On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Shalom Catholic Community celebrated the establishment of the Shalom Mission in Cologne, Germany. The Holy Mass was presided over by Bishop Ansgar Puff, Auxiliary Bishop of Cologne and the bishop responsible for accompanying new ecclesial communities in the Archdiocese. The Blessed Sacrament was also solemnly enthroned in the missionaries’ chapel, officially marking the beginning of the Community’s new missionary presence in the city.
The foundation is the result of more than a year of dialogue and collaboration between the Shalom Community and the Archdiocese of Cologne, built upon a shared desire to strengthen evangelization throughout the region.
The Shalom Mission in Cologne is made up of five missionaries: Michele Magalhães, local coordinator, Francesca Marello, Anne-Camille Descamps, Fabrício Camelo, and Luis Felipe Cardoso. The group arrived in the city on June 4, 2026, beginning a new chapter of missionary presence and service to the local Church.
A Journey Built in Communion
According to Fr. Tiago, the Shalom Community’s Regional Responsible for Europe and coordinator of the foundation process, the arrival in Cologne was preceded by a lengthy period of mutual discernment and collaboration.
“We began a dialogue more than a year ago. During that time, we sent missionaries to become familiar with the Archdiocese, while leaders of the local Church also sought to learn more about our Community, our charism, and our missionary way of life. This process allowed us to discern together how we could collaborate in the evangelization of the German people.”
Fr. Tiago explained that one of the Archdiocese’s principal expectations is for the Community to develop initiatives focused especially on young people.
“The German people are a wonderful people, but like the rest of Europe, they continue to need evangelization and missionaries willing to collaborate in the Church’s mission. That is how we have come: with the missionary zeal and joy that are hallmarks of the Shalom Charism.”
A Warm Welcome from the Church in Cologne
For Michele Magalhães, the mission’s local coordinator, the Archdiocese’s welcome was evident from the Community’s very first days in the city.
“Shortly after arriving in Cologne, we took part in a Eucharistic Congress, where we were able to serve and contribute to the event. For us, this was a powerful sign of the local Church’s desire to welcome us and open new opportunities for evangelization.”
Another significant moment came during the Mass marking the foundation of the mission, when Church leaders expressed their joy at welcoming the Community.
“During the Mass, the archbishop expressed not only his own joy but said that the entire Church of Cologne was celebrating the arrival of a new charism to help proclaim the Gospel to the people.”
According to Michele, the Community will also collaborate with Project Fides, an Archdiocesan initiative that accompanies people seeking to return to the Church or rediscover their faith after a period away.
A City of History, Youth, and Faith
Cologne (Köln in German) is one of Germany’s oldest and most significant cities. Located on the banks of the Rhine River in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, it is home to approximately one million people and is the country’s fourth-largest city.
Founded nearly two thousand years ago by the Romans under the name Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, it became one of the Roman Empire’s principal centers north of the Alps. Its most iconic landmark is Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic architecture.
Even after the devastating bombings of World War II, which destroyed much of the city, the cathedral remained standing, becoming a lasting symbol of Cologne’s history, faith, and identity.
A City with Deep Catholic Roots
Cologne occupies a prominent place in the history of the Catholic Church in Germany and throughout Europe. As the seat of one of the country’s oldest and most influential archdioceses, the city is home to the Shrine of the Three Kings (Dreikönigenschrein), which, according to Christian tradition, houses the relics of the Three Wise Men. During the Middle Ages, this made Cologne one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage destinations.
The city is also remembered for hosting World Youth Day 2005 with Pope Benedict XVI. The gathering brought together hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world and remains a defining moment for the Church in Germany, reinforcing Cologne’s missionary vocation and its important role in proclaiming the Gospel to new generations.
