A Home Away from Home

A City Ministry for Migrants: Fiftieth Anniversary of the Inauguration of the United States Military Chapel (the American Chapel) in Berlin

All Saints, Berlin-Zehlendorf – un hogar y lugar de cobijamiento en la gran ciudad All Saints, Berlin Zehlendorf – A Home far from Home for Berlin’s English speaking Catholic Community All Saints, Berlin-Zehlendorf- Heimat in der Fremde für englischsprachige Migranten in Berlin Fotos: Giersdorf © 2007

GERMANY, mkf. "Our family conveys our warmest greetings and best wishes to you, and to all our brothers and sisters who have made All Saints Catholic Community (ASCC) their "spiritual home" in the years past. Our stay in Berlin, though only for two and a half years, was made meaningful and memorable by our participation in the worship life of All Saints Catholic Community. We were enriched by the Eucharistic Celebrations and by our family prayer gatherings and fellowship. "As a family, we were privileged to have served at the ASCC – Priscilla as Head of the Greeters Group, Andre as an altar server, and myself as a Lector," writes Sulpicio Confiado, First Secretary and Consul (in charge of Political Affairs) at the Embassy of the Philippines in Tokyo, Japan. This is only one of many letters and e-mails that are arriving for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the All Saints Catholic Community in Berlin and their chapel.

Providing a home away from home and a church home is the idea that moves and motivates Dr. Konrad Giersdorf in serving Berlin’s English speaking community, at All Saints Chapel – the American Chapel – in Berlin. In the early eighties in Berlin, Sister Hiltraude provided him contacts of the Schoenstatt Family in Texas, where he spent some years at the University of Texas at Austin. Carlos Cantu, from La Feria, shares: "The last time I saw Konrad was in 1985.  They came to greet us in Schoenstatt.  He had his Schoenstatt introduction here in Texas. I believe it was in the early 1980's and he and his wife had come to Texas on a whim and met Sister Daniela in Lamar, and that was his introduction to Schoenstatt.  He and a couple from Corpus Christi drove down to our place and we took them to México for a short visit, but it really impressed Konrad.  We had kept in touch and when they learned we were going to Schoenstatt in 1985, they made it a point to come and see us.  After that we sort of lost touch until I saw his email address and the information on the Berlin celebration on an email from Sr. Jessica... What a wonderful world and what a wonderful family we belong to!!" Finding a home away from home, "that’s what the Blessed Mother does in Schoenstatt", Konrad Giersdorf summarizes; that’s what he experienced in Texas way back in the eighties, and that’s what his work at All Saints is about.

The Chapel in Zehlendorf – the work of dialogue and faith in a multinational community

During the division of Berlin after WWII, the U.S. military sought ways to spread goodwill and to build solidarity with the people of the occupied city.  A few of the institutions established in those days still remain in Berlin.  One of the least known but perhaps most significant institutions built during this period was the American Community Chapel in the district of Zehlendorf, situated in the former American sector. In 1957, the American Community Chapel was built as an ecumenical place of worship for the different religious denominations in the U.S. military, hosting Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish communities.  However, because the Chapel’s unique location outside of a military base, it was also open to any Berliner who wished to attend services there.  The Chapel quickly drew Germans and others attracted by the American and international character of this unique community. The American Community Chapel thus became a center for spiritual reconciliation, cooperation, and growth between Germans, Americans, and others of many religious beliefs.

The end of the Cold War and the massive departure of the American military presence in Berlin in 1994 put the continued existence of the Chapel into question. However, a small number of remaining parishioners from the Catholic community were determined to save the Chapel and to continue its work of dialogue and faith in a multinational community.  In 1998 the Friends of All Saints Association was established to administer the Community Chapel. They continue to share our facilities with the Protestant and Jewish communities. The All Saints Catholic Community has been an active member of the English Speaking Catholic Mission of Berlin since 1994. The Mission Statement says: The All Saints Catholic Community is a fully integrated, multicultural community with English as its unifying language. It is an open, warm, welcoming, and inclusive community that prays together and celebrates its diversity. The Fiftieth Anniversary will see US-American, Philippine, Sri Lankan, African, and German Catholics celebrate their home from home.

The Blessed Mother and the grace of having a home

The Philippine Consul’s letter continues: "Drawing from our spiritual experience with ASCC, Priscilla and I continue to serve the Catholic Church in our place of assignment, particularly the St Anselm’s Parish in Meguro-ku, Tokyo (near our home) and the Couples for Christ (CFC) Community in Kawasaki City in which we are the Unit Head. We continue to pray for ASCC, that the Lord will bless and protect its work of dialogue and faith in a multinational community, and that He will provide ASCC with all the resources it needs to further the work of evangelization among the local and expatriate community in Berlin.

On a personal note, we thank you for introducing us to the Schoenstatt Community in Vallendar. The Sisters opened their doors to us and to the members of Couples for Christ (CFC) – Germany.   Is there a Schoenstatt community in Japan?"

It was through the intermediation of Konrad Giersdorf, that the Couples for Christ – a Philippine-based Movement – got into contact with Schoenstatt. In 2004, a large delegation of the Movement visited Schoenstatt for a fruitful exchange with the Schoenstatt Family Movement. In 2006, the Movement held their Annual Convention in Schoenstatt. And this is just one moment of networking…

It will probably be impossible to provide an account of the MTA pictures given as a gift to people who during a longer or shorter stay in Berlin attended the Chapel’s service. Impossible as well to give an account of the number of Schoenstatt connections made by those who after their stay in Berlin went elsewhere – to Japan, Russia, Canada, USA… "Schoenstatt is so good with networking".

Have you been in Berlin and want to send congratulation? Have you had experiences of finding a home in Schoenstatt being abroad? Write to Dr. Konrad Giersdorf giersdorf@hotmail.de – and please a copy to pressoffice@schoenstatt.de )

Homepage All Saints http://www.all-saints-berlin.de