Guthirtenkirche

Nestled in the charming town of Lustenau, Austria, the Guthirtenkirche, or Church of the Good Shepherd, stands as a modern beacon of faith and community. As the youngest of the three Roman Catholic parish churches in Lustenau, it serves the parish of Lustenau-Hasenfeld and belongs to the Deanery of Dornbirn in the Diocese of Feldkirch. This architectural gem, completed in the 1970s, offers a unique blend of contemporary design and spiritual significance.

The Origins and History of Guthirtenkirche

The journey to the establishment of Guthirtenkirche began long before its construction. In 1897, the southernmost parcel of Wiesenrain in Lustenau saw the initiative to build a chapel in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. This chapel, consecrated in 1901, was envisioned as the nucleus of a future parish. Fast forward to the 1960s, when the Hasenfeld area of Lustenau was rapidly developing with the construction of a new elementary school and a planned retirement home. Recognizing the need for a dedicated place of worship in this burgeoning community, Father Alfred Salzgeber of Lustenau-Kirchdorf proposed the establishment of a new parish in Hasenfeld.

His successor, Dietmar Seeger, took up the mantle and, in 1968, formed a church building committee. An ideas competition was held, and from 21 submissions, the design by Graz architect Heinrich Tritthart was selected. On January 24, 1972, the Diocese granted the building permit, and the newly appointed chaplain, Rudolf Bischof, was tasked with advancing the construction of the church and its adjoining parish center. Through house collections, a major building block campaign, a church construction lottery, several flea markets, and a nationwide letter campaign, the financing for the project was secured.

Construction began in June 1973, and on December 16 of that year, Bishop Bruno Wechner blessed the cornerstone. The first Mass was celebrated in the unfinished church on Christmas 1974, with parishioners seated on beer benches borrowed from the Lustenau Brewery Wieser. Regular Sunday and holiday services began in Holy Week of 1976. By 1978 and 1979, the rectory was built, and the forecourt was designed, while the altar area was simultaneously furnished. On September 9, 1979, Bishop Bruno Wechner consecrated the Guthirtenkirche.

A Modern Architectural Marvel

The Guthirtenkirche is a striking example of modern ecclesiastical architecture. Its hexagonal central structure is complemented by a similarly shaped parish hall connected by a linking corridor. To the right of the church, a side chapel and sacristy are attached, followed by the parish residences in a separate elongated building. The entire complex, with its auxiliary wings on both sides, symbolically extends two open arms around the hexagonal church square.

Constructed from 45 cm thick, double-walled reinforced concrete elements with intermediate stiffening ribs and insulation, the church and parish hall feature a flat roof with a foil warm roof and gravel fill. The residential tract, made of load-bearing brickwork, is covered with a washed concrete facade of broken Jura marble. Instead of a traditional church tower, a large wooden cross stands on the foundation intended for a bell carrier that was never built. A fountain graces the entrance area, and a palisade fence shields the church square from the street, creating a cohesive complex.

Interior Design and Symbolism

Inside, the Guthirtenkirche continues to impress with its thoughtful design. A triangular foyer leads to the left into the parish hall with youth rooms and a kitchen, and to the right into the church space. The side chapel, accessible through a separate entrance, is also connected to the main church area. All these spaces feature interior walls of washed concrete made from broken Jura marble, while the parish residences are plastered inside.

The church hall's roof structure, made of oxblood-colored steel pipes and star-shaped connectors under a wooden coffered ceiling, symbolizes the parish community that supports the church through its collective effort. The altar, centrally positioned, is surrounded by benches arranged in a semicircle, with the floor gently sloping towards the altar. The absence of traditional church windows emphasizes simplicity, while the continuous clerestory windows and soft carpet create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Artistic and Liturgical Elements

The liturgical furnishings, including the altar, ambo, and tabernacle, were designed in 1979 by Viennese artist Zbyněk Sekal. Made from brass plates nailed to wooden frames, these pieces echo the open-arm motif found in the building's architecture, with thousands of brass nails symbolizing the suffering of Christ and humanity. The altar also houses a relic of Saint Pirminius.

The side chapel's baptismal font, crafted in 2003 by Lustenau artist Markus Grabher, is a transparent glass cube filled with sand by godparents during each baptism, gradually forming a visible shape throughout the year.

Art and Iconography

The altar triptych, depicting various biblical meal stories, is the work of Polish artist Jan January Janczak. The left panel shows Abraham's meal with the three strangers and the Exodus meal, the central panel features New Testament stories, and the right panel illustrates scenes from the Acts of the Apostles. The Stations of the Cross are framed by two images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, also painted by Janczak.

A baroque Madonna and Child statue from around 1780, originating from the Montecassino area, and a crucifix in the side chapel from the late 18th century, a gift from the Diocese of Feldkirch, add historical depth to the church's interior. A Sacred Heart statue adorns a pillar near the organ, and a statue of Jesus as the Good Shepherd stands in the church foyer.

The Organ and Musical Heritage

Initially, the church's design did not include an organ, as it was believed that future technological advancements would render organ music obsolete. This view soon changed, and an organ by Vorarlberg organ builder Christoph Enzenhofer was installed and consecrated by Bishop Bruno Wechner on October 19, 1986.

Today, the Guthirtenkirche remains a vibrant center of worship and community life in Lustenau, embodying the spirit of modernist design while honoring the timeless traditions of the Catholic faith. Its unique architecture and rich history make it a must-visit for anyone exploring this picturesque Austrian town.