Harry Potter Mass

Graz pastor preaches in Dumbledore costume

Pastor Marcus Hütter as Dumbledore in the Church of the Redeemer in Graz(Bild: Juergen Fuchs)

Eagerly awaited and ultimately even better attended than expected: on Sunday morning, a Harry Potter service took place in the Protestant Church of the Redeemer in Graz. Pastor Marcus Hütter preached in a Dumbledore costume.

How do you get young people to go to church? A question that both Protestant and Catholic pastors are working on. One is particularly creative in his approach: Marcus Hütter, the pastor responsible for the Protestant Church of the Redeemer in Graz-Liebenau. 

He made headlines this week with his idea for a Harry Potter service. On Sunday at 10 a.m., the time had come: "We were expecting a lot of interest, but we were surprised that so many people would come," says the clergyman.

"We had to turn away 60 to 70 people because the church was full. About 30 stayed anyway and waited outside. We stood together and chatted until 3 pm."

The team was "grateful and happy" about the many interested people, not just young people, but from all generations: "There were lots of children at the front and they were excited." Many also came in disguise.

And how did J. K. Rowling's book influence the sermon with 15 actors? "It was about Dumbledore asking whether it wouldn't be better to abolish the Hogwarts houses. The teachers then argue that it would be better to remain a unit in reconciled diversity."

Next date already set
Due to the great demand, the team at the Church of the Redeemer is already planning the next "magical" service: "There will be one called 'The Chamber of Blessing' on February 9."