Dedicated to a priest who sacrificed his life. The Pfarrkirche St. Maximilian Kolbe stands as a testament to faith. It is a place where people from different backgrounds unite. This church is in Nurnberg-Langwasser. It bears the name of Maximilian Kolbe. He was a Roman Catholic priest and a prisoner in a concentration camp.
St. Maximilian Kolbe is part of Langwasser’s only ecumenical center. This is within the Diocese of Eichstätt. The church serves the Langwasser-Nordost area.
Following World War II, Langwasser became home to displaced people. They came from Silesia and Bohemia. Later, people came from the Soviet Union and Romania. The new housing estate also attracted locals. Today, Langwasser is home to people from nearly every continent.
St. Maximilian Kolbe faced the task of uniting diverse cultures into one faith community. Before the foundation stone was laid in 1985, a community gathered. They held services in a barrack church. The church was consecrated on December 7, 1986. It provided space for gatherings, celebrations, and worship.
The church’s construction took place in 1985 and 1986. Eberhard Schunck and Dieter Ullrich designed it. Bishop Karl Braun and Hermann von Loewenich dedicated the church. Braun was a Roman Catholic bishop. Loewenich was an Evangelical-Lutheran district dean.
The church and community center form the western part of the ecumenical center. St. Maximilian Kolbe shares a unified structure with the ecumenical center. The exterior features warm, gray concrete module stones. Titanium zinc covers the roof. These blend with the other buildings.
The building’s design remains simple. The exterior has a main portal on the south side. There are two glass skylights. One is in the entrance. The other is over the altar area. The tower stands on the southeastern corner. Both Catholic and Evangelical communities use it.
Inside St. Maximilian Kolbe, warm-gray concrete module stone continues. Pillars vertically divide the walls. Oak wood accents the lower area. These correspond with the oak floor. Curved walls mark the altar area. Skylights illuminate the altar. They emphasize its importance.
The Pfarrkirche St. Maximilian Kolbe features a simple, modern design. A stone altar dominates the altar area. A wooden cross hangs in the skylight’s light. A metal stele on the altar’s back wall holds the tabernacle.
Thomas Jann built the organ in 1996. It features mechanical action. The instrument has 20 registers. These are on two manuals and a pedal.
Today, St. Maximilian Kolbe continues to grow. It focuses on ecumenism and family ministry. The Catholic-Vietnamese community also uses the space. They gather for services, meals, and fellowship. The church serves as a symbol of unity. It welcomes all. It stands as a lasting tribute to St. Maximilian Kolbe’s sacrifice.