Providence wanted it that way: Two pastors under one roof in Höhenkirchen

Created: 07/23/2022, 15:30

By: Stefan Weinzierl

Cooked up delicious again: Klaus Hofstetter likes to be in the kitchen and try out new recipes.

His roommate Manuel Kleinhans likes the pasta with green asparagus.

© STEFAN WEINZIERL

The pastors Manuel Kleinhans and Klaus Hofstetter live under one roof – in the vicarage of Höhenkirchen.

What may seem strange to many is not so unusual among church people and is called "Vita communis".

Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn

– Many people take it for granted that religious people live in a community.

But also clerics such as deacons or priests often form a living and dining community.

The fact that a Latin term – “vita communis” means nothing other than “living together” – stands for this form of living together is shown by the long tradition of this way of life.

It is a gift for Manuel Kleinhans and Klaus Hofstetter.

"It's just nice when you come home and the light is on," says Hofstetter.

Seven years in the Chiemgau

Hofstetter, 54 years old and raised in Vaterstetten, worked as a pastor in Chiemgau for seven years before Cardinal Reinhard Marx brought him to Munich to lead the vocation ministry of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.

That is, he gives orientation to people who feel called to possibly take up a spiritual profession.

"I wasn't lonely, but I was alone"

Hofstetter says that he lived alone for the seven years he was leader of the Bad Endorf and Westliches Chiemseeufer parish associations.

In general, that wasn't a bad thing.

"I wasn't lonely, but alone," says the 54-year-old.

But at some point he realized that this way of life was not good for him.

More disciplined in the flat share

Being alone, adds Manuel Kleinhans, harbors the danger that you let yourself go, that you live for the day.

The 38-year-old, who actually studied conducting, later also theology, and finally entered the seminary, had to struggle with this himself when he was parish vicar in Fürstenfeldbruck.

Now that he has someone else in the house, he is much more disciplined.

Especially since his roommate is a very tidy person.

"There's something slightly chaotic about me, I'm just a musician," says Kleinhans with a smile.

Providence given a chance

Hofstetter describes the fact that two very different people, who know each other from a joint church trip to Rome and regular Bible meetings, but have not been close friends, as "God's providence".

Kleinhans, who has been the parish administrator of the Höhenkirchen parish association since autumn 2020, says that at first he didn’t know what to do with the many living spaces on the first floor of the rectory – the parish office is on the ground floor.

There are two residential units and a guest apartment.

His predecessor, Pastor Toni Wolf, lived with his household help.

Kleinhans does not have a household help.

"Of course I don't need that many rooms, you have to take care of everything." So the 38-year-old just moved into one living area and saw what would become of the other.

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Kitchen is shared

In his search for a new apartment with a roommate, Hofstetter found out that there was space with Kleinhans.

And so they both took the plunge and have been living under the same roof for the last year.

The kitchen is shared, part of the guest apartment has been converted into a dining room.

Because eating together is very important to the two lovers of Italy.

Both are bon vivants, Hofstetter likes to cook, his roommate is happy when something delicious is served to him – preferably with an “Italian touch”.

Breakfast after morning prayer

The two of them sit together for breakfast in the morning – after the morning prayer together.

During the day everyone goes about their work.

"We are very free and independent of each other," says Kleinhans.

In the evenings, however, if the schedule allows it, we like to sit together over a snack, open a bottle of red wine and share our experiences of the day and talk about God, faith and the church.

Sometimes it can also be the case that we talk about the sermon that Kleinhans is supposed to give next weekend.

Hofstetter, who occasionally helps out at church services in the parish association, as an older and experienced pastor, takes care not to interfere with Kleinhans' work.

"I don't want to appear precocious and deliberately hold back."

Privacy is respected

Both are also very careful to respect each other's privacy.

"Nobody runs into someone else's apartment without being asked," says Kleinhans.

The two often spend the rest of their free time separately from each other.

"Everyone has their friends, their acquaintances," emphasizes Kleinhans.

So far they have neither made music together nor taken trips.

Kleinhans: "When we do something together, it's never compulsive, it just happens that way."

Like the trip to the Rauchenberg Christmas tree farm in Aying.

"So we decided to put up a Christmas tree at home and decorated it together," says Kleinhans.

"Everyone has contributed what they have as Christmas tree decorations," adds Hofstetter.

Without the Vita communis, both would probably have celebrated Christmas without a tree, believes Kleinhans: "I didn't do it alone."