New life for the chapel in Manndorf: ceremonial inauguration successful!

New life for the chapel in Manndorf: ceremonial inauguration successful!

On Saturday the beautifully renovated chapel was ceremoniously inaugurated in Manndorf (Buchhofen, Deggendorf district). Pastor Heinrich Blömecke thanked the Pirkl family for the loving restoration of the venerable building, which has existed since the mid-19th century. Numerous believers took part in the Holy Mass, which has a special place in the life of the village community. The chapel, a place of remembrance and faith, is now used as such again and shines in new splendor.

During the sermon, Pastor Blömecke emphasized the importance of the chapel and recalled the decreasing influence of faith in today's society. The service was musically accompanied by voices from Manndorf who performed songs such as “Make yourself open” and “Laudato si”. A suggestion for the name of a future choir was also made: “The Manndorfer Lerchen”. The performances were accompanied by Resi Fischhold and Regina Fischhold on the keyboard and Maren Pirkl on the guitar. Raphaela and Kilian Zitzelsberger also enriched the celebration with their singing performances.

The history of the chapel

The chapel in Manndorf goes back to a long history. Originally owned by the Johann Fischhold family, ownership changed in 2023 when Manfred Pirkl acquired the property with the chapel. Under his and his family's leadership, a new roof structure was built and the construction site began in June 2024. The renovation work was achieved through donations of money and goods. Particularly worth mentioning is the new, sturdy seating set that sits next to the chapel and can serve as a meeting place for the community.

At the end of the service, Maren Pirkl thanked all visitors and invited them to view the newly renovated chapel and take part in the Manndorf village festival that followed. Special thanks also went to the parents Manfred and Rosi Pirkl, who helped significantly with the renovation.

Current challenges for churches in Germany

The inauguration of the chapel in Manndorf is in the context of a larger change that is taking place in the church. While many people in this country still maintain a strong relationship with the church, experts are observing that the connection between the community and faith is declining. This is not only due to individual factors, but also to trends in society as a whole such as secularization and the influence of crises on church life. Increasing church departures, which reached over 900,000 in 2022, are just one example of this development, which poses major challenges for many congregations. bpb.de provides information about the historical development and current challenges of the churches in Germany.

But the renovation of the chapel, including the emotional inauguration, also shows that the commitment of community members like the Pirkl family is strong. Such initiatives can help strengthen a sense of community and deepen people's connection to the church.