The shortage of skilled workers is a problem, even in the Bavarian state of paradise. In nursing anyway and in some country inns, the roast pork is no longer served by a waiter, but by a robot – if there is anything left to eat and there is not a lack of staff in the kitchen. And if you want to retile your bathroom, you can consider attending a do-it-yourself course at the hardware store and trying it yourself, because the specialist won’t be available again until next year.
It doesn’t look any better in the churches, only the reasons for the shortage are more diverse there. Not only does it require training, it also requires a calling, and finding that is presumably difficult in times of abuse and distrust. Women are not allowed among the Catholics and those who would like to have a family or at least a relationship must also look for another job. One really has to want that.
And then? He preaches on Sunday in front of an almost empty church and has to explain to those who come at all why the shop is having such a hard time with reforms and why it looks as if the believers are sometimes more of a nuisance than desirable.
Apparently, the Wackersdorfer pastor Christoph Melzl has just gotten tired of all this, he has resigned from church service and will now work as a social worker, it is said.
But fortunately there are also pastors who really enjoy their job. Even the little things. Like the Bamberg pastor who celebrated the Assumption Mass on Tuesday. A few churchgoers had tied bunches of herbs that were blessed at the end of the service. The priest strode energetically down the aisle and let the brush with the holy water fly over the people.
A few got the big drops with a full swing in the face or in the neck, depending on the direction of the pastor, it was a real – of course pious – fun. Apparently for the pastor too. As he dipped the brush back into the holy water, he whispered to his sacristan, “Some things are fun.” Thank God!