A question hangs in the air. How did a chapel born of plague evolve into the Neustifter Pfarrkirche we see today?
The Neustifter Pfarrkirche stands before you. It is more than just a church. It is a testament to faith and resilience.
Originally, Neustift am Walde belonged to the Heiligenstadt parish. But in 1713, everything changed. Marco Abundio, an Italian merchant, funded a chapel. He did this out of gratitude for surviving the plague. This chapel honored the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and the plague saints. These saints included Rochus, Sebastian, Karl Borromäus, Franz Xaver, and Rosalia.
Neustift am Walde became an independent parish in 1784. This happened after Joseph II dissolved St. Dorothea monastery. The area then went to Klosterneuburg Abbey. The original chapel expanded between 1783 and 1785. The presbytery, sacristy, and a stone tower were added. The tablet from the original chapel found a new home. It was placed above the church entrance.
However, the church’s journey wasn’t over. The tower had to be replaced in 1851. This replacement led to another church expansion. A weekday chapel was added in 1978. Four baroque statues grace the exterior. They depict Antonius of Padua, Karl Borromäus, Paulus, and Petrus.
Step inside the Neustifter Pfarrkirche. Notice the classicist high altar from 1786. The altarpiece reflects Baroque traditions. A signature discovered in 2019 confirmed its creator. It was Martino Altomonte, a Baroque painter. The lower half shows the plague saints. Above them, Maria Immaculata is flanked by the Holy Trinity. Paintings of St. Helena and St. Barbara frame the altar. These paintings date back to around 1750. They feature richly carved frames and gilded Rocaille decorations.
The side altars date from 1833. The left altar shows the Mother of God Mary. St. Karl Borromäus kneels at her feet. The right altar features a crucifixion scene. Max von Poosch-Gablenz painted it in 1930.
Franz Reusch, an organ builder from Klosterneuburg, created the organ in 1855. It has eight registers. The colorful church windows were installed between 1993 and 1995. Jana Fertl designed them. Karl Fertl, a glass painter, crafted them. The church bells consist of three. Josef Pfundner cast the two larger bells in 1949. The smallest bell dates back to 1747. Max Samassa recast it in 1920 due to a crack.
Take a moment to appreciate the Neustifter Pfarrkirche. It evolved from a plague chapel to a parish church. It shows Neustift am Walde’s enduring spirit. The Kriegerdenkmal, featuring a sculpture of a mother with a fallen warrior by Anton Grath, stands as a poignant reminder of sacrifice.