Room of Silence – Prayer Room in the Vienna Central Station
Ecumenical and Multi-Religious Catholic Chapel
Initiators
When the new Vienna Central Station was built, the Austrian Railway (OEBB) management had approached the religious communities in Austria with a proposal for a public prayer room on the premises. The Roman-catholic Church agreed to fund the project and the “Kategoriale Seelsorge” (Categorial Pastoral Care of the Archdiocese of Vienna) took over construction and operation of the prayer room. The Room of Silence was set up as a Roman Catholic chapel with a multi-religious and ecumenical orientation.
Occasion
The Central Station was to be provided with an interreligious space. The Roman-catholic church agreed to implement the project, especially since it connected to the tradition of the Railway Mission and was in compliance with Pope Francis´ mandate to find new places that allow for the encounter of people in the spirit of the project “Citypastoral”.
Target Group
Anyone looking for a place of repose, retreat and prayer in the bustling environment of the Central Station and its shopping facilities – travelers passing through, people working in the Station or the nearby area as well as persons living in the neighborhood. The „Raum der Stille“ primarily addresses Catholics and Christians, but welcomes visitors of other religions and denominations.
Objectives
The “Raum der Stille” is meant to offer a place of silence, meditation, prayer and retreat within the mundane and hectic environment of the Central Station. It was designed to function as a Roman-catholic chapel and a public space for religious contemplation. At the same time it is intended to enable “secular-informative encounters” and to present a recreational area without the pressure to consume. Christian missionary activities do play a role, albeit a minor one.
Topics
- hospitality
- encounter and dialogue
- spiritual care
- ecumenism
- cultural exchange
Duration
Public opening took place in 2014 along with the opening of the, then, new Central Station. Every five years, the project is reevaluated and its continuation decided upon accordingly.
Activities
The „Raum der Stille“ is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm for so-called „encounters” and individual prayers. During open hours a staff member is available for counseling and talk.
The rooms are generally open to anyone interested in using them. They do, however, not necessarily accommodate the needs of all denominations and religions since the main room is clearly designed as Christian chapel with altar and corresponding accessories so that, p. e., there are no facilities for Muslims to perform ablutions. Nevertheless, Muslims working on the premises or the vicinity, like to use the room for prayer. A separate room, the vestry, is used for these occasions.
The weekly ecumenically oriented services, devotions and prayers include Roman-catholic mass, Coptic-orthodox prayers, Taizé prayers and prayers of the “Evangelische Allianz Wien” (Vienna Protestant Alliance). The room is also used by the Free Churches. Dates and details are listed in the facility´s online event calendar (Raum der Stille Kalender)
Additional events address topics of interreligious dialogue, in particular Muslim-Christian exchange. Further activities include pastoral care, counseling as well as cultural events such as exhibitions, lectures and concerts.
Form of Organization
The „Raum der Stille“ is being operated by the Categorial Pastoral Care (Archdiocese of Vienna) as a chapel of the Roman-catholic Church.
Funding
Costs, mainly for rent and staff, are primarily covered by the budget of the Categorial Pastoral Care (Archdiocese of Vienna) and by voluntary donations.
Products
Folder "Raum der Stille" from 2015
Website | Social Media | Contact
www.raumderstille-hbf.at
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RaumderStilleVienna/
Mag. Gerhard Gmeiner
Carmen Velasquez
Dr. Martin Wiesauer
Raum der Stille im Hauptbahnhof Wien
Am Hauptbahnhof 1 / UG2.104
A-1100 Wien
E-mail: kat.seelsorge@edw.or.at
T: +43 1 515 52 3877
editor: ew 2022