Ecumenical life center Ottmaring
The Ecumenical Life Center Ottmaring was inaugurated on June 23, 1968 in Ottmaring near Friedberg . It initially consisted of four houses and has developed into an ecumenical settlement with 120 permanent residents. This settlement was created in joint ecumenical work by the Evangelical Brotherhood of Common Life and the Catholic Focolare Movement .
history
At the beginning of the 20th century, new communities were founded in the Protestant Church, including the Brotherhood of Common Life , which, however, viewed more closely, sees itself as an ecumenical association. When this ecumenical brotherhood met the Catholic Focolare Movement for the first time, the idea of working together arose. The common spiritual basis was the words of the Bible : "Jesus in the middle" (Mt 18.20 EU ), "... that all may be one" (John 17.21 EU ) and "I give you a new commandment that you may love one another" (Joh 13,34 EU ). At the initiative of Pastor Klaus Hess, his wife and the founder of the Focolare Movement Chiara Lubich , a place where Christians could live together was created . The community among the inhabitants of the Ecumenical Life Center arises from the personal life of each individual with God . In the center of life there are quite different approaches to the life of following Jesus . The Ecumenical Life Center Ottmaring celebrated its 40th anniversary on July 13, 2008 with a ceremony.
The settlement, house of encounter and residents
The Ecumenical Life Center is part of the village of Ottmaring, which belongs to the city of Friedberg near Augsburg . It is a settlement that consists of 25 houses and a conference center. 25 families, eight communities of celibate women and men and a community of priests live here. Most of them moved to Ottmaring because of the center of life. But friends from Ottmaring and the surrounding villages also consider themselves roommates.
Interest in the Ecumenical Center of Life increased significantly over time. In 1976 the "Ottmaring Meeting Center" was inaugurated. The educational facility is suitable for events for up to 300 people, for international congresses through to youth and children's events. The guest house offers enough accommodation capacity with its 100 beds. There are also three halls with modern media technology, five group rooms, three dining rooms, a play room, a playground for children, a cafeteria, a chapel and a well-tended park.
A self-statement says about the residents:
“The residents are shaped by different religious experiences and traditions; because the Brotherhood of Common Life consists mainly of Protestant Christians, while the Focolare Movement has its roots in the Catholic Church. Many professional groups, nationalities and all ages are represented. But they all made a decision for God in their life and followed his call. "
Temporary residents are also welcome. Every year the Ottmaringer Youth Week takes place, for which young people from all over Europe come together.
literature
- Michael Decker, Severin Schmid (eds.): Ecumenical Life Center Ottmaring , Verlag Neue Stadt, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-87996-773-5 .
- Klaus and Susanne Hess: In the service of the unity of the church. Life center Ottmaring . In: Anna-Maria from the Wiesche, Frank Lilie (ed.): Kloster auf Evangelisch. Reports from life together . Vier-Türme-Verlag, Münsterschwarzach 2016, ISBN 978-3-89680-904-9 , pp. 137–146.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Internet presence of the center: The residents