90 years of the Catholic community: A festival of tradition in Hagenow!

90 years of the Catholic community: A festival of tradition in Hagenow!

A remarkable anniversary is celebrated in Hagenow: the Catholic community looks back on 90 years. On this special day, the community meets to initiate a long and eventful story. Almost a century ago, many Catholics, as a result of the First World War, were drawn to the north German city, which was traditionally rather evangelical. According to Nordkurier a community center soon became too small to accommodate the growing number of believers.

The good relationship between denominations was noticeable early on. For example, communion and confirmation often took place in the Evangelical City Church. This laid the foundation for a harmonious cooperation between the Catholic and Protestant communities in Hagenow for decades. After the Second World War, the Catholic community grew to around 2,000 members through the influx of refugees and displaced persons, which further underlined the importance of the community.

solemn traditions

The traditions in the community are diverse and are celebrated. Corpus Christi processions and Martin parades are just a few of the festivals that bring the community together. The Catholic kindergarten, founded in 1945, also plays a central role in the care of the youngest parishes and was initially led by nuns who lived in a nearby monastery. The first own church building was built in 1950 when the Elisabeth Church made of wood from former forced labor barracks was built. However, this church was demolished in 1995 for dilapidation. In 1996 the new church was finally inaugurated, which now also serves as a concert location.

In order to really understand developments around the Catholic community, it is important to observe the historical context. After the Second World War in Germany, the church bond rate in the east was strongly influenced by secularization. While there was a "culture of denomination" in the western federal states, development was different in the east; An aggressive anti-church politics shaped the years of the GDR and led to high number of exit from the churches, such as bpb

The current situation

Nowadays, the Catholic community in Hagenow is part of the parish of Heilige Edith von Stein, which includes the former district of Ludwigslust. Despite the challenges that the Church has undergone for years, the relationship with the Evangelical Community is still good. A clear response can also be seen in participation in the various community events that not only have a church character, but also often also integrate cultural elements.

The decision to allow girls as altar servers in the 1980s was brave and was not approved by all parishioners, but reflects the onset of change in society. The good relationship with politics was further consolidated under the pastor Herbert Ulbrich, who headed the community from 1959 to 1990. This episode in the history of the Catholic community of Hagenow is an excellent example of how religion and community can grow together over generations.

Finally, it can be said that the Catholic community of Hagenow, at the age of 90, not only looks back on a moving past, but also forms an important part of today's cultural landscape of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.