Carolers brought the blessing to the town hall
07.01.2026 – Bringing blessings, being a blessing: The carol singers from St. Paul, St. Marien and St. Pankratius have brought the blessing to almost 200 households in their respective parishes over the past few days: 20*C+M+B+26, "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" (Christ bless this house), which is now also written on the door to the Lord Mayor's office, as the ten children and young people paid a visit to Dr. Felix Schwenke on Epiphany on 6 January.
He welcomed the queens and kings with sweets and drinks, and also supported the carol singers, who are collecting for poor children in Bangladesh this year, with a donation. As he only receives a royal visit once a year, the head of the city made time for the children to ask him the famous question. "Have you always wanted to be mayor?" one girl wanted to know. As an adolescent, Schwenke reported that he had experienced the Chernobyl disaster, which had had a major impact on him. The fear of nuclear power and the bans associated with the radioactivity released at the time had awakened his interest in politics. Then there were his grandparents' stories from the Second World War and the division of Germany. All of this was formative and he began to get involved in politics at a very early age. The fact that as Lord Mayor he can now try to lead Offenbach out of its long economic slump motivates him greatly.
When asked what the worst crisis of his time in office had been so far, the answer was corona. "I often slept very badly." No, he was never a carol singer, he had to admit, but he was a lifeguard, for example. That was also an honorary position and it was also about helping. After numerous other questions, the mayor praised the commitment of the children and young people and thanked them for their efforts on behalf of particularly poor children. "What you are doing here is exemplary," Schwenke concluded.