The construction of the chapel in Nesvačilka fulfilled the more than century-old dream of the local parishioners

Nesvačilka – With the construction of the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows in Nesvačilka in the Brno region, priest René Strouhal has fulfilled the over one-hundred-year dream of the local parishioners. Enthusiasm is felt not only by locals but also by tourists and pilgrims visiting the chapel, consecrated last May, and smaller and larger choirs want to perform concerts here, Strouhal told ČTK. This year the chapel received the Grand Prix Architects – National Award for Architecture.

Strouhal came to the Moutnice parish in 2007 as a young priest; it was his first assignment. "The first desires of the locals date back to World War I. Between the wars, a foundation was even established for the construction, and a savings book was created, but due to World War II and the currency reform in 1953, the money vanished; the previous regime wasn't fond of building sacral structures. But the locals' desire remained, and when I arrived in the parish, they told me about it. I said to myself that I would help them, that perhaps an older or sick priest would come after me," Strouhal said.

However, the journey to the construction was long. The bishopric originally wanted to present three projects, and ultimately, the one evaluated as the best was the one created on a hilltop behind the village. It was originally a field; today, two paths lead to the chapel. "As early as 2009, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the cornerstone, followed by adjustments to the terrain. The actual construction took ten years because medieval methods were chosen, and a large part was done by hand," Strouhal explained. According to him, the size of the chapel does not correspond to the size of the place; Nesvačilka has just over 300 inhabitants, but architect Jan Říčný came up with a design that was ultimately realized. The cross is more than 27 meters high. "Every architect wants to leave something behind, and not many sacral structures are built," noted Strouhal. Both he and Říčný received an award from the Bishop of Brno, Pavel Konzbul, at the beginning of October.

The chapel was a commercial construction, so the church obtained funding continuously from believers for each stage. "Sometimes I felt alone. People couldn't foresee how demanding the construction would be. I was seeking funds and visiting offices. When the stone pedestal was completed, it looked like the construction had stopped. I had to endure a lot because various rumors were spreading, but it was necessary to prepare everything carefully for the next stage," Strouhal mentioned the troubles brought by the construction. Additionally, like any builder, he faced issues with some companies being unreliable, failing to fulfill agreements, and lacking experience due to the atypicality of the construction. "So, after completion, I felt a certain relief," Strouhal said.

The chapel needed to be revitalized. "That needed assistance. I had tourist business cards printed so tourists would know about the chapel. Every Sunday there are services here, attended by locals and pilgrims from afar; we conduct guided tours and organize concerts," said Strouhal. In a year and a half, thousands of people have already found their way to Nesvačilka.

However, paradoxically, Strouhal is ending his time in Moutnice and will move to the large parish in Rajhrad on December 1 after 18 years. He was affected by the church's practice of priest rotation. "In June, we spoke at the bishopric about me staying, so it was a surprise for me," Strouhal said. But for organizational reasons, it was necessary. His current parishioners are not enthusiastic; for him, it means many concerns with the move. Usually, priests change during the summer holidays. "But I’m going to a familiar environment; I know the parish and the parishioners," noted Strouhal.