New churchyard in Ligist: A Center for Community and Culture

New churchyard in Ligist: A Center for Community and Culture

The pride in the newly designed churchyard in Ligist is noticeable. After only seven months of construction, the municipality inaugurated this modern place of the meeting. Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl recognized the project and emphasized the multifunctional characteristics of the new building. Karl Farmer, the parish coordinator, left no doubt that the new churchyard goes far beyond church purposes and is also used for social events.

The history of the churchyard goes back to 1954 when the Catholic youth Ligist built a rectory. The building has been used again and again over the years, including as a parish cinema. But after Pastor Rupert Rechberger's death, the rectory had remained unused for over 40 years. The walls were cracked and the condition of the building required urgent measures.

revitalization and funding

The revitalization of the churchyard officially began on May 8, 2021, after the diocese of Graz-Seckau approved the plans. Karl Farmer explained that the municipality spent the costs of the renovation, which amounted to 1.3 million euros, together with the diocese and through funding. Thanks to the LAG Lipizzanerheimat and the local core of the State of Styria, funding of 250,000 euros was secured.

The participation of the community was highly in demand. Under the motto "Be there you too", 500 hours of voluntary work were done, which earned the community between 80,000 and 100,000 euros. Construction began on March 20, 2024, and only a few months later the first events in the new churchyard were planned.

modern premises for the community

The building now comprises two halls, a foyer and a pastoral room. The main hall offers space for 120 people and is used for a variety of events, including lectures, theater performances and cabarets. The foyer includes a bar and modern kitchen appliances, which rounds off the equipment for different events, but without presenting competition with the local inns.

The upper floor of the new churchyard includes a pastoral room for religious meetings and a smaller hall for meetings, yoga courses or even dance evenings. In particular, the well thought -out design with soil cooling and wood cladding ensures a pleasant atmosphere.

Markus Jocham and the committed pastoral team also contributed significantly to the implementation of the project. Due to the broad support and solid financing, the churchyard is now a sustainable part of the community, which serves for both church and social purposes.

a forward model for the region

Bishop Krautwaschl described the churchyard as a best practice example. The Styrian Volksbildungsenwerk also honored the project as part of a competition. Future activities, such as a parish café or flea markets, are already being planned, and the goal is to fill the building with life and to establish as a social meeting point in the community. "We want to fulfill the churchyard again with life," says Farmer, who is confident that this will succeed.

For more information and details about the new Kirchhof project in Ligist, .