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125 years of St. Sebastian: Festival week delights Mittelkalbach!
The parish church of St. Sebastian in Mittelkalbach is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a week of celebrations and a variety of events.
125 years of St. Sebastian: Festival week delights Mittelkalbach!
The parish church of St. Sebastian in Mittelkalbach is facing a very special anniversary: on July 2, 2025, it will celebrate its 125th day of consecration. The first groundbreaking ceremony in 1898 testifies to a long history that is deeply rooted in the region. After just two years of construction, the church was consecrated under the leadership of Bishop Adalbert Endert.
However, the origins in Mittelkalbach go back much further. There was reference to a chapel in a document as early as 1656. A new chapel followed between 1786 and 1789 before today's impressive church was built according to the plans of the Bad Orber construction engineer August Engel. Interestingly, the St. Lawrence Church in Bad Soden served as a model for the building.
A lovingly restored church
St. Sebastian is not only an architectural gem, but also an important place for the community. In 1972 the church was recognized as an “important document of church architecture”. In recent years, the premises have undergone an extensive overall renovation, which began in 2019. This comprised several construction phases, which included, among other things, the renewal of the roof structure, the restoration of the natural stone facade and the creation of barrier-free access.
The official reopening took place on June 27, 2021, when Auxiliary Bishop Professor Dr. Karlheinz Diez consecrated the altar. The church, which lost its bells during the two world wars and purchased new ones in 1950, now also shows technological advances such as modern heating and ventilation technology and a new lighting concept.
Anniversary celebrations
On the occasion of the 125th anniversary, a festival week is being organized that offers a warm welcome to all citizens. The celebrations begin on June 25th with a Rethink Taizé evening and end on July 2nd with a festive Pontifical High Mass led by Bishop Dr. Michael Gerber is directed. Here is an overview of the most important dates of the festival week:
- 25. Juni: Rethink-Taizé-Abend um 19 Uhr
- 28. Juni: Eucharistiefeier um 18:30 Uhr, Vortrag von Schwester Teresa Zukic um 20 Uhr
- 29. Juni: Rethink Open Air Jugendgottesdienst um 19 Uhr
- 1. Juli: Vesper um 18 Uhr, Fingerfood rund um die Kirche
- 2. Juli: Pontifikalhochamt um 18:30 Uhr mit anschließendem Empfang
Chaplain Philipp Schöppner emphasizes the importance of the church as a home and its commitment to the community. The parish community is reflected not only in the events, but also in the special presence of the church, which serves as a cultural heritage.
The challenges for churches
The parish church of St. Sebastian is a good example of how tradition and modernity can be in harmony. The anniversary offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate the legacy of this beautiful church together and to reflect on what it means to the people of Mittelkalbach and the surrounding area.