St. Pius (Landshut)
St. Pius (also Pius Church is called) is a Roman Catholic parish church of the Diocese of Regensburg , located in the western part of the Lower Bavarian town of Landshut is. The modern church, built between 1961 and 1963, was consecrated to Pope Pius X , who was only canonized in 1954 (memorial day: August 21).
history
Until construction begins
Since the mother parish of St. Nikola had around 10,000 Catholics again at the end of the 1950s, despite the separation of the parishes of St. Wolfgang (1942) and St. Konrad (1952) as a result of the strong influx, the church building association Papierer-Viertel was founded in 1957 . This district is only separated from Landshut's old town by the Isar , which also marks the border to the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising . Accordingly, many believers from the paper district attended the services in the Martinskirche at that time (as in some cases still today) . In the following year, 1958, it was decided to build a new church in the west of Landshut, "in order to put the religious no-man's-land on Rennweg, Schwaigerstraße, Querstraße and Klötzlmüllerstraße to an orderly care", as stated in a letter from the parish priest of St. Nikola, Josef Karl, to the City of Landshut from 23 September 1958 is called. It is further stated: "That is why the Archbishop of Regensburg instructed the undersigned to begin the preparatory work for a church building immediately in order to be able to keep pace with the expansion of Klötzlmüllerstrasse and Luitpoldstrasse as well as the construction of the new hospital ."
Attempts to buy private land in West Landshut for the construction of churches failed. Therefore, the city of Landshut was contacted to purchase the property on which St. Pius actually stands today. The city initially had reservations about the location; so she feared noise pollution from the nearby sports facilities and that the ringing of bells would not be conducive to the recovery of the patients in the new city hospital. However, since the church side insisted on the building site, the city finally agreed. In May 1960, the result of a competition limited to three Landshut architects , in which the design by Hans Hofbauer prevailed. This was implemented in a slightly different form , beginning with the groundbreaking ceremony by pastor Josef Karl on July 24, 1961. A construction period of one and a half years was planned in order to be able to celebrate the first services in the new church on time for Christmas 1962. Archbishop Buchberger, who has since passed away, intended the new building to be the patronage of Pope Pius X, who is considered the Pope of love and peace and the Pope of daily Holy Communion.
During the construction period
On October 8, 1961, the episcopal finance director, Cathedral Chapter Augustin Küffner, laid the foundation stone . After the work progressed as planned, the topping-out ceremony was held on August 10, 1962 . The father of the church building, pastor Josef Karl, who died on June 14, was commemorated. One of the guests of honor was the future pastor of St. Pius, Ludwig Maier, who set up in his new parish on September 1, 1962. On the fourth Sunday in Advent , December 23, 1962, St. Pius was again provisionally designated by Domkapitular Küffner, so that the first Christmas mass could be celebrated the next day in the only provisionally completed church . On January 1, 1963, St. Pius was finally raised to an independent parish ; on February 10, 1963, Ludwig Maier was finally officially installed as city pastor.
The debts from the church building, which cost around 1.5 million D-Marks , naturally went to the new parish of St. Pius, which, despite the debt burden, still had to purchase large parts of the interior fittings and drive the building of the tower forward. The latter could only be financed by another loan of 50,000 D-Marks. The cost of the tower clock, however, was largely borne by the city of Landshut. The young parish also did not want to do without a figure and a relic of the church patron, which resulted in additional costs. On the other hand, generous donors were found for the crossroads panels , which were designed by the local artist Marlene Reidel . After the free-standing tower was completed, but still without bells, the new Regensburg Bishop Rudolf Graber carried out the official consecration on May 3, 1964 . The relics of St. Pius X and two martyrs were transferred to the Pius Church and walled up in a copper capsule in the new popular altar .
The first years in the new parish church
In the first few years in particular, the parish of St. Pius had to struggle with construction defects, which had to be fixed gradually. These include, for example, the leaky roof or the roof drainage that freezes over in winter. In 1966, the first spire, which was obviously too weak, tore off in a storm. It was replaced by the gold-plated cross that still exists today . Various purchases, such as a figure of the church patron and an organ appropriate to the size of the church , which was supposed to replace the existing provisional structure, had to be made in the following years. In 1974 the sanctuary was finally redesigned according to the requirements of the liturgical reform. The full repayment of the building debts dragged on until 1975.
Construction of a parish home and kindergarten
A parish home with a kindergarten was also to be built for the growing, mostly young community on a plot of land opposite the Pius Church. However, this plan had to be abandoned in 1965 because the space available there would not have been sufficient for both facilities. It was initially planned to build the parish hall between the church and the tower so that the latter would have a connection to the nave. This should also house the sacristan and a chaplain (St. Pius received one for the first time in 1967). However, since no grants from the diocese could be obtained for this, the plan had to be abandoned. The purchase of land for the parish house opposite the parish church had to be postponed due to a lack of subsidies.
In 1969 a kindergarten construction association was founded, which was able to acquire a plot of land at the current location on Lortzingweg, i.e. behind the railway line to Neumarkt-Sankt Veit . Initially it was planned that Caritas would take over the construction and operation of the kindergarten; but this was rejected. The final solution only became apparent at the end of the year: the city of Landshut is building the kindergarten with grants from the Diocese of Regensburg, and the operation will be taken over by the St. Pius Church Foundation. The construction of the kindergarten began in 1970, and full operation began on September 1, 1972.
After completion of the kindergarten construction work began on the parish home: with renewed high financial efforts and only thanks to donations from parishioners, the desired plot of land across from the church could be acquired by the city. In 1976 a somewhat reduced plan was finally approved by the building and art committee of the Diocese of Regensburg and given a grant. However, a considerable sum for the construction of the parish hall had to be raised again by the parishioners. Nevertheless, the parish hall could already be occupied in 1977.
Recent renovations
Over time, the tower suffered great damage from environmental pollution; in addition, considerable construction defects were found. Initially, a demolition and subsequent replacement of the tower was under discussion. In fact, extensive renovation work was carried out from 1998 to 2003 at a cost of more than € 500,000. The tower clock and the gilded tower cross were also overhauled during this period.
The interior of the parish church was renovated from April 2017 to March 2018. The interior was brought back to the state before a renovation at the end of the 1980s. The most noticeable measure was the uncovering of a strip of brick masonry on the wall behind the altar. This strip - viewed from the church entrance - forms a kind of continuation of the central aisle to the bronze medallion with the Lamb of God and further up to the Trinity window. In addition, the organ was completely overhauled.
architecture
Exterior construction
The Pius Church is based on the late Gothic brick churches of the Landshut Bauhütte, but is designed in a modern appearance. The 33 meter long, 20 meter wide and 16 meter high structure consists of a reinforced concrete frame that is filled with bare brickwork and held together by ring anchors . The ceiling construction consists of roof trusses and is supported by double supports made of reinforced concrete. The roof is clad with copper sheet. The church is not oriented to the east, as was customary in earlier times, rather the chancel is on the south side of the church. The Eucharistic cross on the north facade above the main portal, which is created by the special joining of the bricks, is remarkable.
tower
About 30 meters west of the church is the free-standing, 54-meter-high bell tower, a so-called campanile . Together with the parish center, this characterizes the so-called “Piusviertel” and is a landmark of the West district of Landshut. It is designed with an octagonal floor plan in open construction and consists of four reinforced concrete wall panels that alternate with four open ribbon windows.
inner space
In the interior there is a subtle division of space through the two rows of slender, 14-meter-high supporting pillars with a cross-section of only 40 by 40 centimeters. Nevertheless, this gives the church the spatial effect of the three-aisled hall churches typical of the late Gothic . The central nave is significantly wider than the two side aisles and the rectangular choir is not drawn in opposite the central nave. A characteristic of the Pius Church is the slightly sloping floor from the main portal on the north side to the chancel. The organ gallery spans the main portal and the two rear worship chapels, the Fatima chapel to the left of the main entrance and the Holy Cross chapel on the right. The interior of the church is relatively poorly lit. The main source of light in the nave are the triangular windows that are located on the side walls directly under the roof. In addition, the nave is illuminated by the colorful concrete-glass strips at eye level and the vertical light strips on the north facade. On the west side of the chancel there is a painted glass window in which the Holy Trinity is depicted. It shows the eye of God, the cross and a dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit . In addition, the west side of the choir room is equipped with a large colored glass window.
Furnishing
Sanctuary
As in many modern churches, the furnishings in the church building are very simple. Almost all of the furnishings in the chancel were made by the Landshut sculptor Karl Reidel, who died in 2006 . In addition to the simple travertine celebration altar with reliefs of the four evangelist symbols , he also created the ambo decorated with rose quartz and the tabernacle with a representation of the miraculous multiplication of bread on the doors.
In addition, the bronze medallion attached to the front wall above the altar comes from Reidel and shows the victorious Lamb of God with the Easter flag and the chalice on the book with the seven seals . The impressive work of art has a diameter of 1.8 meters. The first pastor of St. Pius, Ludwig Maier, wrote in a parish letter at Easter 1975:
“It is a symbol that expresses the Lord's Supper , the redeeming death, the resurrection , related to Maundy Thursday , Good Friday and Easter Day in the form of a disc, so to speak as a host .
From the beginning, the lamb was one of the most common symbols of Christian art, namely of the Savior in his atoning death on the cross . The sealed book on which the Lamb stands refers to the Revelation of St. John : The fates of the kingdom of God are hidden from people, but Christ has become worthy of opening the book through his sacrificial death and shows himself full of power despite his sacrificial death and makes. The Easter cross is shown above the lamb as a stylized victory flag. "
The figure of the patron saint Pius X, placed above the sediles, was made by the artist Hans Wurmer from Hausen near Kelheim ; it was originally set up on the left side altar.
Way of the Cross
The modern cycle of the Stations of the Cross, made of brick-red relief panels that contrast with the white wall, is attached under the concrete-glass ribbons on the side walls and comes from Karl Reidel's wife Marlene .
organ
In 1968 it was possible for the first time to think about an organ corresponding to the size of the church. According to the requirements of the church administration, this should not exceed costs of around 60,000 D-Marks, of which 35,000 D-Marks were already covered by donations. The head of the church choir at the time protested vehemently against the "minimal solution" and advocated an instrument with at least 30 registers , which would cost around 100,000 D-Marks. Since the choir director was supported in his request by independent experts, the church administration came to the decision in January 1969 to purchase an expandable organ with a total of 30 stops in the final stage. In the first expansion stage, which was estimated at a maximum of 80,000 D-Marks, the first manual (main work) with seven sounding stops, the second manual ( swell mechanism ) with ten sounding stops and a tremolo and a pedal work with seven sounding stops . The remaining six registers, distributed over two further pedal registers and a III. Manual, should be implemented in a later expansion stage. The instrument was ordered from Orgelbau Eisenbarth in Passau .
The first stage of this organ was built in 1970 and was inaugurated on Sunday, November 15, 1970 with the Theresa Mass by Joseph Haydn and an organ concert . Ultimately, the costs for the first expansion phase totaled 90,000 D-Marks. Since this amount had already been exceeded by the donation amount, the final expansion could be pushed ahead quickly. This was inaugurated in October 1973.
The finally implemented disposition is as follows:
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- Coupling : II / I, III / I, III / II, III / P, II / P, I / P
- Playing aids : crescendo, 2 free combinations, 1 free pedal combination, HR down, tutti, trigger, tongues down, crescendo down
Remarks:
- ^ New from Sax 1976
Bells
The five bells with the tone sequence c 1 -d 1 -e 1 -g 1 -a 1 form a C major ring. They were cast on July 24, 1964 by the Rudolf Perner bell foundry in Passau , consecrated on September 12, 1964 by Abbot Emmeram Gilg from Weltenburg Abbey , and raised on September 15, 1964. The bells in detail are:
| No. | Surname | Caster | Casting year | Weight [kg] | Diameter [mm] | Chime | inscription | relief |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | St. Pius | Bell foundry Rudolf Perner , Passau | 1964 | 2190 | 1595 | c 1 +1 |
SANCTE PIE, PASTOR BONE PROTEGE PAROCHIAM NOSTRAM ("St. Pius, good shepherd, protect our parish") |
St. Pius X. |
| 2. | Holy Spirit (council bell) | 1720 | 1310 | d 1 +3 |
VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS ECCLESIAM TUAM RENOVA CONCILIO VATICANO SECUNDAO UT OMNES UNUM SINT ("Come Holy Spirit, renew your Church through the Second Vatican Council , that all may be one") |
Holy Spirit | ||
| 3. | Coronation of the Virgin | 1900 | 1260 | e 1 +2 |
PACEM IN PRAESENTI ET GLORIAM IN FUTURO IMPLORA NOBIS, REGINA CAELORUM ("Peace in the present and glory in the future implore us: Queen of Heaven ") |
Coronation of Mary | ||
| 4th | St. Wolfgang | 697 | 1060 | g 1 +3 |
SANCTE WOLFGANGE, EST NOBIS DOCTOR VITAE IN TERRIS ET INTERCESSOR IN COELIS ("St. Wolfgang, he is our teacher of life on earth and intercessor in heaven") |
St. Wolfgang of Regensburg | ||
| 5. | St. Joseph | 480 | 948 | a 1 +2 |
FAMILIARUM COLUMEN SOLATIUM MISERORUM PATRONE MORIENTIUM SANCTE JOSEPH, ORA PRO NOBIS ("Pillar of families, consolation of the poor, patron of the dying, St. Joseph, pray for us") |
Dying Joseph |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Parish Landshut – St. Pius: Chronicle . Online at www.sanktpius.de ; accessed on October 22, 2017.
- ↑ a b Landshut, Parish Church of St. Pius . Online at www.glockenklaenge.de ; accessed on October 22, 2017.
- ↑ Landshuter Zeitung of March 26, 2018, p. 27: In a completely new shine.
- ↑ a b Parish Landshut – St. Pius: Der Pius-Bote - 05/2018 (PDF; 2.1 MB). Online at www.sanktpius.de; accessed on March 31, 2018.
- ↑ a b c d e f Parish Landshut – St. Pius: parish church . Online at www.sanktpius.de ; accessed on October 22, 2017.
- ↑ Parish Landshut – St. Wolfgang: Other parishes - St. Pius . Online at www.swolfgang.de ; accessed on October 22, 2017.
- ↑ Bavarian organ database online
- ↑ Parish Landshut – St. Pius: bells . Online at www.sanktpius.de ; accessed on October 22, 2017.
Coordinates: 48 ° 32 '2.3 " N , 12 ° 8" 17.3 " E