Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes

Amidst the bustling streets of Vienna’s Favoriten district, stands the Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes. This unassuming church holds a captivating story of resilience and faith. The Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes traces its origins back to the early 20th century. Vienna’s 10th district faced a shortage of churches. The existing Pfarrkirche am Keplerplatz and St. Anton von Padua struggled to serve the burgeoning Catholic population of around 160,000. This led to the establishment of makeshift places of worship. One such place was a small, 20-square-meter chapel dedicated to Mater Ter Admirabilis, located on the very spot where the Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes stands today. This humble chapel, the predecessor to the church we see now, was dedicated to the “Thrice Admirable Mother”. By the early 1930s, the chapel could no longer accommodate the growing number of worshippers. An expansion in 1932 provided temporary relief, but the enlarged chapel quickly proved inadequate and structurally unsound. The idea of a complete church seemed impossible. The Great Depression made funding difficult. A phased construction plan emerged as the solution. Architect Robert Kramreiter designed the altar. This was the first construction phase, meant to serve as the church. Cardinal Innitzer consecrated the altar on November 16, 1933. The second phase, which would include the nave and tower, never materialized. The Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes officially became a parish church on May 1, 1942. The church suffered significant damage during World War II. It housed a first-aid station in its lower church. A bomb destroyed its stained-glass windows and severely damaged the roof on February 21, 1945. The church also fell victim to looting and vandalism. Josef Ottinger, a driving force behind the church’s construction since 1932, became the parish priest in 1946. He served in this role until 1969, guiding the community through the challenging post-war years. Even after the war damage was repaired, further setbacks came. Hail and storms in 1948 destroyed the west-facing windows. They flooded the church and damaged the masonry of both the church and the rectory. Renovations in 1971 saw the removal of the communion rails, replaced by a communal altar. The pulpit was also removed. In 1973, the church acquired its organ, a seven-register instrument built by the Walcker company. In 2015, the Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes ceased to be an independent parish. It became part of the newly formed parish of Göttliche Barmherzigkeit. The Dreimal Wunderbare Muttergottes stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith amidst adversity. Its journey from a small chapel to a parish church reflects the community’s resilience and devotion to the Thrice Admirable Mother.