On Sunday, October 8th, the inauguration of the new chapel of the ApostelHaus of Regnum Christi in Ratingen took place. The event was attended by Auxiliary Bishop of Cologne, Dominikus Schwaderlapp, and over 250 participants.
The new Regnum Christi chapel is dedicated to “Christ the King,” as emphasized by the large wooden cross in the center, which represents Christ on the Cross as the conqueror of death and sin. For Sarah Briemle, consecrated member of Regnum Christi and director of the Center, “this chapel is meant to bring people directly to God; that was particularly important for us in the design, the choice of shapes, symbols, and colors.”
The motto of the construction was: “Turn your heart and mind to seek the Lord, your God. Come, build the sanctuary of God, the Lord!” (1 Chronicles 22:19).
During the Eucharistic celebration in which the altar and chapel were consecrated, Monsignor Dominikus highlighted the Lord’s promise to His disciples to be with them every day until the end of time. For him, this promise relates to the inauguration of each new church or chapel, as the Lord always wants to be present with us in these places.
“Jesus Christ seeks a personal friendship with each of us,” he emphasized. The Catholic Church and, ultimately, the construction of this chapel, serve that purpose. Therefore, the Auxiliary Bishop finds it beautiful that the construction is not yet fully completed, as the entrance doors are still missing. This reflects the idea of a Church that, as Pope Francis desires, is always open to everyone: “for everyone, for everyone, for everyone!”
One of the members of Regnum Christi, Mike Schuchmilski, who was present at the inauguration ceremony, shared his experience supporting the construction of the chapel as a civil engineer. For Mike, “this is the way to pray in Regnum Christi. This is the place of prayer in Regnum Christi. Here I also found a community that helped me rediscover my faith. I want to give back to this community. The most important thing for me was to build a house for the Lord, to offer Him my talents. Although we do this in our daily lives in some way, being so close, as in the construction of the chapel where you directly build a house for the Lord, was a great honor.”
Father Klaus Einsle, L.C., participated in the project team of the new chapel. The project began in May 2022, after demolishing the garage and redesigning the ApostelHaus garden. The chapel has an area of 100 m², with a 35 m² gallery, and can be expanded by 25 m² by opening a winter gallery towards the garden when additional space is needed. Under ideal conditions, the chapel can accommodate 120 people; by clearing the choir, an additional 20 seats can be added for a total of 140.
The chapel will be used by a wide range of people and groups, from those who visit the ApostelHaus daily to women attending retreats, men participating in events like “Auf ‘n Bier,” young people gathering for activities like “GetStrong” or “Looking Good,” as well as other prayer activities and events. The community of consecrated women at the ApostelHaus, the Legionaries of Christ, and all those attending Mass and other religious services will also use the chapel, which will be open for speakers and local visitors wishing to spend time in prayer or reflection.
The chapel is characterized by its beauty and carefully selected sacred elements. It includes a statue of Mary holding the Child Jesus, and a depiction of the act of crowning a kneeling person by the Child. The crucifix in the chapel is a unique wooden carving, and the altar is a designed piece with a beautiful relief of the Last Supper. The chapel will be technically equipped to broadcast live events, such as Masses, conferences, adoration, and communal prayers.
For Father Klaus, the inauguration of the chapel was a special moment. “As a priest, from the altar I saw all the people who helped and were excited. It is beautiful to see everyone gathered around God! For me, the consecration of the altar was symbolic: the incense grains resting on the altar and being lit, and how the incense slowly rises to God as an act of praise. In this image, I saw all the people who were present.”
When you build a chapel like this, you reflect on what the Church really is. Here, we have clearly felt that not everything is perfect in us. Many people have participated.
I believe that what makes the Church are these people united around Jesus Christ, in prayer, in community, and who together try to influence the world. I feel this very strongly here. Even though the chapel is not yet finished, I feel that there is a living Church here, and that is much more powerful and important than perfection.”
The ApostelHaus in Ratingen regularly offers spiritual activities, such as religious services, retreats for young people and adults, and the opportunity for spiritual accompaniment. These activities are organized by consecrated women, some members of Regnum Christi or Legionaries of Christ, and have a missionary focus. This includes training courses on various current topics, camps for girls and boys, as well as other community activities. The house also provides the opportunity to receive visitors seeking a time of silence and internal reflection. Ultimately, the ApostelHaus is a place for encounter, conversation, and collaboration on joint projects.
