FCC Bad Homburg Celebrating 25 Years (1999-2024) 

Filipino migration to Germany began in the mid-1960s with the recruitment of the medical and healthcare jobs. The first nurses arrived at the Bad Homburg State Hospital (Landeskrankenhaus Bad Homburg) in September 6, 1966. There was a civic organization, the Philippine Verein Bad Homburg that was subsequently established and became active in the introducing the Filipino Culture in this part of Germany through Filipino Culture Festivals. The religious acivities like mass, however, was only included as part of the meeting and gathering of Filipinos. The Filipino Catholic community in St. Marien Bad Homburg was then officially recognized in 1999 in the Diocese of Limburg.

In those years, several priests were invited to celebrate the mass in the chapel of the Bad Homburg District Hospital like Fr. Glöckner (Chaplain of Kreiskrankenhaus Bad Homburg), Fr. Joe Oliveros (Chaplain of US-Army Frankfurt am Main), Fr. Emilio Santos (from Rome) and Fr. Eugen Reinhardt SVD from Steyler Mission. Then, from 1995-2007, Fr. Fernando Santos, SVD served as visiting priest for the Filipino Community. At times, student-priests from St. Georgen Frankfurt were invited to celebrate the monthly mass. In 2009-2011, Fr. Melchor Braga became the guest priest that helped the community. 

Finally in 2011, under the partnership of the Diocese of Limburg and the Diocese of Alaminos, the pastoral care for the Filipino Communities in the Diocese of Limburg was formally established. Fr. Benedicto Pola, OC was assigned as the first Filipino Chaplain. He served for almost 7 years. He was succeded by Fr. Mares Estrella, OC in 2017. The coordinator of the community was Kathy Rosete. In those years, both priests worked hard to establish the structures and systems, ministries and order that transform the community into a vibrant Catholic Community. 

In 2020, Fr. Francis Ofrancia was designated as the new chaplain of the Filipino Communities in the Diocese of Limburg. The community also appointed Mary Ann Lascheit as the new coordinator to help the chaplain and the Council. The Filipino Catholic Community in the Parish of Sankt Marien aims to live and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ not only in the Eucharist but through a life of communion – of unity, friendship, sharing, participation, and loving service. 

Our community exist to draw people to God through prayer, encountering Jesus in the word of God, liturgy, sacraments and community life. As we remember and celebrate with gratitude the 25 years of God´s immense love and goodness, we renew our dedication and commitment to the mission to which Christ is summoning us to procalim the good news of his love to all generations. 

Source: Heinz Rohe