“Sancta Maria ora pro nobis” The inscription on the bell of St Theresia vom Kinde Jesu Church echoes a prayer for us all. Right here on the southern edge of Berlin in the Buckow district of Neukölln stands this significant Roman Catholic church.
St Theresia vom Kinde Jesu Church wasn’t always here. Its story begins in 1946 when Cardinal Konrad Graf von Preysing established the Berlin-Buckow-West parish. Kaplan Bernhard Wenke became its first pastor. The first mass was held in a Protestant community hall.
Fundraising for a new church began in 1951. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 13 1951. Initially the proposed patron saint Maria Viktoria was rejected. A quick decision was needed. The name Theresia vom Kinde Jesu was chosen. The foundation stone was laid on November 28 1951.
The church bell a weighty 550 kg masterpiece cast by Petit & Gebr Edelbrock in Gescher Westphalia was consecrated in 1960. It measures 98 cm in diameter and 80 cm in height plus a 14 cm crown. Its resonant dis” tone carries the timeless prayer.
Interestingly the original church was demolished in 1966. A new one was built in the Brutalist style using exposed concrete. A complete renovation was carried out in 2005.
Today St Theresia vom Kinde Jesu Church is part of a larger parish dedicated to Pope John XXIII. The church boasts a multi-part crib dating back to 1973 inspired by the carvings of the Wilhering Abbey near Linz Austria. The artistry of Gottfredo Moroder from St Ulrich in Gröden is evident in this beautiful piece. The church organ also dates from 1973.
St Theresia vom Kinde Jesu Church’s simple yet striking design remains a testament to faith resilience and the enduring spirit of Berlin. Its story is one of adaptation perseverance and a deep connection to its community. The church’s bell continues to call people to prayer a timeless reminder of hope and faith. Its legacy lives on in its architecture its artifacts and in the hearts of those who have found solace within its walls.