Huglfing's Sebastiani chapel shines in new splendor

Created: 06/09/2022, 16:00

Father John consecrated the renovated Sebastiani chapel during the festive service.

© Alfred Schubert

20 years ago, believers in Huglfing started raising money for the renovation.

Now Father John consecrated the Sebastiani chapel, followed by a celebration.

Huglfing

– The Christians in Huglfing celebrated the completion of the renovation work in the Sebastiani chapel, which is attached to the side of the nave of St. Magnus, with a festival service accompanied by the church choir.

The most important things for the religion were carried into the chapel by members of the parish community: the baptismal font, the Holy Scriptures, the chalice, the paten and the relic of St. Sebastian as well as the Taizé cross as a symbol of the ecumenical movement and a guitar as a Church music icon.

According to Father John, the chapel should become a meeting place where the faithful meet, but also a place for silent prayer.

Not only will all baptisms take place there in the future, but also the Liturgy of the Hours and small liturgies of the word.

Balance is for cleaning

After the service in the fully occupied church, the members of the parish met with representatives of the trade companies involved in front of the cemetery wall to celebrate the success with a champagne reception.

According to parish council chairman Hannes Bartl, the chapel was built between 1573 and 1606 as a burial chapel for the nobles of Romegg.

In 1662, the Sebastiani Brotherhood was founded by Johann Friedrich Morhardt von Offenwang on Romegg, the last scion of the landed gentry, which still sponsors masses and supports church festivals.

For centuries, many pilgrims came to Huglfing to see the relic of Saint Sebastian that was kept here.

In 1882 the burial chapel was rebuilt by the foundation and dedicated to Saint Sebastian.

Money was collected at festivals

By the turn of the millennium, the chapel was in such poor condition that parishioners began raising money for a renovation.

According to church orderly Ernst Birke, the members of the parish council were particularly involved.

They held numerous festivals, the proceeds of which they dedicated to the renovation.

In 2016, the church administration, led by Maria Listle, began to implement the project.

At that time, according to Birke, the costs were estimated at 115,000 euros.

Due to the later transfer of the confessional from the chapel to the church and price increases, the costs rose to 150,000 euros.

The diocese paid EUR 52,000, the district EUR 3,500, the district of Upper Bavaria EUR 7,500, the Bavarian State Foundation EUR 5,800 and the municipality of Huglfing EUR 20,000.

Most of the money came from the activities of the parish council and donations from the citizens, for which Birke is particularly grateful.

According to Birke, up to 127,000 euros of the money have been spent.

The rest is intended for cleaning work in the church, which is to be carried out soon.

Alfred Schubert