The parish council with (from left) Maria Heller, Pastor Gregor Bartkowski, Georg Faltermaier, Albert Furtner, Gertraud Buchner, Hans Faltermair, Claudia Kroschwald and Astrid Gromes behind the parish association cross with the names of all parishes and branch churches. © Private
The first round birthday is coming up: On 10 November, it will be ten years since Auxiliary Bishop Bernhard Haßlberger launched the new, large parish association of Wartenberg. On this occasion, a large festive service is already planned for this week, at which Haßlberger will be present again.
Wartenberg – "The founding of the parish association was the answer to a comprehensive and necessary structural reform in our archdiocese. With the pastoral team at that time, our parishes set out to develop synergies," says Pastor and parish association leader Gregor Bartkowski in a press release. Over the past ten years, "our parishes have grown together through many common celebrations and activities. With a lot of commitment and passion, the committees spoke, planned and implemented plans with each other. The focus is now very much on working together," says Bartkowski.
The parishes of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Wartenberg, St. Martin Langenpreising, St. Peter and Paul Berglern and St. Stephanus Zustorf with a total of ten churches have been united under one roof for almost a decade. "Thanks to the budget network, the church foundations of our parish association have benefited from professional management in the administrative area for years. The fact that we can look back on ten years this year is also thanks to the open and level-headed approach of many committed volunteers," says Bartkowski.
That's why it's time to celebrate together. On Sunday, June 11, at 10 a.m., there will be a festive service with Haßlberger - in good weather on the Nikolaiberg, in bad weather in the parish church of Wartenberg. The guests will be welcomed by alphorn players, the musical arrangement of the birthday mass will be provided by a community choir from all parishes of the parish association under the direction of Christian Rott.
"Afterwards, the Strogentaler Bläser will play us cheerfully for lunch, and there will also be a lot on offer for the little visitors. We'll end this beautiful day with coffee and cake," says Bartkowski happily. He and his comrades-in-arms are prepared for all eventualities: "If it rains, we will dine comfortably in the Wartenberg marquee with the same program after the service." This is already in place, because the folk festival begins on June 15th.