Essen invites you to the fifth breathing wheel tour: Together into the countryside

Veröffentlicht:

Von:

On Sunday, August 25th, all bicycle fans in Essen can look forward to a special event: The city, represented by its bicycle officer, invited together with the Essen bicycle initiative (EFI) and the churches for an exciting bike tour. This fifth “breathing space” bike tour is not only the focus of cycling, but also the community experience and reflection at various stations while driving.

The tour initially leads the participants through the picturesque streets of Essen and the Annenkapelle in the Rellinghausen district is the goal. This tradition, which is already established, offers the participants the opportunity not only to do sports, but also to maintain spiritual impulses. At the prayer at the destination, the Catholic Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck will keep the final address and thus ensure a solemn setting. The cyclists will cover over 20 kilometers at a sociable pace to enjoy the appealing stations along the route.

musical mood for everyone

Already on Willy-Brandt-Platz in downtown Essen, the start of the bike tour is accompanied musically. Here windows of the Rheinische trombone work from Mülheim and Essen ensure the right mood. The background music plays an important role because it gives the event a festive character and the participants in the upcoming bike tour.

The planning of the last "breathing space" bike tour for this year, which will lead to the Evangelical Redeemer Church on September 22nd, is also standing. There, the Essen superintendent Marion Greve will lead the prayer and offer spiritual moments again. The bike tours are not only an opportunity for sporting activities, but also promote the feeling of community and networking the participants, regardless of whether they are actively in the churches or just love cycling and nature.

The background of this initiative is also important for the religious communities in Essen. The diocese is one of the little ones in Germany, but plays an important role in social and cultural interaction. With almost 680,000 members and an area of ​​1,877 square kilometers, the diocese of Essen is not only of great importance for its members, but also for the entire region. It was founded on January 1, 1958, and since then it has been trying to include younger generations in dialogue.

The "Breathing Appreciation" campaign is also an important building block to bring people together who may otherwise have little to do with each other. This form of the bicycle tour could serve as a model for similar initiatives in other cities, especially in times when platforms are required for common experiences in many areas. The goal is clear: through a combination of movement, music and spirituality, the participants offer a great experience.

meaning of community and spirituality

In a world that is often shaped by hurry and stress, this type of event offers a welcome opportunity to calm down and combine with other people. The social aspect of these bike tours is particularly valuable - many participants experience this day not only as a sporting activity, but also as a spiritual event that enables them to pause and reflect. The cyclists come together, exchange ideas and create memories that go beyond pure cycling.

The Essen "Breathrex" bike tours are more than just bike excursions; They are a sign of belonging together in a society that keeps looking for contact with each other. The city and its churches set a positive sign for the promotion of community and spirituality through simple but effective cycling.

The diocese of Essen plays an important role in the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia. Catholic faith is deeply rooted in this region, and the diocese has established itself as an important community for believing people. With a variety of parishes and church institutions, the diocese not only offers spiritual support, but is also actively involved in social and charitable areas.

However, the diocese also has to deal with challenges, such as the decline in membership, which can be observed in many parts of Germany. When it was founded in 1958, there were still about 1.5 million members. To date, this number has dropped to almost 680,000. This development reflects a general trend that can be observed in the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, and asks the Church to find new ways to address and involve people.

The meaning of the bike tours

The "Breathrex" bike tours are an initiative that should not only transport faith, but also to promote the community. Such events offer the participants a way to physically, get to know new people and spend time together in nature. In addition, they promote awareness of important topics such as environmental protection and sustainable mobility.

In addition, these bike tours offer a platform on which the local community show cohesion and can actively contribute to the design of its social environment. Participation in the bike tour could also be an incentive for younger people to identify more with the church and its activities.

public perception and solutions

The public perception of the church has changed in recent years. Scandals and challenges in dealing with abuse cases have led to a loss of trust in the institution in many people. In order to counteract this, many dioceses try to create more transparent structures and to respond more to the needs of their members.

The diocese of Essen has launched various projects to actively involve the members and give new impulses for discussion. These include dialogue forums and workshops that are intended to promote the exchange between the church leadership and the believers. In addition, the churches are increasingly relying on digital formats to achieve younger generations and to facilitate participation.

statistical developments

A current study on behalf of the German Bishops' Conference shows that the loss of members continues to continue in the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. In 2022, more than 360,000 people left the church, which is an increase compared to the previous year. These developments are alarming for the church and require a rethink in the speech of the believers.

In addition, statistics show that more and more younger people are turning from traditional practices. According to a survey from 2021, over 50 percent of those surveyed aged 18 to 30 stated that they no longer actively identify with the church. This represents an essential point that the churches should take into account when planning future events such as the "breathing space" bike tours.