In Corona times everything is different - including the preparation for first communion.
The Geretsrieder Stadtkirche tries with church services instead of group lessons.
Geretsried
- Girls and boys are prepared for their first communion in the Catholic Church for several months.
People meet for group lessons, talk about God and bake bread together.
None of this works in times of the corona pandemic.
But the Geretsrieder Stadtkirche has found other solutions.
Since the end of February, 60 girls and boys have been prepared for the reception of the Holy Sacrament in the parishes of the Holy Family and Maria Hilf. Pastoral advisor Julia Majores is responsible for this. "Because group lessons cannot take place due to the corona pandemic, we have prepared special services," reports city pastor Andreas Vogelmeier in an interview with our newspaper. Only the communion children and their parents always come together on Saturdays. The pastoral officer led the opening service. “I was there as a pastor so that the children could see me,” says Vogelmeier. “There was also a children's way of the cross and a service in which the sign of the cross was explained. According to the pastor, there was also a family service at Easter in the Maria Hilf church.On this Saturday there will be masses in both churches, at which “the children are allowed to celebrate for the first time and we will comment on the service so that the children will better understand what we are doing”.
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Andreas Vogelmeier has headed the Catholic city church since spring.
© Hans Lippert
Vogelmeier thinks that there are many alternatives to prepare children for first communion.
"We even find that the church services are a very good option because the parents are there and see what we are doing." The idea was born out of necessity, "but it's a great thing." keep something in the future.
First communion celebrations will also be different.
The 60 children and their families are divided over six dates, "so that the groups don't get too big".
Vogelmeier will hold two first communion celebrations on three Saturdays.
The first two will take place on April 24th.
“Last year, I took part in a communion ceremony in a small group in Berlin,” explains the city pastor.
“I thought that was really nice.
It had a completely different character. ”He himself experienced the celebration as much more intense.
How to organize the whole thing in the coming year has to be seen.
"Bringing six communions is also a task."
Also read: Andreas Vogelmeier takes over the city church
The confirmations - six in number - will proceed in a similar manner.
Here, the young people are prepared in advance for receiving the Holy Sacrament in church services.
"Because the bishops hardly ever work, I'll take care of it myself," announced Vogelmeier.
"There is already a lot going on."
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