Maria Heimsuchung

Hidden within Mainz, the Maria Heimsuchung church in Laubenheim whispers tales of resilience and transformation. A church mentioned as early as 1211, its story intertwines with the ebb and flow of history. Imagine standing here centuries ago, when the church was under the patronage of St. Viktor’s Monastery. The very air resonated with the chants of monks and the flickering candlelight. This Maria Heimsuchung church, perhaps inspired by the nearby Weisenau church of Maria Himmelfahrt, adopted its own Marian devotion. By 1358, Laubenheim proudly declared its own independent parish. The Maria Heimsuchung witnessed the changing landscape as the village grew around it, depicted prominently in the Mascop plan of 1577. The heart of Laubenheim, the Maria Heimsuchung church, as we see it today, began its transformation in 1717. Under Pfarrer Franz Friedrich Velten’s guidance, the church expanded, embracing the Baroque style. The nave and south facade stand as testaments to this era, silent witnesses to countless prayers and celebrations. The original choir, a sacred space untouched by the renovations, eventually met its fate in 1907. On a bright Sunday, July 7th, 1720, the newly renovated church was consecrated, its Kirchweihtag forever linked to the Sunday after the Feast of the Visitation. This marked Laubenheim’s final separation from Weisenau, a testament to its growing independence. Maria Heimsuchung continued to evolve. In 1907-1908, under the watchful eye of architect Ludwig Becker, side aisles emerged, and the choir expanded, further enhancing its grandeur. Bishop Georg Heinrich Maria Kirstein led the consecration of this enlarged sanctuary on June 14th, 1908. Even the ravages of war couldn’t erase Maria Heimsuchung. Bombed on February 1st, 1945, the church stood defiant, scarred but not broken. Inside, remnants of Mainz’s history linger. The altars, gifts from former Mainz mayor Edmund Gedult von Jungenfeld to Pfarrer Henrich, once graced the Mainzer Jesuitennoviziat, now finding a new home within Maria Heimsuchung. This church, with its baroque core, measures an impressive 39 meters long and 21 meters wide. Its main nave soars to 11.5 meters, crowned by a 28-meter tower, sheltering nearly 400 souls within its embrace. The Maria Heimsuchung church isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to the enduring spirit of Laubenheim, a place where echoes of the past intertwine with the hopes of the future.