Farewell to St. Michael: Emotional farewell in Hamm-Ostwennemar!

Farewell to St. Michael: Emotional farewell in Hamm-Ostwennemar!

The community in Hamm-Ostwennemar is facing an emotional farewell because the Church of St. Michael will be profaned on July 1, 2025. The last regular Sunday mass took place on June 15, 2025, marking the end of an era for many believers. How calf reported, the closure is due to economic necessity, which also affects other communities, as the reporting on the Church of St. Michael in Lockweiler shows.

The farewell formats have already begun and offer the congregation special opportunities to say goodbye to their beloved church. On the days 23/24. June and 30, the church can be visited from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to share memories. The daycare center director emphasizes the children's close connection to the community, which is reflected in the contours of the little ones' hands on the walls. These memories are captured through special exhibitions and the opportunity to create a collage, excluding personal photos from 17 years ago.

The farewell service

The final profanation service will take place with Auxiliary Bishop Josef Holtkotte on July 1st at 6:30 p.m. During this ceremony, the figure of Michael is ceremoniously carried into the parish hall, where the congregation is invited to share their memories and bring something to eat. The first service in the parish hall is planned for July 6th at 9:45 a.m., followed by a shared breakfast. You can feel how many people are hanging on to this farewell and this is also shown by the entries in a memory book where emotions are documented.

The situation in Lockweiler is similar to that in Hamm. Here the church was closed almost two years ago, and the profanation will be completed on April 27, 2025. Bishop Stefan Ackermann will lead the profanation service katholisch-in-wadern.de reported. Here too, a convivial drink is planned on the church forecourt.

Overview of church closures

The closures of churches are a widespread phenomenon in Germany, according to an analysis by fowid.de shows. Despite increasing church tax revenue, membership numbers are falling: in the last ten years, 23% of Protestant and 9% of Catholic members have turned their backs on the church. Over 800 changes to churches since the turn of the millennium reflect the reality that many congregations have to be restructured or even closed due to economic constraints.

The plans for conversion and the questions about cultural preservation can be viewed as part of a social discussion. In recent years there have been frequent demolitions and closures of churches, fueling dialogue about the preservation and conversion of these often historic buildings. Despite the profanation, the church tower of St. Michael will remain as a visible symbol of the community, while the new Michaelsheim will serve as a center for Catholics in Braam-Ostwennemar.

The emotional farewells to the churches in Hamm and Lockweiler are just two examples of a larger problem that affects many communities. It remains to be seen how the discussion about churches, communities and monument preservation will develop in the coming years.