04.08.2026, 15:10
Sign to Make Our Voices Heard!
A heartfelt "Vergelt's Gott" ("May God reward you") to everyone who has already signed the online petition to preserve the historic Holy Blood Altar in Weingarten!
Those of you who live in Weingarten are well aware of the many efforts made over the past several years by different groups to preserve the altar. Of the four winning designs from the 2024 architectural competition, Design 1b by Mr. Zauner was selected and is now being implemented. In our view, there was subsequently insufficient opportunity for further public discussion. According to the newspaper article of July 25, 2026 (see also "News" on the petition page), the public is even expected to wait until the plans have been finalized. In the meantime, the petition has helped accelerate this process. The scope of the proposed alterations extends far beyond the sanctuary itself, as can be seen from the parish's published plans:
https://katholisch-weingarten.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Zur-Grundidee-hinter-dem-neuen-liturgischen-Raumkonzept-01.08.2026.pdf In the future, anyone wishing to venerate the relic housed in the stele would have to turn their back on the Blessed Sacrament. Anyone wishing to view the relic contained within the altar would first have to walk around the ambo, which is planned to stand directly in the central line of sight. As a result, the present, unambiguous symbolism of the anamnesis—the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross—expressed both on the altar table and within the altar itself, would be abandoned. This means that the solution which all of you have unequivocally supported with your signatures—simply preserving the existing altar—has effectively been ruled out.
For years, we have been unable to have this option heard by the Bishop, the Dean, or the Parish Council. In our view, the concluding remarks of the above-mentioned Schwäbische Zeitung article also give the impression that dissenting voices are broadly portrayed as being hurtful, manipulative, or as exerting pressure on others. In the context of an online petition, we find this difficult to understand.
One can only hope and pray that the Bishop, the Dean, and the Parish Council will be blessed by God with Solomon's wisdom and "a listening heart" (cf. 1 Kings 3:9). We simply want to be heard, and we will continue collecting signatures with determination until that happens.
Please help us by actively sharing this petition with your friends and acquaintances. Every signature counts! Thank you for your support.
