"Do this in memory of me!": Monika Schmid concelebrates at final service.

"If you didn't exist, you would have to be invented": The Parish of St. Martin in Illnau-Effretikon said goodbye to parish leader Monika Schmid (65). With tears in her eyes she thanked for 37 wonderful years. And she did what she said many more women should do: she concelebrated.

Monika Schmid (65) stands in the midst of the many people attending the service at St Martin's in Effretikon. It is her farewell service after 37 years. The church is full. Everyone slides together, it is tight and getting warmer.

Monika Schmid greets the new arrivals. The hugs last a long time, tears roll down cheeks. Then the bells ring and peace returns.

On this Sunday morning, a visibly overwhelmed Monika Schmid is at the centre of a long, festive and very emotional farewell service. Many parishioners, families and friends of Monika Schmid wanted to say goodbye.

About 30 altar boys and girls enter the church. There are also former minis in their white robes, seasoned men and women, but also the active servers, children and young people. Today, even mother and daughter are altar servers. Monika Schmid has accompanied families for years, baptised children and married couples.

Monika Schmid and her 30 servers at the farewell service.

The children and family choir sings an African song at the entrance. Monika Schmid walks to the altar. She holds a simple wooden staff in her hand. The Capuchin Father Josef Regli, who has celebrated the Eucharist at the great church festivals in Effretikon for many years, accompanies her. 

So does Monika Schmid's successor, the priest, Father Felix Hunger, as well as the theologian, Marion Grabenweger. Deacon Stefan Arnold wears a rainbow stole. It is hardly noticeable amidst all the colourful church windows and bouquets of flowers.

Barefoot on holy ground

Then the whole liturgy team takes off their shoes and places them under the candlestick. This symbolises the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses: "Take off your shoes, here is holy ground." This reading text and the following Gospel, where an unknown woman anoints Jesus as the King of Love, are among Monika Schmid's favourite passages from the Bible.

She felt holy ground under her feet when she baptised, married and comforted, says Monika Schmid in her sermon. Or when, together with parishioners, she brought food bags for the needy to Zurich's Langstrasse.

Augustine of all people

Monika Schmid repeatedly closes her eyes during the service, as if someone were putting something in her hands. Barefoot she stands on her holy ground. Again and again there are tears. Again and again she catches herself and finds her way back into her role as church leader. She fills this role with a radiant, powerful, motherly presence.

St. Martin's is filled to capacity

Monika Schmid says that she is celebrating her farewell on the day of the Church Father Augustine. Augustine did not exactly contribute to a positive image of women and healthy sexual morals in the Church. Nevertheless, she prays his prayer every evening: "Our heart is restless until it rests in you, O God".

Thanks and the request for forgiveness

Monika Schmid gives thanks again and again. And she repeatedly asks for forgiveness for ruptures that have occurred. "It is love that counts," says Monika Schmid. Love has to be poured out. Just like the woman who showered Jesus with her precious oil. Love cannot be spilled.

In the parish of St. Martin, she experienced a lot of love and was able to develop herself. "Thanks be to the past, yes to the future!" The last sermon of the parish leader is appreciated with a standing ovation.

The place at the altar

Monika Schmid has never made a secret of where she sees her role in the church: also at the altar, also in the breaking of bread on behalf of Jesus: "Do this in memory of me."

Celebrating the Eucharist together for the last time in St. Martin's

Recorder, organ and cello accompany the offertory. Monika Schmid stands at the altar with Marion Grabenweger, Josef Regli, Felix Hunger and Stefan Arnold. They celebrate the meal as Jesus once did with his disciples. Monika Schmid joins in saying the words of institution. A woman concelebrating? Quite normal in Effretikon. "Do this in memory of me!"

After a polyphonic "Sanctus", all the altar servers gather around the altar for the Lord's Prayer. "Motherly and fatherly God in heaven," Felix Hunger begins the prayer. Monika Schmid concludes it together with all those present with a threefold Shalom. The greeting of peace fades away like a cry of jubilation.

Unfolding the wings

After communion, Monika Schmid thanks Marion Grabenweger for organising the celebrations. The theologian joined the St Martin's team three years ago with clipped wings. She had no chance as a woman with her former pastor, says Monika Schmid. In the past three years, Marion Grabenweger has unfolded her wings. "I trust in you, in your womanhood in this congregation," she encourages her colleague. Marion Grabenweger thanks her "best teacher" for her trust.

Again and again, the combative aspect comes through, for example when Monika Schmid tells how they fought for shared parish leadership with Annemarie Siegrist in the parish. "You always have to fight for a good cause." It is the same Monika Schmid who says: "I was so brave on the outside and so afraid on the inside."

For around 20 years, Monika Schmid worked closely with Annemarie Siegrist in the parish. When the conflict with Bishop Vitus Huonder escalated in 2008, Annemarie Siegrist gave her colleague and friend the shepherdess staff with the words: "You are a shepherdess and you will remain so." Some time ago she told Monika Schmid: "It's time to let go."

Parish leader Monika Schmid moves in with her shepherdess staff at St Martin's Church in Effretikon for her farewell service.

The shepherdess staff has now been given to Felix Hunger. "I know you are a good shepherd," says Monika Schmid. The staff is connected to the earth - like the spirituality in St. Martin. And yet it reaches up to heaven, says Felix Hunger.

With the staff, the holy ground was tilled by the people of St. Martin. If necessary, the new parish administrator of St. Martin's says, he can also wave the staff around a bit to scare away forces that oppose the wide sky above the parish.

Finally, Annemarie Siegrist presented Monika Schmid with a rock crystal from Uri. It was to remind Monika Schmid of her sparkling charisma and her sensitivity. In a film, members of the congregation address Monika Schmid.

Voices from the congregation

"You are a cool woman, Monika."

"You built a parish that became home to me."

"You put all your efforts into it, thank you."

"Without your critical statements, I would have left the church."

"I love your drive."

"If you didn't exist, you'd have to be invented."

A song for the road

Another highlight is a song rewritten especially for Monika Schmid to the tune of "Don't worry, be happy" by Bobby McFerrin. Snapping and whistling, the parish team sings the relaxed melody to make it a little easier for their leader to say goodbye.

But it is obviously not easy. Everyone assured her that she was welcome at St Martin's any time. A last song is sung. Monika Schmid's favourite song: "Until we meet again, God will hold you firmly in his hand."

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See also Eucharist celebrated by leading Swiss female theologian