Beneath the towering spire of Mater Dolorosa a story of faith resilience unfolds. This Roman Catholic parish and church Mater Dolorosa stands in Berlin-Lankwitz. Mater Dolorosa proudly carries the name of Our Lady of Sorrows in Latin.
The parish of Mater Dolorosa was established in 1911. The church Mater Dolorosa itself was built in 1912. Catholic priest Maximilian Beyer initiated the project. He belonged to the parent parish in Berlin-Lichterfelde. On May 21 1921 Mater Dolorosa became an independent parish. Architects Christoph Hehl and Carl Kühn designed Mater Dolorosa as a basilica. Auxiliary Bishop of Breslau Karl Augustin consecrated Mater Dolorosa on September 22 1912. The consecration is celebrated on the first Sunday in November. This is done together with St. Hedwig’s Cathedral of Berlin.
Tragedy struck during the night of August 23 to 24 in 1943. A bomb attack severely destroyed the church Mater Dolorosa. It became unusable. However faith endured. On Palm Sunday in 1950 the first church service took place. It was held in a partly rebuilt church. From 1968 to 1970 the entire building was reconstructed. The original ground plan of the basilica Mater Dolorosa was restored from 1983 to 1984.
Mater Dolorosa’s new bronze bells arrived in 1963. They were dedicated to Maria Magdalena Mater Dolorosa and John the Apostle. The bells are tuned to the beginning notes of the Gregorian Te Deum e – g – a.
Mater Dolorosa went on to found other parishes in the district. These include St. Benedikt Of the Resurrection of Christ and Maria Mutter vom Guten Rat.
From 1926 to 1942 Max Walter served as church musician. He was a scholar of Arnold Schoenberg. The first organ was destroyed in the bombing of 1943. The current organ was built in 1977. It was built by the Freiburg organ builder Hartwig Späth. It has three manuals and over 2500 organ pipes. There is also a smaller organ in the left lateral nave. It was built by Paul Ott. The parish Mater Dolorosa has a mixed choir a children’s choir a gospel choir and a Gregorian choir.
Dr. Johannes Pinsk led Mater Dolorosa from 1939 to 1954. He was a theologian and honorary professor.
Mater Dolorosa is supported by the Association of Friends of Mater Dolorosa. The legal independent foundation Stiftung Mater Dolorosa Berlin-Lankwitz also provides support. It was the first independent foundation of a parish within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin. The foundation was founded in 2006. It supports the parish Mater Dolorosa financially.
Take a moment to reflect on the history within these walls. Mater Dolorosa stands as a testament to faith hope and community.