Roman Catholic churchgoers in Emmen and Erica are advised to dress extra warm when they go to church next winter. The Good Shepherd Parish with four churches in Emmen and Erica turns off all the stoves in winter. Pastor Peter Stiekema of the Good Shepherd Parish reports this. According to him, the Southeast Drenthe parish is forced to do this because of the high gas prices.
“That’s way too much money,” says the board. “Even if we wanted to, we can’t.” So there is only one thing to do: turn off the heaters. “It is the only choice. Otherwise the parish will collapse financially.”
This means that the churches in Emmen (Meerstraat), Barger-Oosterveld, Emmerschans and Erica will not be heated this winter. The board has called on visitors to put on extra warm clothes. “Think of an extra sweater or hat.” The pastor thinks people will comply with that call. “It’s a very annoying decision, but one that people probably understand.”
It is not clear how long the churchgoers will be in the cold. “At least next heating season.” However, the pastor cannot guarantee anything for the future. If energy prices do not fall, it could also be a problem in the future.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball, so we don’t know how long the stoves will be out,” says Stiekema. The pastor also hopes for a mild winter. The pastor himself sets a good example. In the rectory on the Meerstraat in Emmen, the thermostat will not go higher than 15 degrees in the coming months.