For example, while a May devotion was celebrated under corona conditions in Kiliansdom in Würzburg yesterday, there was no devotion or celebration of the Word of God in the parish community of Dürrbachtal. “We lack helpers,” says Pastor Sebastian Herbert. The church was being prepared: seats had been identified in the benches and markings had been made to ensure the rules of distance.
However, one is now dependent on helpers from the parish council, says Herbert: “But there are many over 60 themselves and therefore belong to the risk group.” Today there is still a meeting with the full-time and volunteers of the parish community. Herbert assumes, however, that a service under corona conditions will not take place.
Not enough space to implement requirements
The situation is similar in the parish communities of Mellrichstadt, Fladungen-Nordheim and Besengau Bastheim in the district of Rhön-Grabfeld: yesterday, too, no church service could take place because helpers were missing. And vicar Paul Reder names another problem: the structural conditions in the small churches in the country. After all, the parish communities include 22 parishes with as many churches.
However, the strict hygiene requirements would have to be implemented in only three of them. Requirements include pews that are accessible from both sides, a wide central aisle, and two entrances to mark an entrance and an exit. “The requirements are so high that the committees have come to the conclusion that implementation is not possible for us,” said Reder.
Participant cards provide an overview
“We celebrated a service on Saturday, Sunday morning and Sunday evening,” said Pastor Franz Kraft from the parish community in Erlenbach am Main in the Miltenberg district. In total, however, only 60 believers came to the services. “It was a good start. We just have to test how the requirements will be implemented,” said Kraft. Four folders were needed to control the entrance, to allocate places and to ensure compliance.
The largest of the four parish community churches usually has 600 seats. After implementing the distance regulations, 75 people can now take a seat. The faithful picked up participant cards from the parish office “so that we can estimate how many will come.”
Kiliansdom was well attended
Worship services in the Kiliansdom in Würzburg started again with a May service. In advance, the team of the Dompfarrei put markings and designated seats. Around 100 visitors came to the service – they were let in individually and counted. “That is a lot for a May service,” said the priest, Jürgen Vorndran.
However, although many full-time employees are responsible for the cathedral parish and a security company also provides personnel, municipal adviser Alexandra Eck sees a personnel shortage facing herself and her team: “It gives me a stomachache. And at some point we have to involve volunteers.” She would find it very difficult to have to reject visitors at the entrance because there were no more seats available.
Bishop demands strict conditions
On April 29, Bishop Franz Jung announced by decree that public services could again be celebrated in the Diocese of Würzburg, but only if strict security measures were followed. “I am aware of how much extra work this will entail,” says the bishop. Only non-charitable forms of worship are allowed, i.e. celebrating the Word of God without giving communion, celebrating the daytime liturgy and devotions. Bishop Franz Jung had expected the debate to be emotional: “The Eucharist is a valuable commodity. It is the source and culmination of church life.”
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