Since August, Salesian Father Bernhard Maier has been the successor to Father Franz Kniewasser in the management of the Salesian parish in Amstetten. He likes to incorporate his knowledge of the sport into his sermons, and he also knows many statements from sport role models about faith.
Above all, he is an absolute top expert: from 1984 to 2012 he was the “Olympic Chaplain”. From Hermann Maier to Benni and Marlies Schild to Muhammad Ali: He knows them all, athletes as well as officials, and he has celebrated church services with many of them, comforted some, married some, and even baptized some of the athletes’ children.
At the 24th Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, which began yesterday, what makes the Olympics special will be missing this year due to the pandemic: “The happy encounter of people from all over the world, enthusiasm and joie de vivre,” says Father Bernhard with regret. As an Olympic pastor, Maier accompanied the Austrian athletes from 1984 to 2012 at 16 games and at seven Paralympic competitions.
Shared view of China
Fairness, international understanding and meeting people are still central ideas of the Olympic spirit, says the cleric: “The games have always been seen as a peace movement.”
The Salesian Don Boscos appreciates China’s efforts: “They made an effort.” However, he also refers to human rights violations, surveillance practices in the country and environmental problems. And Maier fears that in a few decades the Winter Games will be hardly or no longer possible.
It particularly annoys him that, just before the Olympics, tightening of regulations against religious communities became known. He hopes that the happiness and joie de vivre of the athletes will spill over into the world, even if the games will take place in a bubble due to the corona. Despite all the adverse conditions, Father Bernhard wishes the athletes all the best, nice encounters and Austria a rain of medals.
Bernhard Maier was born in 1950 in Göppingen, Germany. At the age of ten he became a student of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Unterwaltersdorf, and in 1967 he entered the order. The habilitated sports scientist received the honorary title “Olympic Chaplain” after his numerous assignments. In Unterwaltersdorf he also worked as director of the Don-Bosco-Gymnasium.
Source: Nachrichten
