Future of the Herz-Jesu Church: parish merging and new ideas!

Future of the Herz-Jesu Church: parish merging and new ideas!

The Archdiocese of Vienna has proven well enough for changes, because the current developments in the Mödling parish landscape are anything but trivial. The focus is on the parish of Herz Jesus in the “Schöffelstadt” district, where the persistent falling visitor numbers are responded. From January 1, 2026, the parishes of St. Othmar and Heart of Jesus are to merge, such as [Kurier] (https://kurier.at/chronik/niedeoesterreich/noe-moedling-wiener-neudorf-pfarr. This takes another step into the future to adapt and make the church structures.

Pastor Adolf Valenta, who is responsible for the community, assures that spiritual life in the heart of Jesus Church remains. But the archdiocese plans go beyond mere merger. For example, the church, which was only consecrated in 1971 and is a landmark of the district with its striking 28 meter high tower, may soon no longer be used for services. Considerations of selling the building or forgiving in building law are on the agenda. An architecture firm has already been commissioned to create designs for multifunctional use of the "Theresiena", which indicates that other events could also take place there.

Current challenges and perspectives

The current situation shows that not only the local community is in a change, but that church organizations also have a generally facing challenges. A study by the research center for generational contracts in Freiburg predicts that the number of church members will be halved by 2060, which takes into account both demographic and psychological factors. These findings demonstrate the urgency of rethinking existing structures and breaking new ground [[3]] (https://www.ekd.de/kirche-im-kumbruch-68087.htm).

The parish in the heart of Jesus Church comprises around 6000 inhabitants, of which around 3000 are Catholic. Despite the challenges, Pastor Valenta remains optimistic and emphasizes that the parish would still like to remain present in public. The services still take place on Sundays and even during the week the church should be played to reach and bind the believers.

The opinion of the city

Cultural and Social City Councilor Stephan Schimanowa from the SPÖ is cautious about the future use of the church. At the moment, the city is not planning any relocations, but has launched a urban development process in order to collect the opinions of the population and to include them in the further procedure. The thinking process about the future use of the premises is in full swing, and the opportunity to use the heart of Jesus Church as a kindergarten, for example, is considered. Ultimately, however, it remains to be seen in which the course is set.

The planned merger and the upcoming decisions show how necessary it is to adapt to changing life realities. With a good hand and the support of the community, the church may find new ways to meet the needs of its believers and at the same time maintain a piece of culture and community. The future of the heart of Jesus Church remains exciting.