St. Matthias Pilgrims' Cross and Rest Area

In 1986, Pastor Wilhelm Hösen and a small group continued the tradition of the Trier pilgrimage, which was also carried out in the parish of St. Kilian in the past (1818).
Since then, every year in spring a group of pilgrims from the parish set off on the footpath to the grave of the apostle Matthias in Trier. The pilgrim community has grown to 60 people and now even includes three generations.
The pilgrimage takes place from the Wednesday before Ascension Day to the following Sunday under the spiritual direction of Pastor Kippels.
On the way to Trier we celebrate Holy Mass with the pilgrim community. Prepared meditations, spiritual impulses and the prayer of the Rosary and Angelus accompany the daily routine. For many years, evangelical Christians have taken part in the pilgrimage and contributed to the ecumenical orientation.
Each year, the pilgrim community chooses a theme that will be considered in different ways during the pilgrimage and prepared by a circle of pilgrims in the months before.
Since 1997 the community has had its own pilgrim cross, erected at the highest point in Trier, designed by Karl-Josef Klaßen.
In addition, the pilgrim community meets every two months for a pilgrim evening, which is thematically based on the pilgrimage or the calendar of the church year.

In 1997, the St. Matthias pilgrim community from Erftstadt-Lechenich erected its own pilgrim cross here at the highest point of the route on the pilgrim route to Trier.
In 1986, Pastor Wilhelm Hösen and a small group continued the tradition of the Trier pilgrimage, which was also carried out in the parish of St. Kilian in the past (1818).
Since then, every year in spring a group of pilgrims from the parish set off on the footpath to the grave of the apostle Matthias in Trier. The pilgrim community has grown to 60 people and now even includes three generations.
The pilgrimage takes place from the Wednesday before Ascension Day to the following Sunday under the spiritual direction of Pastor Kippels.
On the way to Trier we celebrate Holy Mass with the pilgrim community. Prepared meditations, spiritual impulses and the prayer of the Rosary and Angelus accompany the daily routine. For many years, evangelical Christians have taken part in the pilgrimage and contributed to the ecumenical orientation.
Each year, the pilgrim community chooses a theme that will be considered in different ways during the pilgrimage and prepared in the months before by a group of pilgrims.

On the side of the pilgrim stone is a plaque with thoughts about the stone. These thoughts can also be spoken as a prayer.