"This day is for us a great day of joy and at the same time the first visit of a chief shepherd of bamberg after the consecration of the church", declared in thurnau pastor thomas wagner, who also warmly welcomed the evangelic dean hans hager. "Joy, as the bible says, is what the bishop should bring when he comes to the parishes. I hope that we can do the same today", replied ludwig schick.
The archbishop made it clear that he wants to visit all the churches and chapels in the archdiocese of bamberg step by step, regardless of the jubilees. There are 800 of them, at the moment schick has visited almost 600: "but the most important thing is to visit the people who belong to it, the christians and of course the non christians as well." The goal, according to the archbishop, is to give thanks, to reflect and to give encouragement.
On the occasion of the construction of the church in thurnau, schick recalled the fate of the expellees and refugees. "They came here from their ancestral homeland. They had practiced their faith there, and that had given them something. Then they had to leave their homeland. Even in this difficult time of expulsion and flight, and the arrival here, people are on the move, faith provides support and orientation. He gives confidence, hope and also the strength to build up again. This is what they have experienced. And that is why they wanted to continue the faith in the catholic form also here. That is why this church was built. We have been able to use it for 60 years, and we thank you for it."