Church service in Münster: Queer community celebrates faith and acceptance

Church service in Münster: Queer community celebrates faith and acceptance

What is happening in Münster? Today, October 26, 2025, a very special Catholic service will be celebrated in the St. Anna Church in Münster-Mecklenbeck. Pastor Karsten Weidisch invites parishioners to be honest before God. The central question is: “Who am I to you?” in the gospel. This gives rise to reflection and exchange about one's own identity and role in the faith.

A centerpiece of this service is support for the LGBTQ community. In Germany, queer believers are looking for encouragement and acceptance in the Catholic Church, and the Münster queer community has been offering a safe space for Christian lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersex and diverse people since 1999. This community has an impressive past and recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. During the service, the song “You are so different” by Jan Dieckmann, which was written for the 20th anniversary, will be played by the band Effata under the direction of Anselm Thissen.

A place of hope

The Church of St. Anna, inaugurated in 1972 and designed by architect Harald Deilmann, has become a popular location for special services and events. Their technical equipment enables lively and varied worship services. After the service, parishioners have the opportunity to call 0700 - 14 14 10 10 until 6 p.m. Calls from the Deutsche Telekom landline cost just 6 cents per minute. On the website ZDF Those interested can find further information.

The concept of the Münster queer community points to a positive self-description that transforms the former “weird” or “strange” into a symbol of diversity. Here the dignity of all people is respected, and the community promotes mutual respect and acceptance - an important concern at a time when many queer people are still fighting for recognition in the church. The events are also open to family and friends, which further strengthens togetherness.

A look at Rome

But the commitment of queer Catholics goes beyond church services in Germany. A historic event will take place in 2025: Over 1,000 queer believers from around 30 countries will make their first official pilgrimage to Rome for the Holy Year. This pilgrimage is organized by the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics and La Tenda di Gionata. The pilgrims want to show that they are not second-class believers and emphasize that their queer identity is not sinful. One participant, Gerhard Wachinger, describes the pilgrimage as an invitation and a sign of a church that is opening up.

Despite positive approaches, there are also critical voices about the pilgrimage event. Some hope for more diversity in the church, aware of opinions that say there is no place for non-heterosexual people in the Catholic community. These exciting discussions about faith and identity show how important it is to create the space that many demand for themselves, their love and their faith.

For the members of the queer community and those taking part in the pilgrimage, this Sunday in Münster and the subsequent event in Rome will be an opportunity to experience their faith and create visibility. The hope for a more inclusive church remains strong – there really is something to be said!