The Italian Catholic Mission in Cologne has more than 54 thousand parishioners and occupies a very large pastoral area. Pastoral activities are carried out in 12 churches, some even 50 km from the centre. “It's a Twelve-Star Mission!” Fr Adam Nyk, current parish priest and in charge of the mission, comments.

In recent years, the new Mission building has been built, which has become a house "for" and "of" everyone. The Salesians, together with their collaborators, have given birth to many groups of paths of faith, prayer and different Christian paths; and a very active chain of solidarity has been created. The primary objective was the involvement of young people, so much so that Youth Ministry is revived in a way that has not been seen for a long time.

As in the rest of the world, the Mission went through the difficult years of the pandemic, but the people came out stronger and the groups more united. After that phase, they started again, not only with the pre-existing activities, but also with many other new initiatives. The new Mission building has been able to attract more people's participation. But it must be said that the Mission itself is again very active and lively: many volunteers are involved in many areas and make the journey compelling; and there are many new ideas and new groups that are continuously forming.

The youth groups, in particular, are divided into "adolescent groups" that also act as altar boys, and for which various activities are organised; and the "young adults" group whose primary objective is to understand how the Gospel can be part of one's daily life. In addition to the various catechesis courses there are some prayer, formation, help and support groups, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, choirs and liturgical services. "Thank God, the collaborators and the volunteers, the Mission is going forward with full sail!" Fr Nyk says.

For the Salesians immersed in pastoral care, it is a source of pride that the Mission and the faithful have a positive attitude towards the Church and the clergy; it can be said that the current crisis situation of the Church has not affected the faithful one bit. The Salesians, who have been serving the community for nine years, are available not only during the performance of their priestly duties (sacraments, blessings and liturgical functions), but are also ready to participate in the various activities and to be present in general among and for the people.

After nine years, the time has come for the transition: the parish priest, Fr Nyk, leaves the Mission as a legacy to the new parish priest, Fr Jacek Styrczula, also a Polish Salesian, originally from the same PLS Province.

Concluding his service, Fr Nyk addressed the community: "I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful journey together. Thanks to the numerous collaborators, our Mission is organised and structured in multiple paths and activities. I appreciate not only your enthusiasm and dedication, but also the competence and skill with which you are performing the different services in our colourful Mission. Special thanks go to the priests, the pastoral team, the pastoral council and the various local animators, thanks to whom our communities are always alive and lively. Thank God we did some really great things together!"

The Italian Catholic Mission in Cologne is an Italian-speaking parish of the Diocese of Cologne established immediately after World War II to offer the many Italian immigrants present in the city, who choose to live there or who arrive passing through, a religious "Patria-Heimat", where they can express their faith and their Christian commitment in their mother tongue and culture.

For more information, please visit: https://www.mci-colonia.de/ 

• Title Title
•  

Tweet