STARRY PATH CHEMIN DES ÉTOILES
Marpingen
On the paths of the pilgrims of St. James
Route St. Wendel - Saarbrücken
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Altar reredos for the veneration of the Virgin Mary (15th c.)
On November 10, 2019, the Catholic parish church Maria Himmelfahrt in Marpingen was officially integrated into the European model project due to the rare stone reredos from the 15th century preserved in the interior. During a church service, the European model project “Starry Path/
The “Sternenweg” also invites people in the St. Wendel district to search for clues, make discoveries and pause for thought.
The district of St. Wendel is tangent to the route axis from Mainz in the direction of Tholey and is integrated into the project with important medieval cultural monuments. Step by step, they are decorated with a stone scallop shell and equipped with an information board.
Our European model project “Starry Path/Chemin des étoiles” primarily wants to show that cross-border cultural work in a large region also makes great sense in a spiritual context, especially when it comes to inspiring people for the common cultural heritage and at the same time developing a sense of responsibility for the future of the human community. An essential goal of the model project is therefore to inspire people to walk new paths, to discover special places and, above all, to become peace pilgrims on the way. The myth of the European Way of St. James has remained unbroken for 1000 years and provides us with an ideal stage for this. With a small budget and the support of many cooperation partners, we succeed in winning people for the cultural identity of a multifaceted greater region and an awareness of the values of Europe. In fruitful cooperation with the district of St. Wendel, the Tourist Info St. Wendler Land, the parish community of Marpingen and the St. James Society of Rhineland-Palatinate-Saarland e.V., another important link in this large-regional network is now being linked, according to Monika Schmieden, the assistant secretary of the Regional Association of Saarbrücken. “We are very aware of the importance of a cross-border and citizen-oriented dissemination of European values and therefore we in the district of St. Wendel support the European model project “Starry Path/ Chemin des étoiles” at various levels. The project is also a good example of cultural tourism cooperation across county levels.
Udo Recktenwald, Landrat
Godparents are the district administrator of the district St. Wendel Udo Recktenwald, deacon Wolfgang Schu of the parish community Marpingen and Jakob Patuschka (Jakobusgesellschaft Rheinland-Pfalz-Saarland e.V.)
