On Friday, the Catholic military chaplaincy hosted a festive service in the Soldiers’ Church in Klagenfurt’s Khevenhüller barracks. Werner Freistetter, Military Bishop for Austria, celebrated the Holy Mass to mark the 50th anniversary of the Soldiers’ Church. The military music of Carinthia, the “Ponfeld” quintet and Brigadier in Ruhe Eugen Gallent on the organ provided the musical accompaniment.
“As early as the mid-1960s, the future military pastor, military dean Monsignor Felix Mayer, was already working on the construction of a church for Carinthian soldiers,” remembers Johann Seiwald, Director of the military district. Driven by the idea of “soldiers building a church for themselves”, the excavation and concreting of the foundations began on May 3, 1967. Most of the work was carried out by members of the Austrian Armed Forces. The solemn consecration of the church took place on October 12, 1968 by the diocesan bishop Joseph Köstner. The meeting center added in the 1980s complements the Soldiers’ Church as a tent of God among the Carinthian soldiers.
In his speech, military commander Brigadier General Walter Gitschthaler took up the cudgels for the military profession, which is a beautiful and varied one in peacetime. “But soldiers also reach their physical and mental limits. In such cases, military chaplaincy offers protection and help. The Soldiers’ Church is a wonderful and unique place of worship, just as Emanuel Longin is unique in his work. I would like to thank you for your prudent leadership of the Catholic military chaplaincy and your team for their daily commitment to the well-being of the soldiers,” concluded Gitschthaler.
Military dean Emanuel Longin has headed the Catholic military parish in Carinthia since October 1, 1988. “Since the church was consecrated on October 12, 1968, countless soldiers and children of army personnel have been given the holy sacrament of confirmation,” says Longin. His designated successor, 45-year-old Benedictine priest Anselm Kassin from St. Paul, took up his post at the Carinthian military command on October 1. He will succeed Longin, who is due to retire in two years’ time after upcoming deployments abroad.
During this ceremony, Military Dean Longin was awarded the Cross of Merit “Pro piis meritis” of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. It is mainly awarded to persons who are not members of the Order of Malta and who have rendered outstanding services to the honor and reputation of the Order, regardless of their religious affiliation. Provincial Governor Peter Kaiser presented Vice Lieutenant Markus Stromberger with the Badge of Honor of the Province of Carinthia for special services. “At the request of Emanuel Longin, the Carinthian state government unanimously decided to award Markus Stromberger with the state’s badge of honor,” said Governor Kaiser at the presentation ceremony.
