Ecumenical mass
The ecumenical Oktoberfest and memorial service took place on Wednesday, 25 September, in the Marstall festival tent. It was aimed at the landlords and showmen - but Wiesn guests were also invited to pray together in the marquee for a peaceful Wiesn.
One day earlier than usual this year
At the request of the City of Munich and in consultation with the ‘Veranstaltungsgesellschaft Münchener Schausteller (VMS) and the Able family of landlords, the service was celebrated a day earlier than usual this year in order to avoid a parallel event with the commemoration of the Oktoberfest attack. In addition to the celebrant of the Holy Mass, national chaplain Pastor Sascha Ellinghaus, head of the Catholic Circus and Showmen Chaplaincy of the German Bishops' Conference, the service was organised by the two regional chaplains Manfred Simon (Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland region) and Pastor Martin Fuchs (Franconia and Lower Bavaria region). Pastor Torsten Heinrich, head of the Protestant Circus and Showmen Chaplaincy of the EKD, gave a welcoming address on behalf of the Protestant churches.
Baptism of the showman's child Marcellino Wimmer
The service began with the baptism of the showman's child Manfred Marcellino Wimmer.The service was accompanied musically by the gospel choir ‘Gospel “n” Soul’ under the direction of
by Svenja Ekigho and an organist from the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.
Church service at the Wiesn: Prayer instead of beer in the Marstall festival tent
The Wiesn church service is a firm tradition at the Munich Oktoberfest. It was held for the first time in 1956 by Father Heinz Peter Schönig, head of the Catholic Circus and Showmen's Chaplaincy. The service itself is ecumenical and is led by Catholic and Protestant pastors.
The Hippodrome was the venue from 1956 to 2013. In 2014, the service was held in the Fischer-Vroni. Since 2015, it has found a new regular venue in the Marstall Festzelt. Here, people pray together for a peaceful Wiesn.
