As Christmas 2025 approaches, Munich’s churches are set to host a diverse array of services and events, inviting residents and visitors to partake in the festive spirit. From traditional Christmasses to family-friendly crib services, the city’s Catholic and Protestant congregations have prepared extensive programs.
Catholic Churches: A Rich Tapestry of Tradition and Music
The Catholic community in Munich offers a wide selection of services across various churches, featuring both solemn masses and musical performances.
Christmas Eve Highlights (December 24th):
- Liebfrauendom: Dompfarrer Klaus Peter Franzl will celebrate a service at 4 PM. A festive Christmass, led by Archbishop Reinhard Cardinal Marx, begins at 10 PM, preceded by musical preparations from 9:40 PM. The Domchor, orchestra, and soloists will perform Karl Kempter’s ‘Pastoralmesse’.
- St. Bonifaz: A children’s Christmass with a string orchestra at 4 PM, followed by a Christmass at 10:30 PM featuring Christmas carols and motets.
- St. Ludwig: Families are invited to a children’s crib celebration at 4 PM. The Christmass at 10 PM will include a sermon by Christoph Breitsameter.
- Theatinerkirche: Christmass at 8 PM, featuring organ and trumpet, with a sermon by Pater Johannes Zabel OP on ‘Connecting Humanity and Divinity’.
- St. Michael: A ‘Atem.Pause’ with organ and impulse at 12:30 PM, a crib celebration with Pater Martin Stark SJ at 4 PM, and a Christmass at 10 PM with Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger’s ‘Messe in A-Dur op. 126’ performed by choir, orchestra, and soloists.
- Bürgersaalkirche: An English-language Holy Mass for Christmas Eve at 4 PM. The Christmass at 10 PM, led by Pater Karl Kern SJ, will feature Mozart’s ‘Pastoralmesse’. The Augustiner Christ Child will be displayed until January 6th.
- St. Ursula: The announcement of Christmas at 5 PM with festive music, followed by a Christmass with Eucharist at 11 PM.
- St. Paul: Christmass at 10 PM with Jost Hecker on cello and Peter Gerhartz on organ.
- St. Elisabeth: A Christmass for the hearing impaired and deaf-blind at 1 PM.
- Asamkirche: Christmass at 5 PM.
- St. Peter: Christmass at 10:30 PM with Karl Kempter’s ‘Pastoralmesse G-Dur op. 24’.
- Heilig-Geist-Kirche: Children’s nativity play at 3:30 PM, Christmass at 10 PM.
Additionally, crib plays for families are scheduled at St. Sylvester (3 PM), St. Ursula (3 PM), Herz Jesu Neuhausen (4 PM), St. Joseph (4 PM), St. Rupert (4 PM), St. Andreas (4 PM), St. Paul (4:30 PM), and St. Anna (5 PM).
First Christmas Day (December 25th):
- Liebfrauendom: Archbishop Reinhard Cardinal Marx will celebrate a Pontifical Mass at 10 AM. The Domchor and orchestra will perform Otto Nicolai’s Mass in D ‘Puer natus est’. A Pontifical Vespers at 5 PM will feature music by Max Eham and Joseph Schnabel.
- St. Bonifaz: Festive service at 10 AM with Stiftskantorei and soloists performing Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in G’.
- St. Ludwig: Festive High Mass at 10 AM by the church choir.
- St. Kajetan: Latin High Mass at 10:30 AM with the vocal chapel, including Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in G (KV 140)’.
- Heilig Geist: Festive High Mass at 11 AM with Anton Diabelli’s ‘Pastoralmesse in F’.
- St. Michael: Festive service at 10 AM with soloists, choir, and orchestra.
- St. Paul: Ensemble for Early Music presenting 18th-century Christmas music from 11 AM.
- St. Peter: Latin High Mass at 10 AM with Joseph Haydn’s ‘Nicolaimesse Hob. XXII: 6’.
- Asamkirche: Holy Mass at 10 AM.
- St. Rupert: Christmas High Mass for the Holy Edith Stein parish at 6:30 PM.
Second Christmas Day (December 26th):
- Liebfrauendom: Prelate Lorenz Wolf will celebrate a service at 10 AM for the feast of St. Stephen. The Domsingknaben, Junge Kantorei, and orchestra will perform Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in G (KV 140)’.
- St. Bonifaz: Benedictines invite families to their parish and convent mass at 10 AM with songs and Christmas organ music.
- St. Kajetan: Latin High Mass at 10:30 AM with Mozart’s ‘Missa brevis in B (KV 275)’ for choir, orchestra, and soloists.
- St. Michael: Festive Mass at 10 AM with soloists, choir, and the St. Michael Orchestra performing Joseph Haydn’s ‘Nelson Mass’.
- Bürgersaalkirche: Pater Karl Kern SJ celebrates a festive service at 11:30 AM, with soprano and organ performing Christmas Carols.
- St. Paul: Instrumental ensemble performing Arcangelo Corelli’s ‘Concerto grosso op. 6 Nr. 8 g-moll’ at 11 AM.
- St. Anton (Isarvorstadt): Festive Mass at 10 AM with organ and trumpet.
- St. Ludwig: Holy Mass at 11:30 AM with a sermon by Pater Eberhard von Gemmingen SJ.
- St. Peter: Latin High Mass at 10 AM with Josef Gabriel Rheinberger’s ‘Missa in navitate Domino’.
- Asamkirche: Festive service at 10 AM. A concert at 8 PM will feature Ai Endo (baroque violin) and Stefan Moser (organ and harpsichord) performing works by Bach, Corelli, Schmelzer, and others.
Protestant Churches: Diverse Celebrations for All Ages
Protestant churches across Munich also offer a full schedule of Christmas services, including special programs for children and families.
Christmas Eve Highlights (December 24th):
- St. Matthäus: ‘Matthäusweihnacht’ at 11:30 AM, children’s Christmas at 2:30 PM, Christvesper with Münchner Motettenchor at 4 PM, another Christvesper at 6 PM, and a Christmass at 10 PM. Services at 2:30, 4, 6, and 10 PM will be broadcast live on www.stmatthaeus.de.
- St. Markus: Christvesper with members of the Markus-Choir at 4 PM, followed by a Christmas Café. Christmass at 11 PM with Stadtdekan Bernhard Liess.
- Emmauskirche: Christmass at 11 PM in the community hall with the Münchner Konzertchor.
- St. Johannes: Service for families with toddlers at 2:30 PM, family service with nativity play at 4 PM, Christvesper with children’s and youth choir at 6 PM, and Christnacht with ‘Preysingbrass’ at 10 PM.
- Stephanuskirche: ‘Zwergerlgottesdienst’ with nativity play at 1:30 PM, family service with nativity play at 3 PM, Christvesper with Nymphenburger Kantatenchor at 5 PM, Christmass at 9 PM, and youth Christnacht at 11 PM.
- St. Lukas: Family service at 3 PM in the Catholic Church St. Jakob am Anger, Christvesper with Lukas-Choir members at 5 PM.
- Lutherkirche: Family service with nativity play at 2:30 PM, open-air service at 3 PM in Rosengarten, Christvesper at 5:30 PM, and Christmass with mulled wine at 11 PM.
- Erlöserkirche: ‘Zwergerlgottesdienst’ with nativity play at 2:30 PM, family service with nativity play at 4 PM, Christvesper with Erlöserkirche choir at 6 PM, and Christnacht at 11 PM.
- Christuskirche: Family service with children’s choir at 2 PM, and family service with teen choir at 3:30 PM.
- Kreuzkirche: Service for all ages at 11 AM, Christvesper at 5:30 PM, family Christmas with nativity play at 3:30 PM, and youth Christmas at 10:30 PM.
First Christmas Day (December 25th):
- St. Matthäus: Festive service at 10 AM with Landesbischof Christian Kopp and the Münchner Motettenchor, broadcast live on Bayerischer Rundfunk.
- Versöhnungskirche: Forest Christmas with trombone choir at Hartelholz at 5 PM, with a meeting point at Versöhnungskirche at 4:15 PM for a torchlight procession.
- Himmelfahrtskirche Pasing: Alpine Christmas with vocal ensemble at 11 AM.
- Immanuel-Nazareth-Gemeinde: Forest Christmas with Kantorei at Prinz-Eugen-Park at 5 PM.
- Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche: Festive service at 10 AM with Paul-Gerhardt-Chor.
- St. Markus: Service at 11:15 AM.
- Erlöserkirche: Service with trumpet at 10 AM.
- Christuskirche: Service with youth choir at 10 AM.
- Gustav-Adolf-Kirche: Service with project choir at 10 AM.
Second Christmas Day (December 26th):
- St. Markus: Festive service at 11:15 AM with Stadtdekan Bernhard Liess and members of the Markus-Choir.
- St. Lukas: Singing service at 10 AM in the Catholic Church St. Jakob am Anger.
- St. Matthäus: Service at 10 AM.
- Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche: Festive service at 10 AM with Schola Augiensis München and Barock-Ensemble Camerata Laim.
- Lätare- and Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Kirche Neuperlach: Forest Christmas at the shooting range at the end of Fasangartenstraße at 4:30 PM.
- Erlöserkirche: Singing service at 10 AM.
- Olympiakirche: Singing service at 10 AM.
- Kreuzkirche: Singing service at 10:30 AM.
- Hoffnungskirche: Singing service at 10:30 AM.
- Christuskirche: Service at 10 AM.
This comprehensive schedule ensures that everyone in Munich can find a meaningful way to celebrate Christmas 2025, whether through traditional services, musical performances, or family-oriented events.
Source: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/weihnachtsgottesdienste-muenchen-christmetten-familienfeiern-katholisch-evangelisch-li.3338725
