Faith in Berlin

Berlin is very different from the other major cities of Germany. Though it is the biggest city in terms of size and population, there are not many industries based around it. So, the population of the hardworking Indians (read Malayali) is negligible unlike in Bonn, Frankfurt, Stuttgart or in Munich. Due to its historical past - citizens from West Berlin did not have to do the compulsory military training - it is a magnet for the artsy kind of people - artists, singers, and the likes ... people who seem to have "transcended" the need for God. No wonder that Berlin is also called the atheistic capital of the world.

I moved to this city about 1.5 years back to first pursue an MBA and now on a job in one of the few companies around here. Those who have been to continental Europe will know that English is not an accepted language. So, it was Deutsch (German) all the way and that goes without saying for the Sunday Mass at the local Catholic church as well. There is a English Mission that conducts mass in English for the expats in a few churches around the city but unfortunately for me and my family - not very conveniently accessible. So, we used to go for German service at the main church in Berlin Mitte (center) which also housed the bishop. Due to the beauty of the catholic liturgy - it is common all over the world - it is fairly easy to follow and I can say my prayers in English. With no offence to Germans in this mailing list, my experience during these services have been poor. For a non German speaker like myself, the sunday services seemed like funeral services - no smiles, the songs were old and sung to the church organ, the altar boys and girls followed a certain regimen and sometimes, depending on the priest, there was also no sharing of the peace (!!!!). The sermon seemed like robotic mumblings and not knowing the language did not help and the expressions on the congregation gave me an impression that I was not missing much. A lot of effort goes into the special services. The Easter service this year was a phenomenal effort - There was the church choir that could rival a professional symphony orchestra. They burst into the most intricate melodies singing Mozart, et all. But the audience seemed as much lost as I was. Easter is one service in the year where families ritually come to church enmasse. So, if you happen to visit the church on this one day, you can be forgiven to think that Germany is a christian country. Someone by my side was listening to his ipod - obviously he was forced to come. I could not understand if the glazed look from the others was their natural feature or a response reserved for a Mozart performance. There seemed to be a disconnect between the church and the church (congregation). No wonder that normal church audience is mostly the elderly and a smattering of the young who may be perhaps foreigners like myself or tourists with a camera sneeking in before going down the Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Tor.

Without any spiritual inputs in a language that I can understand and without any energy and passion from people around from whom I could suck some passion and energy, I was resigned to checking up something on the Internet at the pace which my slow datacard allowed. I finally decided enough is enough. I need to find some people with whom I can pray. So, I checked on the internet and found a few American fellowships nearby (non catholic) and was wondering if I should contact them. I did not act upon that.

One day, at a sub way station in Alexander platz, I saw two sisters in their habits and looking distinctly Indian/ Malayali. So, I walked up to them and got talking, they were in Berlin from Bonn, just sight seeing for a few days. We exchanged numbers and they promised to put me in touch with another malayali sister who was at a place almost outside Berlin. I did not think much about that till, she called and we spoke. She told me about a community in Potsdamer Platz, very close to the center of the city. Guess what!!!! They had adoration 24 hours a day at a church. The church was managed by the Vincentian fathers (from Trichur) and the fathers did not know German. Praise God Again. So, in fact, the messages were given in English and a translator translated the sermon from English to German. I get to hear it first hand from the fathers. Wow! And they are doing a retreat for the last 2 weekends ( and will continue for the next week end as well) and it was in English and translated into German. The service is distinctly charismatic - the songs are translations of the songs in English (from my experience in India). The adoration after that is beautiful to see a whole congregation of almost completely Germans, raising hands and worshiping the Lord. It is beautiful and this is happening right at the center of the "atheistic" Berlin. I do not know of any other city that can boast of a 24 hour adoration at such a central location (near Anhalter Bahnhof). And personally for me, I never imagined in my wildest dreams of being blessed with such an embarrassment of riches in Berlin...

Please hold this church in your prayers. It is a dream to see the spark from the church lighting up more souls in Berlin. Also, please pray for more leaders and preachers to be raised from the local German people who can passionately express the love of Christ in the native language and touch and and bring in more people. Please pray for the Catholic church in countries like Germany that were formerly Christian that they may refind the passion for christ and fill their people with this passion.

With God nothing is impossible. As he said "Out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham" .... The spirit of God never ceases to amaze.