St. Lucia (Zell)
St. Lucia is the Catholic parish church in the Zell part of Neuburg an der Donau in Upper Bavaria .
building
From a spatial perspective, the Catholic parish church of St. Luzia has been marginalized due to the relocation of the farms. But it is still the religious center of the believers. It is unknown when the parish existed and when the first church was built here. As early as 1318, King Ludwig confirmed to the Neuburg nunnery the rights that the monastery also had in the village of Zell.
The faithful owe today's church to their former pastor Dr. Claudius Kirchbauer. He had the church built almost entirely at his own expense and much more beautiful and larger than the old one, and he had a new bell cast. The consecration of the sacred building is dated to 1739. The church is baroque in style . Many putti and numerous figures of saints enliven the interior. Above the tabernacle of the high altar there is a life-size figure of the patroness of the parish, St. Lucia .
Tower and clock tower
The oldest piece of brickwork is probably the church tower. A stone tablet on the west side shows the age: Built in 1480. The people of Zell used this as an opportunity to celebrate the five-hundred-year jubilee in church. The Swedes destroyed part of the tower during the Thirty Years' War. The bell storey with the saddle roof was therefore probably not built until after 1648.
The bells are not only a venerable metal, they are the callers to prayer and going to church. The sacristan had to be on time for at least 479 years to urge the faithful to pray. In 1959 the church tower was also hit by the "modern times", the bell rope had had its day and was replaced by an electric bell.
A clock on the tower was previously the public timekeeper. A repair invoice from 1779 confirms this. The hands were gold-plated and the clock was provided with a striking mechanism, only from now on did the bells strike for the quarter and full hours. At that time, the clocks had no precision and were very imprecise. That is why the citizens of the parish of Zell got permission to buy a new clockwork in 1872. After 87 years, this wheel clock was allowed to quit its service again. With the electric chime in 1959, an electric clock with an automatic switch mechanism had to be installed.
Bells and their war tribute
A church without bells would be inconceivable in our Christian West, they are the voice of the Lord God. But times sometimes stood in the way and robbed the bronze journeymen.
For a long time the church tower in Zell was equipped with two bells. Before the First World War it was already a 3-ring bell. The largest bell came from 1843 and was cast by Ignatz Beck in Augsburg, the second was made in 1558 and was the work of Hans Glockengießer from Nuremberg, the third had been in service since 1506. Then came the First World War. Metal became scarce and so the largest bell from 1843 had to be delivered. A chronicler dated the date of acceptance on August 8, 1917. There was even compensation, the kilo was remunerated at 4.50 marks, which corresponded to a total value of 2650.50 marks.
For a long time now the parish contented itself with the two-way bell. In 1933 there was a desire for a new and larger bell. The two existing bells from 1558 and 1506 should be melted down for this. But the State Office for Monument Preservation did not participate. Now the bell from 1558 has been integrated. The chapel in Bruck received the bell from 1506 as a gift.
On Sunday, October 4th, 1933, the new bell was finally inaugurated. Associations, school children and the church choir, as well as numerous believers provided the festive setting. On Kirchweih Sunday 1933 the bells rang for the first time with a new line-up. On January 4, 1934, the new bell cage was given the rating "OK" when it was rung for a test. But the Second World War also wrote bell history in its own way. In 1942 the church towers were robbed again. In the meantime Zell had a four-ring bell. Three bells had to be delivered, including the old one from 1558, which already had a crack. Only the Sebastian bell from 1933 remained lonely in the tower.
And again the parish pulled itself up to a new bell. And luck was on the side. Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria donated the two bells. It was a twelve quintals (600 kg) Rupprechtsbell and the Luziaglocke with a weight of 7 ½ quintals (375 kg). This bell is a thank you to the parish of Zell for the good care and the church services at Gut Rohrenfeld .
The highlight is Sunday, July 12, 1953 with the consecration of the bells . Prince Joseph Clemens of Bavaria was the prominent representative of the Wittelsbach house. District Administrator Gaßner from Neuburg was also present, Dean Ferdinand Wachter from Untermaxfeld took over the church ceremony.
On April 29, 1956, the bells were once again the focus in Zell. The childless couple Maria Vonficht and their late husband Anton donated a bell that was dedicated to St. Anton and Maria. The bell founder was the Czudnochowsky company from Erding. Once again, dean Ferdinand Wachter from Untermaxfeld was commissioned with the consecration act. The next day there was a quarter-hour trial ringing of four. Today the team of four still consists of the Rupprecht-, Luzia-, Sebastian- and Antonius-Maria bell.
Church interior
The patron saint of the church is St. Luzia. Numerous paintings enrich the house of God and depict the life of the saints and their martyrdom . The representations are explained in detail using Latin scripts. The ceiling fresco in the nave is a real gem and commemorates the change of religion in 1617. The painting depicts how the Catholic religion was brought back to Zell in a procession. The church's sculptors and painters are unknown.
Parish parish
Zell had always had a rectory and was also the pastor's seat. In the living statistics of the diocese of Augsburg in 1906, the Sprengel is parish described in detail. It includes the two political communities of Zell and Bruck as they existed before the regional reform. The municipality of Zell also included the Rothheim , Zitzelsheim , Grünau hunting lodge , and the hamlet of Längenmühle and Marienheim with Rödenhof . The community of Bruck also included Maxweiler and the Rohrenfeld train station . In addition, the village of Rosing is affiliated with the parish of Zell. The Good Rohrenfeld was at that time in the parish Weichering incorporated and came until 1916 in church to Zell.
The parish of St. Luzia is located in the diocesan region of Old Bavaria and in the deanery of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen. It forms a parish community with St. Ulrich in Neuburg and is looked after from there.
Rectory
The parsonage of Zell is a venerable monument. It was supposed to be demolished, but it is old for years, which is why it is now a listed building. The clergy of the parish resided here. Pastor Geog Rainer, who died in 1980, was the last resident.
In 1612, a visitation report reports that the building is in very poor condition, it is raining in everywhere. But there is no remedy in sight. At the end of the 17th century, the rectory and the utility building are in ruins. From 1799 to 1816 the craftsmen toiled, the building is a permanent construction site. Pastor Bihl extends the money and settles the accounts with the parish in 1816.
The coalition wars from 1800 to 1815, the famine year 1816 and another bad harvest in 1817 hit the parishioners hard. In spite of all this, not only were repairs carried out, but a new parish church was also built.
But around 1830 the same lamentations were repeated. The building is far too small for a good harvest; the farmhand even has to spend the night in the horse stable. Repairs were not made until 1840. Another major renovation in 1871 and 1956. The electric lighting was installed in Zell in 1913, but the pastor refused. This was only granted to him in 1921.
Today the rectory is lonely, because the surrounding buildings were demolished because of the danger of flying. The listed rectory is currently uninhabited.
Church personalities
Georg Claudius Kirchbauer
He is probably one of the most prominent clergymen in Zell, who is still remembered by the citizens of Zell. Kirchbauer was not only a clergyman, he was also wealthy. According to the Neuburger Kollektaneenblatt, he had the church in Zell built almost entirely at his own expense. But he could also be a prankster. So once he was asked why he only built the church and not the tower too, he said quick-wittedly: "My name is Kirchbauer and not Turmbauer".
Kirchbauer was born on April 17, 1700 in Monheim as the son of the town clerk there. He studied philosophy in Neuburg and theology in Ingolstadt. In 1718, during his disputation in Freising , he set up 55 doctrines that were later on a board in the church in Zell, but are no longer available today. From 1720 to 1723 the young priest stayed in the city of Rome to continue his studies there. He became a "Doctor of Holy Theology" at a young age. His doctoral thesis is still in the Munich State Archives. Kirchbauer traveled all over Italy, visited Constantinople and stayed at the consecrated places. He put down his hiking trips in writing. In 1731 Kirchbauer took over the parish of Zell, which included the two communities of Zell and Bruck. Now he could develop his full strength again. In 1739 he had the church built, without a tower, the church tower is much older and still stands today. The church is now much nicer and bigger than the old one, is written down. The clergyman also donated a bell worth 1,800 guilders, which was poured in Straubing. Twelve pictures with the apostles once adorned the church, which also came from Kirchbauer. He was portrayed as Judas Thaddäus in the scarlet student clothing .
The shepherd of souls now enjoyed a great reputation and was appointed to the electoral council. In 1746 his fellow officials elected him treasurer of the Rain-Neuburg chapter. Since April 13, 1750 he has been accepted as canon of the collegiate monastery of St. Johann Baptist in Vilshofen , Diocese of Passau . The monastery was built in 1376 by the knight Heinrich Tuschel for twelve canons . During the secularization of 1803 the monastery was abolished.
April 27, 1750, Kirchbauer is appointed to the clergy. The shepherd of souls died on February 1, 1768. A decorative memorial stone was dedicated to him at the church entrance. At the beginning of the board you can read: Ite Missa est , meaning “Go, it's the discharge”. And further is carved in stone: Anima in Coelum, Corpus in Terram , "the soul [is] in heaven, the body in earth". The three letters "RIP", "rest in peace" mark the launch.
Franziskus Antonius Kopp
His life was short, but his term of office was also short. The parish dedicated a memorial plaque to him, which will reveal a few secrets for us. He was pastor of Großmehring and in 1768 took over the parish with the towns of Zell and Bruck. Kopp rebuilt the rectory. “He was very zealous and died in piety,” but too early because he was only 48 years old.
Pastor Joseph Sebastian Vogl
He was a beneficiary in Langenmosen for ten years , pastor in Gennach near Schwabmünchen for eight years and took over the parish of Zell on July 1, 1770. The clergyman is portrayed as a philanthropist who has an irreproachable nature. He was particularly committed to the school system and promoted it. He looked after several helpless children for the most part and provided food and drink to the needy, he looked after the sick and paid for the medication, but he also called the doctor and paid for the costs.
Because of his good-naturedness, the shepherd of souls himself got into distress and plunged into debt. The Order of Malta wanted to help and sent a petition to the imperial count. The letter of appeal states that Vogl assumed construction debts of 1400 guilders when he took office. In addition, there was food for his mother and siblings, the health of the clergyman was already compromised. Vogl was already 70 years old at that time. And the reason given in the petition is: “It would be particularly good for the pastor if his only good, his honor and tranquility, were taken away.” However, the result is not known. The pastor died on June 21, 1794.
Joseph Jansen
He was "My Monk von Thierhaupten" and was transferred to Rohr in Lower Bavaria for health reasons. He then allowed himself to be secularized and became a professor of morality and took over the parish in Möhring near Vohburg, then in Hornbach near Landshut and in Manching. In 1794 he took over the parish of Zell. In 1799 he died on the way home in a chaise (horse-drawn carriage) between Längenmühle near Neuburg-Donau and Rödenhof.
Heinrich Bihl
In 1799 he came to Zell as a pastor. His big task was to renovate the rectory. He died in 1822.
Peter Karg
There is also much silence about this pastor. He came to Zell in 1876. In 1889 he unconsciously set a monument for himself, because on June 16 he invited people to found a Raiffeisen cooperative. Its reputation was successful, 40 founding members are registered. Zell thus owned the third Raiffeisenkasse in the district.
In the meantime the clergyman had gained a great reputation and popularity. Therefore, on August 11, 1901, he celebrated his 25th local anniversary in the parish church in the presence of many clergy and secular celebrities, including clergy of other denominations. With his presence, the cathedral capitular Bernhard Buyel, once pastor of Weichering, underscored the importance of the anniversary. The church continued the secular celebration. The talk was of an apostle for peace with genuine Christian tolerance. The two communities of Zell and Bruck made him an honorary citizen. String music from the 15th Infantry Regiment from Neuburg musically enriched the anniversary. After 37 years as pastor of Zell, he died in 1912.
Willibald Reisch
Born on March 12, 1872 in Neuburg an der Donau, he attended grammar school here and then prepared for the spiritual profession in the seminar in Dillingen. He was ordained a priest on July 25, 1897. This was a great event for Neuburg.
On August 15, the Assumption of Mary, at the same time the patronage of the court church, the new priest celebrated his primacy. The secular celebration, which was musically framed by the Neuburg regimental band, continued in the Gasthof zur Post in Neuburg. On August 27, 1897, he took up the first position as an assistant priest in Steinekirch , Dean's Office Dinkelscherben. On December 21, 1897, he became chaplain of Schwabmünchen and on August 17, 1899, benefit vicar of Ellgau. On April 10, 1902 Reisch became pastor of Druisheim in the Donauwörth district.
On February 8, 1912, he took over the parish of Zell. He arrived at Rohrenfeld station by train. There he was driven through a waiting chaise through Bruck to Zell, escorted by horsemen.
His life was accompanied by ups and downs and embedded in two world wars. The bells were removed from the tower in 1917 and 1942. He had a tough time of fate towards the end of the Second World War. He had to leave the rectory in Zell, it was no longer habitable because of the bombing raids. Every day he marched from Karlshuld to Zell to celebrate church services and bury the dead. The church had also received serious injuries.
The stations of joy included the consecration of the Bruck Chapel in 1913, but also the consecration of the bells in 1933. On Friday, July 25, 1947, the golden jubilee of the priests was a celebration. 1952 was the inauguration of the Horntaschbrücke, again a festival. At the same time, the municipality of Zell made him an honorary citizen. Pastor Reisch, at 80 years of age, was the oldest active clergyman in the district. The faithful of the parish of Zell celebrated his diamond priest anniversary with him in the priest hospice St. Augustin in Neuburg an der Donau. On November 9, 1958, the 86-year-old pastor died after a long suffering and was buried with great sympathy from the population.
Georg Reiner - the last local pastor of Zell
Born on January 17, 1912 in Igenhausen in the Aichach district, was the oldest of seven children and also attended elementary school here. His parents ran a small farm and a grocery store. At the age of 14 he decided to study and came to Dillingen. From the ninth grade he switched to high school near St. Stephan in Augsburg . There he graduated from high school and returned to Dillingen to study theology.
14 days before the ordination he received the order for the Reich Labor Service . At Christmas he was given four days of special leave after many phone calls. Under modest circumstances, he was able to receive the priestly ordination in the Antoniushaus in Augsburg on Christmas Eve 1940 with another four alumni . He celebrated Primiz on Christmas Day 1940. A procession from his parents' house to the church was allowed. It became a church celebration without any worldly pomp.
The next stop was the Eastern Front Russia as a medic, especially in the Caucasus. He did not return from Siberian captivity until November 13, 1948, then was Reiner Kaplan of Kirchheim and, from December 1, 1953, beneficiary vicar of Mindelheim . On March 25, 1954, he took over the parish of Zell. The clergyman had also been dean of school for a long time since 1974, but had to give up this office later for health reasons. In 1976, Bishop Stimpfle appointed him to the clergy.
The major tasks included the renovation of the church and the general overhaul of the rectory. He founded the Catholic women's association in Zell and was chairman of the Zell / Bruck sports club for eight years. The association made him an honorary director. He also provided a group room for the Catholic parishioners in the rectory.
In 1972 he celebrated his 60th birthday with his parish and in 1977 his 65th birthday. In 1979 he celebrated the 25th local anniversary with the parish. On November 13, 1980, death suddenly snatched him away. The deceased was laid out in the parish church and a large funeral escort said goodbye to a long-time pastor.
Web links
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 48 ° 42 ′ 48 ″ N , 11 ° 14 ′ 31.5 ″ E