sponsors and the everyday mask were there.
"I almost didn't believe it anymore," said Pastor Dr.
Andreas Jall, “that we can celebrate Confirmation this year.
And that's why I'm all the more pleased. ”He not only held the service, but also gave confirmation himself - something that is normally reserved for the bishop.
“But what's normal this year,” said Pastor Jall.
And this confirmation was really not normal.
The 42 confirmers should have been confirmed in the summer, when all confirmations were canceled by the diocese until after the summer vacation.
"In October we had three first communions, there was only November left for confirmation," said Richard Ferg.
“It was really time for the youngsters.
You couldn't put off much longer. ”The new year of confirmation will come next summer.
The confirmands were divided into two groups, the first group received the sacrament at 9 a.m., the second at 11 a.m.
Each family sat in a pew with the company sponsor, every second row was empty.
Grandparents and other relatives were not allowed to attend because of the two-household rule.
Four folders were available to keep walking and distance regulations.
"Safety is very important to us, and we may have paid a little more attention to it today," said Pastor Jall.
He himself gave a festive speech and thus managed to raise the mood: "I give the confirmants spirit, faith and community with them on their way," he said.
Spirit, because you can't achieve much with money alone.
Believe, above all in yourself, even in difficult times.
And community, because nobody can exist alone.
Then he gave confirmation to every confirmant.
“I never thought I'd donate a confirmation one day.
But it makes me very proud to have been entrusted with this task, ”said Pastor Jall.
When he learned that the bishop could not come because of the current situation, he specially prepared for this Confirmation.
“I had to learn again,” says Jall.
“For example, when to make which gesture and how to hold the hands.” Starnberg's pastor donated the sacrament to the young people for the first time, but it was his 17th confirmation service.
Livia Bendel (16) is one of this year's confirmers.
She is happy to finally be confirmed.
"It was a bit depressing with the masks and the distance, but still very nice," she said, "I'm already proud." 15-year-old Rosina Baur also praised the implementation of the service: "Even if there were fewer people, it was very solemn. ”The fact that she cannot celebrate in a restaurant with family and friends afterwards doesn't bother her much.
"We're cooking at home today and ordered cakes for the afternoon," she said.
“Maybe it would have been a little nicer in the summer, but today the weather is good too.” Pastor Jall shared this gratitude from the confirmers: “I'm just grateful that we were allowed to celebrate today.
And it was unexpectedly resolved and solemn. ”For the ten confirmants who did not want to or could not take confirmation under these circumstances, there will be another confirmation in the near future, presumably at an evening service.
Vanessa Lange