Josef Ackstaller experienced seven clergymen as sacristan of St. Martin in Kirchdorf.
Now, after 22 years, it's over: "It was great."
Kirchdorf - Josef Ackstaller (75) from Kirchdorf is a graduate theologian and was in the seminary together with the former auxiliary bishop Bernhard Haßlberger.
And yet, because he is a critical mind, Ackstaller did not become a pastor.
Always there for the parish
But Ackstaller had been there for the parish since 1984, since July 1, 1991, for example, as a sacristan. Since 1984 Ackstaller has been the divine service leader in Kirchdorf. Seven years later the sacristan stops. When he tells his children about it, the reaction follows immediately: “That would be something for you,” says his daughter. At first he doesn't take it that seriously, says Ackstaller today, but the matter didn't leave him alone until the decision was made: “I'll do it!” Kirchdorf and then back in Allershausen, the permit, then reduced his hours as a teacher a little. On July 1, 1991, Ackstaller started his “service”. Exactly 22 years later, Ackstaller has now quit his job. "You have to be able to stop," he says and assures us thatthat he now "feels really good". That the sacristan's office is much, much more than ringing bells and locking and unlocking the church, Josef Ackstaller has made this experience well enough over the years. But: “I never looked at the clock.” And so on most of the weeks he had more to do than the 9.5 hours actually allowed by the ordinariate.
Always a contact
Especially when Kirchdorf no longer had its own pastor from 1999, but was in the parish association with Allershausen, he was the contact person for the faithful - be it in the event of death, if the relatives initially did not know what to do and when, or in the case of weddings.
Ackstaller calls this “pastoral care assistance”. And even in Corona times, the effort was greater than before, after all, there were more church services due to the participation restrictions.
St. Martin has become a second home for him, especially since he was also a divine service leader and led church tours for first communion children and women's associations.
Not to forget his 16 years of activity as a parish councilor, twelve of which (until 2010) as chairman.
Farewell gifts
Or if, after locking the church, he got a call that he had to "free" a couple who had withdrawn to the gallery and had not noticed the church was closing.
The young couple's reaction?
“Shame, but grateful,” Ackstaller remembers with a knowing smile.
There is always something to do
Ackstaller is not boring now: Reading, cycling and the garden are the 75-year-old's new pastime.
And there are of course the memories - on the one hand of the seven clergymen, some of whom he did not always get along with as well as he admits, and on the other hand of some funny incidents from 22 years of sexton: For example, a wedding couple that the day before wanted to decorate the church at the wedding, immediately came with the deacon and organist and played the ceremony over and over again as a dress rehearsal, so to speak.
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Pictures from the farewell party can be found in this illustrated book.
The former sacristan likes to leaf through it.
© zz
The farewell reception
To say goodbye, there was a nice reception in the parish garden - and lots of presents. Pastor Hermann Schlicker presented him with a golden cup, there were gift baskets from the altar boys and from the Wimmer funeral home, and two tickets from the parish for the Mätthauspassion in the Philharmonie (something that Ackstaller has always wanted to experience and is now allowed to experience with his partner) and a photo book from the parish council with pictures from the farewell party. He likes to leaf through it. Because: "It was nice."
