On sunday, the city of herzogenaurach celebrated the feast day of its patron saint, st. Sebastian, with a mass in the city’s parish church and a procession through town.
Town priest helmut hetzel celebrated, supported by prof. Elmar klinger, chaplain sebastian schiller as well as father moison michael MSFS and 13 altar boys, the service. The service was accompanied musically by an oboe as well as the organ.
In his sermon, hetzel referred to the life of st. Sebastian, who set a good example with his life. He knew that he was protected and strengthened by god and could therefore confess his faith before the roman emperor diocletian. For this he was shot with arrows as a military officer during the persecution of christians. Sebastian survived this punishment, was nursed back to health and appeared before the emperor again. "His appearance infected other people to stand up against the regime!", according to the parish priest. 77 years ago, people in herzogenaurach also stood up against a regime of injustice.
Against shouters and populists
in the present time it is necessary to stand up against the screamers and populists, today’s pestilence that poisons the society. "Our world today needs christians who stand up for life opportunities for all, regardless of origin and religion!" the christians could not hide behind walls and be satisfied with piety.
The sebastiani procession should be a sign to bring the light of humanity and justice against populist slogans into the world and to stand up for the true godliness in the world. With the invitation: "when you take a candle with you, think: what do I want to be light for?!", city priest hetzel ended his sermon.
After the mass the candlelight procession moved through the town. This took her way from the church square over the stone way, through the reytherstrabe, the main street and the market place back to the church square. Flanked by candles and flags, the cross carried by hans kolb led the procession, followed by delegations of the kolping family and the KAB.
The volunteer fire department of herzogenaurach accompanied the holy of holies and the statue of saint sebastian, which was carried by members of the kolping family. Representatives of the pastoral district council, the church administration and the city, as well as believers, joined in the commemoration. The procession was accompanied by prayer leaders and the organ of the parish church through loudspeakers. Following the meb celebration, the faithful took part in a eucharistic devotion in the city’s parish church.