Archives of Past Events at All Saints 

UPCOMING

Our new
email address is:
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All food donations go to families in need and to the Soup Kitchen of the Sisters of Charity in Kreuzberg.

All Saintsis a
self-supporting community

PASTORAL LETTER of Archbishop Rainer Maria Woelki on the occasion of the visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Berlin, September 2011

Brothers and Sisters,
It has been some weeks since I have been appointed and inaugurated as your new Archbishop. In some encounters we already have had the opportunity to get to know each other a little. I should like to thank you so much for having received me so well. This was a great encouragement for me and made my start with you much easier. Now we belong together and are called to make our way together as Christians in our Archdiocese of Berlin.
In a few days time we will have the great honour to welcome our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI here in Berlin. Already now we should like to welcome him very warmly and with great joy! Personally I consider it an act of divine providence, that - right at the beginning of my service as archbishop – I am able to express and convey on behalf of all of us to our Holy Father our affectionate solidarity with him as the successor of St. Peter and as head of our worldwide church.
Pope Benedict comes to Berlin as a guest of the archdiocese as well as a guest of the Federal Republic of Germany. President Wulff, together with representatives of the political life and citizens from all over Germany, will hold a welcoming speech on the grounds of Bellevue Castle. We Catholics, together with the Holy Father, shall celebrate Holy Eucharist in the Olympic Stadium, so that he may strengthen our faith and our communion with the Catholic Church.
We have decided to celebrate a big feast of our Faith. In order that 70,000 people in the stadium and millions of people all over the world can join us in this celebration, a large amount of money has to be spent. The estimate amounts to 3.5 million euros. This may appear to be a lot of money and indeed it is. But I am sure you agree with me that we cannot charge admission for a religious service, as it is not us who are inviting but the Lord Himself. Be assured that the money being spent on this papal visit will not be detrimental to our social and charitable projects. Nor will we lose sight of the hunger in East Africa, on the contrary: on the occasion of the papal visit the "Benedict East-Africa Fund" is being started. Its aim is to provide the Holy Father with financial means for quick and sustainable help on the spot. It is us, the German dioceses, who will start this fund and provide the finances. You are cordially invited to contribute towards this fund.
Berlin is the political centre of this country. Pope Benedict will meet here with persons who represent our state according to its constitution. In the Bundestag he will address the members of parliament and thus the entire people. Berlin is also the centre of our Archdiocese, which, however, reaches far beyond the boundaries of the city. The special relationship of the Archdiocese with the public life here is both challenge and motivation for the pastoral work and the personal witness of all baptised. Even more, the cultural situation and the political character of the city of Berlin, do really give us an occasion to prove our worth as witnesses of the faith.
The visit of the Holy Father to Germany is placed under the motto: "Where there is God, there is future." This motto focuses on God as well on the future of mankind. More so, the two are identical. God is our future. Without God, man's future is obstructed. This holds true for the individual person: if one does not, confident in God, accept the imponderabilities of human life, especially its frailty and threat of death, one lives in a Today that lacks humanly desirable vision and inner freedom."Where there is God, there is future" – this holds also true for public life and the political community. When politics overestimates itself, and refuses to give space, so that social capabilities cannot develop, then future will be obstructed. If politics does not acknowledge the finiteness of this world, it is bound to forfeit the future rather than to advance it.
The Holy Father is going to talk about such interrelations when he meets with those holding public office especially here in Berlin and in the Archdiocese of Freiburg. These will also be the topic when he speaks to the Faithful at all the steps of his apostolic visit. Being witnesses of God who prepares a good future for all mankind, is our task."Nos sumus testes" - "We are witnesses" (Acts 5,32), this word of St. Peter from the Acts of the Apostles, which I chose as my motto, is very clear about this.
When meeting with you in the coming months, I should like to come together with you, to reach a better understanding of how our faith in God can be lived and ought to be lived in our diocese. The point in question is the presence of the Christian faith in a society, where there are signs of searching God as well neglect of God, in which Christians are a minority, and yet unfold a remarkable, admittedly positive power. Our concern is a proclamation of the faith, care of souls, a community of faith which enables closeness to God and the Church both for the believing and the still searching. Our witness is especially needed, and in a very concrete manner, where there are problems in our society, where lack of participation, lack of perspective, having no home or personal misfortune obstruct faith in a future for one's own person or for one’s family, where the longing for such a future is especially tangible. As my predecessor in the Episcopal office, and in the best Berlin tradition, I should like, to-gether with you, keep up this social alertness in what way ever.
Our archdiocese welcomes Pope Benedict most cordially! Not everyone in this capital acknowledges his rank and his merits. We respect this. At the same time we for our part ask for the same respect. I invite all the faithful of the archdiocese of Berlin to meet with the Holy Father in person or via the media. Let us decorate with flags all our churches and church-institutions during the hours of his visit. Let us also ring all the church bells on the 22nd of September at 10.30 a.m., the moment of his landing, as an expression of our joy and prayer for him and his visit to our country. During these days let us especially pray for his well-being, and that God may sustain him in his superhuman task. I am asking you for these prayers with all my heart.
With great joy I am looking forward to meeting many of you on the occasion of this papal visit.

In the joy of these feast-days of the faith, I remain with all good wishes for you, your families, congregations and parishes,

Fraternally yours,

Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Berlin

We pray for Fr. Adonis Narcelles SVD
Born June 4th 1971
Ordained priest June 1st 2003
Returned to the Father July 29th 2011
We keep his memory in our hearts.
R.I.P.

Our previous priests were:

Father Ralf Klein, SJ

Father Ralf was born in Wiesbaden close to Frankfurt in 1959. 25 years later he joined the Jesuits. He studied theology in Frankfurt, Münster and Jerusalem. In October 1990 he came to Berlin to teach Religious Education at the Canisius Kolleg. A few years later he went to university once again this time to study English. Having completed these studies he went to Australia for the last part of the Jesuit training in 2001. When he returned to Berlin six months later, he started teaching English as a Foreign Language. His work at All Saints is a good opportunity to keep up with spoken English.

Father Klaus Mertes, SJ

Born in Bonn, the second of five children, youth in Marseille and Paris (1956-63) and Moscow (1963-66) owing to father's diplomatic service
1966-73: student at Aloisius Kolleg in Bonn
1973-75: military service in Bundeswehr
1975-77: studies in Bonn (Slavic linguistics, Classical Philology)
1977-79: noviciat in the Jesuit Order in Muenster/Westphalia
1979-81: study of Philosophy at the Jesuit College of Philosophy in Munich
1981-83: youth work in Trier
1983-86:study of Theology Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt
1986: ordination and subsequent study at the University of Frankfurt
1988: first state exam in Latin
1990: second state exam in Religion and Latin
1990-93: teacher at Saint Ansgar School in Hamburg
1993-94: tertiat in Belfast, Northern Ireland
1994-2000: teacher at Canisius Kolleg in Berlin
2000 to present: rector at Canisius Kolleg in Berlin

Father Hans Jürgen Kleist, SJ

Hans Jürgen Kleist was born in 1957 in Saarbrücken, the capital of the smallest State of the Federal Republic of Germany. Here, near the border to France, he grow up. In 1975 he enrolled in a Jesuit boarding school in the Black Forest, named Kolleg St. Blasien (a Kolleg is about the same as a high school in the U.S. system). This was an important decision for the course of his life because after his philosophical-theological studies in the ancient Roman city of Trier he entered the Jesuit Novitiate in Nuremberg (1983 - 1985). After two years of regency (1985 - 1987) in his former secondary school, he went to Munich to study Mathematics and Psychology at the 'Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität' (till 1993). He was ordained a priest in 1988 and also did some work at the Jesuit school of philosophy called the 'Hochschule für Philosophie'. He received practical training in teaching both Mathematics and Psychology and counseling Psychology at Augsburg and Freising (1993 - 1995). Since 1995 his main occupation has been that of a teacher and tutor in the Jesuit boarding school 'Kolleg St. Blasien'. When he returned after his tertianship in Manila, Philippines, he became teacher for Mathematics in the 'Canisius-Kolleg' in Berlin.

+ Father Adonis Llamas Narcelles Jr. SVD

Father Adonis Llamas Narcelles Jr. SVD was born in the northern Philippine Province of Pangasinan. He is the fourth child among seven children of Adonis Narcelles Sr. and Lily Llamas Narcelles. He grew up and went to school in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan. In 1988, he entered the Divine Word Formation Center-Urdaneta, as a seminarian of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Two years later, he went to Christ the King Mission Seminary where he finished his bachelor's degree in philosophy. He entered the Holy Spirit Novitiate in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro in 1994 and then pursued his theological studies at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City. In 1998, he went to the St. Augustine Mission Seminary in Sankt Augustin, Germany to continue his studies and finished his degree in Theology. After his Diaconate year in the Parish of St. Alexander and Theodor in Ottobeuren (Bayern) he was ordained priest on June 1, 2003. On April 4, 2004, he arrived at his first "mission assignment" in Berlin, as Chaplain of the Filipinos in the Archdiocese of Berlin. He is currently the Präses of the SVD Community in Berlin.

Father Adrian Kunert SJ

1967 born in Groß Strehlitz/Upper Silesia and baptized in Stubendorf/Poland
1968 childhood in Dessau/Saxony-Anhalt; 1975 First Communion; 1979 Confirmation
1983 graduation from 10th grade (Realschule) (27th POS in Dessau)
1986 skilled worker diploma in industrial electronics
1987 general qualification for university, evening classes in Dessau
1988 additional degree in Latin/Greek at Schöneiche near Berlin
1988 joined the Society of Jesus in Erfurt/Thuringia
1992 Baccalaureate (intermediate examination) in Philosophy with major in Theology
at the “Hochschule für Philosophie”, Munich
1992-1994 Interstiz (work experience) at St. Ignatius parish in Frankfurt/M
1997 Diploma in Catholic Theology at “Hochschule St. Georgen” in Frankfurt/M
1997 April 27th, ordination to the deaconry (Frankfurt) - September 20th, ordination
to the priesthood (Erfurt)
1999 until December, chaplain for student association (KSJ at Aloisiuskolleg,
Bonn - Bad Godesberg)
2000-2006 chaplain at Catholic parish Lainz-Speising in Vienna/Austria
2007 Tertianship (Jesuit training program) at Canisius College in Pymble
(Sydney)/Australia
2007 since September at Canisius-Kolleg, Berlin; teacher for Catholic Education,
campus ministry and in our youth association “Ignatian Student Association”
(now also a KSJ group)

Dear Father Klaus Mertes,
In deep gratitude we wish you a fond farewell and
all the best on your new assignment.
We sincerely appreciate your support in securing the
permanent existence of All Saints at Hüttenweg 46.
God Bless You!

Jesus falls a third time

Reading the Passion of our Lord, Lent 2011

The second annual Interfaith Concert and Open House on Dec 12th was well attended and enjoyed by members of all faiths. This year, the Sukkat Schalom Jewish Community joined the concert. The evening's program began with the cheerful sounds of the Brass Ensemble, followed by beautiful Jewish melodies, traditional Catholic music, modern Christian songs and Gospel music. The event ended with festive Christmas caroling by all communities. Members of all the Hüttenweg communities donated food, drinks and helped set-up and clean-up after the event. Special thanks go to Konrad and Vanessa who organized the event, Marianne Sihatong who helped with hospitality and the Scouts from BSA Troop 46 "Freedom Outpost" who were busy grilling and selling bratwurst.

Happy Birthday, JFKS!

Father Wolfgang and Father Jude Rodriguez concelebrating Mass
on June 27th 2010

Another unforgettable Summer Music Event in 2010 by the joint Theresienschule and Canisius Kolleg Choir & Orchestra conduced by Johannes Wrembek

Johannes Wrembeck conducting
our Summer Music event on June 27th 2010

The last Barbeque...
Farewell, Jim, and many thanks... God bless!

Pentecost 2010

We wish well our new Eucharistic Ministers Beate Hausmann and André Salem. Here in talk with Cardinal Sterzinsky.

Altar Server Pizza Party and training on June 26th 2010

We enjoyed a wonderful performance by the Southern Crescent Chorale from Atlanta, Georgia on June 20th 2010

Now in its eighth season, the Southern Crescent Chorale has established a reputation for excellence and achievement in the south metro Atlanta area arts community. An auditioned community chorus, the Chorale's mission is to enrich its communities and provide talented and interested singers an opportunity to perform a variety of challenging choral literature with high performance standards. Chorale members dedicate many hours to making music and have performed before thousands of people at venues throughout the Atlanta area and Europe.
The Chorale is a versatile group who performs a variety of choral literature each season. Repertoire includes master works, opera, spirituals, pop, and Broadway tunes. The Chorale is also pleased to present a concert each season to benefit children's organizations in our community.
The Chorale enjoyed its first tour abroad in 2007 and received rave reviews from the Italian audiences. They are happy to return to Europe to visit the lovely countries of Austria, Czech Republic, and Germany.
For more information about the Chorale please visit our website at www.southerncrescentchorale.org.

The Southern Crescent Corale singing at All Saints on June 20, 2010

Founder and Artistic Director Janice Folsom with a piece of the Berlin Wall after Southern Crescent's performance at All Saints

Father Dan Liderbach, our Pastor of 2003 through 2004,
was visiting with us on April 18, 2010

St. Patrick's Day 2010

Scottish dancing on St. Patrick's day - for a change

Easter Retreat on March 6th 2010

Father Ralf and Father Wolfgang concelebrating Mass
on February 14, 2010

"Taking notes" of the sermon...

Father Wolfgang blesses the crib, Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009

We congratulate Konrad, Jim, André, Vanessa and all the volunteers who made the Hüttenweg Interfaith Open House & Concert on December 20th 2009 a great success. Our fellow communities, the Protestant Faith Fellowship and the Crossways Church also contributed to the success of this ecumenical event. The musical performances by each community provided a unique spiritual experience during the Advent season.

"Christ dancing with an angel"
Unknown African artist
Photographed by Dani Villanueva SJ.

Advent 2009

Thanksgiving Dinner 2009 at All Saints

Scouting Food Drive
Saturday, September 19th 2009

The scouts collected over 400 canned and/or dried food...

...for the Sisters of Charity soup kitchen in Kreuzberg

Our Annual Welcome BBQ and Family Bazaar were a big success. We thank all of our volunteers, particularly, Konrad and Heide for organizing the events and all the helpers who contributed with set-up, clean-up, grilling and selling coffee & cakes! The Family Bazaar is one of our key fundraisers. Thank you for your support!

We welcome Father Wolfgang Felber to All Saints

Father Wolfgang with altar servers
after the Welcome Mass

The choir singing at the Welcome Mass

Lord, look upon this sacrifice...

Dear Father Ralf Klein,
In deep gratitude we wish you a fond farewell and all the best on your new assignment. You have been a
true blessing to the All Saints Catholic Community.
God Bless You!

You are leaving the American Sector...

Saying good-bye to All Saints...

The last sermon...

Father Ralf at his Farewell Mass on July 5, 2009

Training the new altar servers...

We adore thee, our Lord...

Light-and-shadow pattern at the Catholic Academy

Father Justin Warnakula of Sri Lanka visiting with us

Pray for us, our Madonna

Annual Membership Meeting of the Friends of
All Saints on May 24th, 2009

Mike Hoth addresses the Membership Meeting of
the Friends of All Saints

Howard Eyth Chairman sums up last year's events

The meeting votes for the board

All Saints Council meeting took place on May 25th, 2009

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manyfold are your works, O LORD!
The earth isfull of your ceatures.

Psalm 104:1

60th anniversary of the end of
the Berlin Airlift

Vanessa Hansen, Mike Hoth, Halvorsen, Mercedes and friend at the Allied Museum

Raisinbomber flying over the Tempelhof Memorial
during the ceremony

Members of Troop 46 with the mayor of Berlin

Niels and Philip, both members of All Saints, getting ready to present a medal on behalf of the city of Berlin
to the veterans at Tempelhof

The bellframe has been repaired
and our bell has been working again since Easter

Baptism at All Saints on April 26, 2009.
We welcome our new Parishioner

Pray for us Lady of Manaoag

Christ is risen! Alleluja!

"Were you there when they crucified my Lord?"

St. Patrick's Day was celebrated at All Saints on Saturday, March 21st 2009

Green is most widely associated with Ireland
and St. Patrick's Day.

Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day

Small and big watching intently...

...the dancers' performance.

Easter Retreat at All Saints

"I am the vine, you are the branches"

March 14th 2009

We would like to thank Father Ralf for the Easter Retreat on Saturday, March 14th at All Saints. This spiritual experience contributed significantly in our preparation for Easter. Please feel free to join us in prayer and meditation using the introductory thoughts below:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples (John 15).

If I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13

We are preparing our hearts for Easter...

The Pancake Breakfast at the J F Kennedy School
on March 28, 2009...

...attracted more than 1000 participants...

...and mobilised the Scouts. It was a great success.

A Scout is reverent toward God.

He is faithful in his religious duties
and respects the beliefs of others.

Scout Sunday at All Saint on February 22, 2009

Lord, look kindly down upon our Community

Father Ralf and Altar Servers

May God at the intercession of St. Blaise preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil

Saint Blaise, pray for us that we may not suffer from illnesses of the throat...

... and pray that all who are suffering be healed by God's love. Amen.

... only say the word...

... and I shall be healed.

Christmas Celebration in 2008

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord...

Father Adrian saying the Children's Mass

The Holy Family, narrators and an angel

The shepherds

Father Adrian playing the guitar

Singing Christmas Carols

Johannes playing the piano

Father Ralf saying the Mignight Mass

The Birth of Jesus

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1-7

My Peace Wishes for 2009…

that more people will help others,
especially needy children and babies.
that there will be less fighting around the world.
that people will take better care of nature.
and that all children will go to school and live in a house.

-Niels Waliszewski, age 9
Cub Scouts of America, Pack 152

PEACE LIGHT OF BETHLEHEM

The Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Company - ORF (Linx) - and was part of a large charitable relief mission - Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad. Since 1990, there has been a great deal of co-operation between Scouts and Guides in many countries, which has allowed the light to travel throughout Europe. Each year, a child from Upper Austria fetches the light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to Austria from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe and who take it back, with a message of Peace, to their own countries for use at ecumenical services throughout the continent.
Scouts and Guides can then take the light on to houses of worship, hospitals, homeless shelters, old people homes, prisons, and places of public, cultural, and political importance - to anybody who appreciates the significance of the "gift".

The Peace Light arrived at All Saints on Sunday, December 21st.

The Aim of the Campaign

is to address as many people as possible, to bring them the Light and the Peace Message, which encourages everyone, but especially Scouts and Guides, to active create peace in their environment. The Austrian Scout movement became involved when they were invited to act as couriers of the Light once it had reached Austria, in the hope that they could spread the Light throughout Europe.

After many years of successful cooperation with the different Scout movements the Light has been spread into Croatia, The Czech republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, United States of America, Ukraine, Bela Russia and Russia.

Thanksgiving Dinner 2008

Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner took place on November 29, 2008. We celebrated the traditional American feast in a warm and jovial atmosphere. The lovely Thanksgiving Dinner was possible thanks to the many volunteers who spent long hours, some even days, to make it happen. Our sincere appreciation goes to Konrad Giersdorf for organizing this unforgettable evening and to all volunteers, especially those who donated and/or helped cook the turkeys, set up and cleaned up after the event.

We have a few pictures posted on our website to commemorate the event:

The Community Hall was full with about 180 guests.

Giving drink to those who are thirsty...

The Running Bears presented lively Square dances
accompanied by country music.

The Filipino Anahaw dancing group was fantastic.

Participants joined in to test their skills.

The Filipino songs touched our hearts.

Peace Light of Bethlehem

The Berlin Scouting community would like to distribute a special gift of Peace, the Peace Light flame and symbol, as a present from the Scouts to the American and international communities in Berlin.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem in Austria was created as a charitable relief mission for children in need. Since 1986, it has co-operated with Scouts in many countries allowing the light to travel throughout Europe. Each year, the Austrian Scouting community organizes a trip to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to light the first Peacelight lantern from the eternal flame burning in the Church Grotto and brings it back to Austria for distribution at a service of dedication to delegations from across Europe. The light has been presented to such dignataries as Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbatshow and former King Hussain of Jordan.

The main Peace Light service took place at the Marienkirche in Mitte at 14:30 on December 14, 2008. The Peace Light arrived at All Saints on Sunday, December 21st during Mass.

Tempelhof Central Airport and the All Saints Community Connection

USAF C-47 aircraft at Tempelhof airport during the Berlin Airlift. RAF Museum

The end of October 2008 marks the passing of an era in Berlin's history. Tempelhof Central Airport will cease all aviation operations and with this passing goes a part of America's and the former Allies contributions to Berlin's survival and development to its current position on the world stage. From 1945 until 1993 the U.S. Air Force provided control from Tempelhof for the entire greater Berlin Air Safety Zone (including Schönefeld). The most recognized example of the success of these endeavors was the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49 (Luftbrücke) which saw the allies supplying a hungry and defeated former enemy with the necessary means to survive. After 1957 many of the married U.S. Air Force personnel who worked at Tempelhof used this chapel on Hüttenweg as their place of worship and brought their children for religious education and the receiving of sacraments. This chapel had a very important role in the lives of these airmen who gave so much in return to the city of Berlin. - Mike Hoth

Vineyard

Vinyard in Montone, Italy

Twenty years ago I literally worked in the vineyard. As I was a volunteer harvester for a monastery my working conditions were probably more comfortable than the ones of those who did it for their living. However, each morning we left our house when it was still dark and we started our journey back when it had become dark again. At home again I did not have any difficulties to get asleep. Since this experience I always sympathize with the workers of the first hour who complain: “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.”
Many attempts have been made to explain the logic of the landowner’s behaviour. There is just one element which has convinced me. The Greek text of the parable does not speak of the “usual daily wage” (V 2 and passim) as our translation does, but of “one denarius”. From other texts we know that this amount of money was needed to feed a family of six persons just one day. The landowner’s decision to pay the latecomers as much as the others allows the latecomers to have their living for another day thus preventing that some of them fall into misery.
However, Jesus did not want to present a parable which teaches social generosity. If he had intended to do so, the landowner could have given the latecomers their wages after the payment of the others. Such a behaviour would not only have avoided the dispute with the workers of the first hour, it would have also followed Jesus advice, “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,” (Mt 6:3)
The arrangements of the payment procedure are a provocation, and I think the parable cannot be understood if the provocation is not seen or understood. Jesus wants to provoke but this time he does not aim at the Pharisees, the priests or other Jewish representatives, but at the labourers in the vineyard, i.e. the disciples and all Christ’s followers – us included.
By this parable Jesus continues his answer to Peter’s question, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” (Mt 19:27) Jesus direct answer seems to promise a special reward: “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Mt 19:28) However, after mentioning strives and persecution and their reward Jesus finishes by saying: “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first,” (Mt 19:30) which is also the ending of the parable which Jesus tells directly afterwards.
Despite Jesus’ word of the twelve thrones one can doubt whether Jesus really thinks that the Kingdom of Heaven is a community with a social hierarchy and a privileged class. If there are any VIPs in the Kingdom of Heaven everybody is a VIP there. This abolition of social ranking is not just something which will be done in the future, but Jesus demands it from his disciples now: “As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant.” (Mt 23:8ss)
Consequently, the question must be: “If there is no special reward, why should there be a special commitment?” If those who rarely go to mass enjoy the same status in the Kingdom of Heaven, why should I go to mass every Sunday? Why should I give alms generously if the stingy gift of the egoist weighs equal? And lots of other fields can be found where the same question applies.
At this point we definitively have to leave the world of the parable because it is the world of business and its logic is give and take. Jesus message is: “Don’t think of God’s Kingdom in these terms. Otherwise, you misunderstand it.” We live out of God’s love and everything we get from God is founded in God’s love. However, as long as we live our relation with God in the same way as we live a business relation we are unable to understand His love. The more we enter the logic of love, the more we live our relation with God as a love relation the more we understand His love and His way of thinking. In this logic we work for the Kingdom of God not because we will get an outside reward but because doing so brings us closer to God. It follows the same logic as speaking to a beloved person. We do so to be in closer contact with the loved one but not to get some reward.
Christians are both: children of the Kingdom of Heaven and children of this world. Therefore, we are always tempted to think of God in the logic of this world, in the logic of business. The provocation of today’s parable may help to realize the times when we are following this logic. May we find in these moments the courage to ask the Lord to understand His logic better. - Father Ralf Klein

All Saints' Fall Barbeque

Our barbeque is always a special event. In spite of the not very favorable weather, many members attended our BBQ on Sep 20, 2008 and spent a pleasant afternoon together. The following pictures give some impressions about the friendly atmosphere. Many thanks to Jim Ziomek, Mike & Lori Hannan, Konrad Giersdof, Heide Doblhofer, Vanessa Hansen and all the volunteers who made this event possible!

All Saints Family Bazaars

Our bi-annual bazaars have become a popular neighborhood tradition; they represent our presence as an intrinsic member of the local community. Each year, our bazaars attract an increasing number of people, both buyers and sellers, from the surrounding area.

The Singing Fathers Padi

Filipino Frs. Macaraeg, Bufete and Tandingan.

All Saints recently hosted the musical group Padi during their European concert tour on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Padi is composed of Fr. Igor Macaraeg, Fr. Melvyn Bufete and Fr. Franklin Tandingan. Funds collected will benefit the construction of their local church and school facilities in the Philippines. Padi means “priest” in the Filipino Ilocano dialect.

The Berlin Airlift

Berlin celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift in 2008. The first C-47 Skytrain airplane landed in Tempelhof Airport on 23 June 1948 starting an unparalleled heroic act in which the United States saved West Berlin from starvation and being overrun by the Soviet Union. It set a signal to all oppressed peoples in Europe and elsewhere: there is hope for justice and freedom.

An important lesson from the Airlift is how a former enemy became friend. Former Airlift pilot and WWII veteran, Col. Halverson, mentioned at a function how he and others felt obligated to defend Berlin, now defenseless, against an oppressive Communist regime. The Airlift was about defending the freedom of those most in need.

All Saints, formerly the American Military Chapel, was built under the protection of the United States Air Force and Army. We are privileged to be able to celebrate Holy Mass every Sunday in a church that was the religious home to many of those heroes who defended the freedom of not only Berlin, but Western Germany as well.

Let us pray for those who still suffer under oppression and for those who fight to obtain their freedom and pay the high price for their struggle.

The Beloved Chocolate Pilot

Col. Halverson with All Saints members, Mike Hoth, Kathleen Rueckeis, Vanessa Hansen, Bernward and Jonathan Steinhorst at the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift at Tempelhof Airport on Friday, June 27th, 2008. More about Col. Halverson's visit at All Saints in Feburary here.

All Saints Catholic Community is proud to sponsor Boy Scout Troop 46. Boy Scout Troop 46 has been serving boys in Berlin since the American Brigade. Please visit their website www.troop-46-berlin.org or contact Committee Chairperson Lori Hannan (hannan4@gmail.com) for more information.

Troop 46 'Freedom Outpost' would like to thank the All Saints community for hosting the legendary Col. Halverson (the Chocolate Pilot) on February 10th at Hüttenweg 46. We had nearly 400 people attend this very successful event!

Mission of mercy. Dr. Jenny Gebhardt, daughter of one of our parishioners, led a medical team on a mission of mercy to the jungles of Nicaragua, Central America, where they donated 2 weeks of their time to provide medical care for the poor. These teams traveled at their own expense and had to provide their own medicines and materials as well. Many crucial medications cannot be purchased in Nicaragua, so Dr. Gebhardt purchased these medications and took them with her. This was the only way to make sure that these medications actually reached the people. In response to Dr. Gebhardt's appeal, All Saints supported this endeavor by a special collection.
Click here to view her brief report.

All Food Donations placed in the wicker basket at the church entrance go to families in need in our community and to the Soup Kitchen of the Sisters of Charity in Kreuzberg.

Many of the collections are „designated collections“, which are for the special purposes of the Archdiocese of Berlin. We transfer this money to the Archdiocese in full. All Saints has readily supported these initiatives from its inception. However, please be advised that, in agreement with the Archdiocese of Berlin, the existence of the All Saints Catholic Community on Hüttenweg may result in no expense for the Archdiocese. It follows then that our community receives no financial support from the Archdiocese. We are left completely to our own devices and existentially dependent upon your donations. Please continue to donate to All Saints, using the white envelopes stamped “ALL SAINTS FUND” and/or transferring your donation to the Pax-Bank account written below. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Friends of All Saints Verein: Bank Account No.: 6001669018, BLZ (routing number): 370 601 93, Pax-Bank eG Berlin

A special receptacle has been set up in the back of the church for the All Saints envelopes. You may also make your tax-deductible donation via our bank account or to Heide Doblhofer in the Office. Your continued financial and moral support is vitally important for the existence of the All Saints Catholic Community on Hüttenweg.
Thank you.

WEEKLY AT ALL SAINTS

Holy Mass: Sundays 10:00 am
Eucharistic ministry: every Sunday Mass
Rosary: every first Sunday of the month at 09:30
Confession: before and after every Sunday Mass
Hospitality/coffee and cake: after every Sunday Mass

EVENTS THROUGH THE YEAR

Common English-Speaking Mission Mass
St. Patrick's Day Celebration and Potluck Dinner
Easter Retreat
Holy Week Services:
- Palm Sunday
- Holy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Holy Saturday
- Easter Sunday

Family Bazaar: May and September
Space reservation: phone: 86203636, fax: 86203638,
email: allsaintsberlin@aol.com
Summer Music Event
Barbeque

Thanksgiving Dinner
Christmas:
- Children's Mass and Christmas Pageant
- Christmas Carols
- Midnight Mass

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Family Group Meetings: organized individually
General Assembly

Other English-speaking Churches in Germany (PDF)