Mechernich/Leiblfing/Mönchengladbach – New churches, new parishes and, at first, many unfamiliar faces: two priests with close ties to the Ordo Communionis in Christo in Mechernich have taken up new posts. Father Patrick Mwanguhya, originally from Uganda, who lived and worked for five years at the Communio’s motherhouse in Mechernich, has been serving as chaplain in the Leiblfing parish cluster in Lower Bavaria since the beginning of September.
Father Jean Elex Normil from Haiti was introduced last Sunday at Vitusmünster in Mönchengladbach by the parish priest, Dr Peter Blättler, as the chaplain for the Mönchengladbach Central-North-East pastoral area.
At the beginning of September, Deacon Manfred Lang had accompanied the 40-year-old Father Patrick from Mechernich to Leiblfing on behalf of the Superior General, Father Jaison Thazhathil, and the Ordo Communionis in Christo. The village is situated in the fertile Gäuboden region of the Straubing-Bogen district and belongs to the Diocese of Regensburg.
The local parish cluster comprises, in addition to Leiblfing, the villages of Metting, Hailing, Schwimmbach and Hankofen. Parish Priest Leo Heinrich and the people in the parishes welcomed their new curate with open arms. Among the first to welcome him to the vicarage was an Ethiopian family who are currently seeking sanctuary there.
On the very evening of his arrival, Patrick Mwanguhya stood alongside Father Leo Heinrich at the altar of St John the Evangelist Church in Metting. Together with the congregation gathered there, the two clergymen celebrated the Eucharist. In the days and weeks that followed, the new curate was gradually introduced to the other churches within the extensive parish association.
“I am very happy to be here with you,” Patrick later wrote in the parish newsletter. He expressed particular thanks to Father Heinrich and the people of Leiblfing for their warm welcome. He promised to serve them to the best of his ability and to work together with them.
Five years with Communio
Born on 7 July 1986 in Fort Portal and ordained a priest in 2018, the Ugandan was sent to Mechernich in October 2021 by his home bishop, Dr Robert Kisaija Muhiirwa. For five years he lived at the motherhouse of Communio in Christo and carried out his priestly ministry primarily in the facilities run by its social welfare organisation.
His pastoral care was directed towards the residents of the Communio in Christo long-term care home, the guests of the Stella Maris hospice and the residents of the Haus Effata care home for the elderly in Blankenheim. In addition, he celebrated Masses in the parishes of what is now the St Barbara Mechernich pastoral area, accompanied pilgrimages and became a trusted companion to many people.
He is now returning to traditional parish ministry in a more prominent role as chaplain. In Leiblfing, he lives in the vicarage right next to the church and works under the guidance of the parish priest, Father Leo Heinrich. The connection with ‘Communio in Christo’ is set to continue despite the considerable geographical distance.
“Together we can make a difference”
Just a few weeks after Patrick’s move, Father Jean Elex Normil CS – another priest closely associated with the Mechernich community – was welcomed to his new post. Together with Provost Dr Peter Blättler, he celebrated Mass on Sunday in St Vitus Cathedral.
His introduction took place as part of Caritas Sunday, which the Münster parish celebrated together with the Caritas Association of the Mönchengladbach region. ‘Together we can make a difference’ was the motto, which could also be seen on large coloured banners in the chancel.
It was more than just a slogan: Numerous participants, including in particular women volunteers from Caritas, helped to shape the liturgy and actively involved those attending the service. The opening address was given by Frank Polixa, Managing Director of the Caritas Association of the Mönchengladbach Region, who has been the organisation’s full-time head since 2011.
The marksmen added a festive touch. Dressed in uniform and carrying their standard, they processed through the nave into the cathedral at the start of the Eucharistic celebration. The parish of St Vitus is linked to two long-established marksmen’s associations: the St Vitus-Laurentius Brotherhood of Mönchengladbach City Centre and the St Vitus-Martinus Brotherhood of Mönchengladbach-Eicken.
The service thus combined three purposes: the introduction of the new parish priest, the marksmen’s public profession of faith and commitment to the parish, and the Caritas mission to ensure that people in need are not left alone.
From St Vitus Cathedral to the Pastoral Area
Father Elex will in future be part of the pastoral team of the Mönchengladbach Centre-North-East Pastoral Area. His ministry will focus on the parishes of St Mary Magdalene and St Mary of the Apostles. For the time being, he is living with the Salvatorian Sisters at Neuwerk Convent; he is due to move into his own priest’s accommodation at a later date.
The religious, who hails from Haiti, belongs to the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo, also known as the Scalabrinians after their founder. The order’s abbreviation is CS. The community has traditionally been particularly dedicated to the pastoral care of migrants and people who have been forced to leave their homelands.
Father Elex studied theology in Rome from 2002 to 2007 and was ordained a priest in 2007. He came to Germany in the same year. Initially, he served as acting head of the Italian Catholic Mission in Düsseldorf, after which he was a curate in Frechen. From 2011 to 2018, he worked as an international youth chaplain in the Archdiocese of Cologne.
Other posts included the pastoral districts of Cologne-Brück/Merheim and Cologne-Bickendorf/Ehrenfeld/Ossendorf, and later the Wuppertal pastoral district of Barmen–Wupperbogen Ost. In February 2025, he moved to the Heiliger Matthias Blankenheim/Dahlem pastoral area in the Diocese of Aachen.
There, too, he remained closely connected to the Communio in Christo. He regularly celebrated the Eucharist with the community and took part in spiritual and communal events. He is now continuing this connection from Mönchengladbach.
Pilgrims welcomed Father Elex
Members of the St Matthias Pilgrims’ Brotherhood of Mönchengladbach-Stadt, founded as far back as 1142, had also come to the presentation at St Vitus’ Cathedral. In doing so, they demonstrated a bond that has grown not only through their shared pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle Matthias in Trier.
Among those present were Prefect Uwe Roth and Deacon Manfred Lang. The Deputy Superior General of Communio also conveyed to Father Elex the best wishes of the Ordo Communionis in Christo and its Superior General, Father Jaison Thazhathil.
However different their new posts in the Gäuboden region of Lower Bavaria and on the Lower Rhine may seem, both priests take with them something that forms part of the spiritual identity of Communio in Christo. Community does not end at parish, diocesan or national borders. It proves its worth wherever people celebrate the Eucharist together, welcome one another and are prepared to make a fresh start together. During his introduction at Gladbach Minster, Father Elex focused on his mission to spread God’s love for humanity and to practise charity towards one’s neighbour. It was not only Provost Blättler who felt that this message was perfectly in keeping with Caritas Sunday.
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