In Langenbach, Father Julian Tokarski has now been honoured on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee as a priest. However, he is denied a special wish.
Langenbach – It was just a show! On June 2, Father Julian Tokarski completed his 50th year as an active pastor. On this occasion, the parish council of Langenbach/Oberhummel, supported by numerous helpers, prepared a glittering party for him on Sunday on the church square. This was preceded by a service in St. Nikolaus von Flüe, at which Moosburg's town priest, cathedral chaplain Reinhold Föckersperger, was the festive preacher. Deacon Christoph Gasteiger acted as an assistant at the celebration of Mass. The musical arrangement of the Eucharistic celebration was provided by the men's choir Langenbach under the direction of Hans Meier junior and the wind group Feger-Spezies.
All flag-bearing associations from the parish association had come to the festive service with their delegations. They led Tokarski, Föckersperger and Thomas Kick, the chairman of the parish council, with the altar service in the almost fully occupied parish church. There, the Moosburg city priest paid tribute to the jubilarian. The preacher left no doubt about it: the priest is the sower. "The sower (but) does not produce, but puts himself at the service of another, who alone has the power to grow." And: "God needs us so that his seed comes from the field." However, short-term success does not count, Föckersperger left no doubt about that. Growing takes time. 50 years of priestly ministry means "bearing witness to a faith that wants to set us free", means sowing more than reaping, knowing "that giving is more blessed than receiving".
Kindergarten and Corona challenged him
In his speech, Thomas Kick, like the cathedral chaplain, addressed the pastor's career and recalled in particular the difficult time "imposed on us by the Corona conditions", the discussions and open questions in the abuse scandal as well as the resignations from the church "also in our parish association (...), which sometimes made you despair". Not to forget the difficulties in the construction of the new kindergarten Noah's Ark, which had even prompted Tokarski to say: "If this continues, I will resign from office!"
Not every professional life runs "over so many different stations," Kick noted – with moments "that sometimes reach the limit of resilience". And he asked: "What professional activity is still actively pursued today for more than 50 years?" The jubilarian had mastered them with "the power of God, the guide of Jesus and the help of Mary". On behalf of the parish council, the church administrations, "all guests and Christians of our parish association, Kick wished above all health, trust in God, serenity and satisfaction" for retirement. In his luggage he had a jubilee candle, which was already spreading its light on the altar, as well as "a good drop of wine" and a gift of money for a "parament or measuring case for liturgical objects".
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In her welcoming address, Langenbach's mayor, Susanne Hoyer, expressed her respect for a "truly remarkable milestone, having proclaimed the message of charity and faith for half a century". She doesn't know any mayor, joked the head of the town hall, who had been in service for so long. As a gift, Hoyer had a bowl of all kinds of delicacies with him. The altar servers presented a collage with pictures from previous years. Eitting's mayor, Reinhard Huber, conveyed the congratulations of his municipality, to which Gaden belongs politically.
Nostalgia before the approaching move
Even before the closing hymn, the "Great God, we praise you," Tokarski reviewed his priestly life and stated: "I am happy to have become a priest." And: "I like you all." Somewhat wistfully, the priest had to admit: "I am (actually) at home here!" He has to leave the vicarage in Langenbach. His and his rectory's new home will be the rectory in Marquartstein in late autumn. Contrary to his wishes, he was not allowed to stay in the vicarage in Langenbach.
From 1 September 2023, the parishes of Langenbach and Oberhummel with the branch parishes of Gaden, Hangenham and Kleinviecht will be added to the Zolling parish association with the parishes of St. Johannes Baptist, Zolling, St. Laurentius, Haag, St. Martin, Inkofen, and St. Georg, Oberappersdorf (click here for the report).
Raimund Lex
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