Heilige Familie

Gazing upon Heilige Familie, one might sense a vibrant energy. This isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to faith and community. Heilige Familie church was established in 1966. It served as a spiritual anchor for Catholics in the newly developed Dürrlewang district of Stuttgart. Today, Heilige Familie boasts a congregation of around 2,500 members. The church is known for its lively community life, with diverse groups catering to all ages. The architecture of Heilige Familie is captivating. The church stretches 55 meters long. The altar area soars to an impressive 11 meters high. A wide gallery extends across the entrance. Beneath it lie the main entrances. Between them is the baptistery. To the north are two confessionals. Upon entering, your gaze is drawn forward to the altar area. A large yellow back wall, designed in 2008, dominates the space. A striking relief made of silium, a combination of silicon and aluminum, adorns the wall. The altar island forms the heart of the choir area. The ambo sits on the right and the tabernacle on the left. Twelve stained-glass windows illuminate the church, depicting scenes from the Holy Scriptures. These colorful windows, six on each side, add a rich layer of symbolism to the church. They narrate stories from the Old and New Testaments, starting at the entrance and progressing towards the altar. The windows on the north wall portray scenes from the Old Testament in darker hues. Those on the south wall depict the Holy Family in brighter colors, particularly a radiant yellow, enhanced by the sunlight. The scenes reflect the church’s patronage, the Holy Family. Below the gallery, you’ll find the baptismal font with its vibrant stained-glass window. Above, on the gallery, sits the organ crafted by Stehle in Bittelbronn. As you walk down the central aisle towards the altar, you’re symbolically moving eastward. This direction, representing the sunrise, speaks to the new life found in faith, a theme beautifully captured in the stained-glass windows of Heilige Familie.