St. Matthias

Gazing upon St. Matthias Church, one might initially see a modern structure. But there’s more than meets the eye. This church, nestled in Osnabrück, Germany, holds a unique story. St. Matthias is actually the youngest of the city’s 22 parishes. Its story began relatively recently, on December 7, 1975, when construction started. Just a year later, on December 5, 1976, the church was inaugurated by Bishop Dr. Helmut Hermann Wittler. St. Matthias officially became a separate parish on July 1, 1984. It was formed from portions of three existing parishes: Liebfrauen, Eversburg, and St. Alexander, Wallenhorst. A fascinating detail about St. Matthias is the presence of a relic of Saint Matthew. This relic has been housed within the church since December 5, 1984. Inside St. Matthias, the altar cross holds significant symbolism. The front depicts the Savior with Mary and John, representing redeemed humanity. Turn the cross around, and you’ll find a depiction of the foot washing. The altar itself houses the reliquary grave of Saints Cosmas and Damianus, along with the consecration certificate. A striking feature is the 2.5-meter-high pentagonal sacrament stele. This stele showcases thirty pictures of Jesus’ life and his impact on humanity. The organ at St. Matthias also boasts its own tale. Inaugurated on May 23, 1980, it was designed by master organ builder Lothar Simon from Muddenhagen. Its construction was a collaborative effort between Josef Flore of Warburg and Michael Saul of Osnabrück. The organ consists of Hauptwerk (Manual I), Brustwerk (Manual II), Pedalwerk, and paddles, totaling an impressive 1184 pipes. St. Matthias’s journey continued with a parish merger. In October 1999, it joined with Liebfrauen, Eversburg, to form a single parish. So, while the building itself may appear young, St. Matthias Church is a vessel of rich history and symbolism, a testament to faith and community in Osnabrück.