“To remain faithful in darkness to what we have seen in the light,” says Roman Catholic priest René Václav Strouhal from the village of Moutnice near Brno in reflection. He gave his Christmas gift to his parishioners well in advance – on May 8 – when a unique chapel was consecrated in Nesvačilka village near Brno, a project he made possible.
Are you pleased that you managed to build the chapel and complete this project after so many years?
Certainly. The Chapel in Nesvačilka has attracted significant interest from fans of sacral architecture, Christians, atheists, locals, and visitors from abroad. It is perceived as a contribution to the nation‘s spiritual and cultural heritage. For believers, it is primarily a place built in honor of God and the Virgin Mary. For local parishioners and residents, the chapel fulfills a long-standing dream – back in 1920, a foundation for its construction was established, along with a corresponding bank account. While the account book disappeared with the advent of communism, the dreams did not. This chapel, largely crafted by hand using medieval techniques combined with elements of modern architecture, took ten years of my life – not counting the preceding years of protracted bureaucratic processes. I am delighted that we succeeded in building this sacred structure, dedicated to God and Mary and bringing joy to people. We are now continuing with additional elements, such as an organ for the interior and outdoor stone Stations of the Cross, recalling Christ‘s painful journey to his crucifixion.
How will you celebrate the Advent period?
Advent preparations begin with the blessing of Advent wreaths. During mass on the first Sunday of Advent, people bring their beautiful, creative wreaths to be blessed. There‘s a quiet, joyful spirit within them in this lovely season of Advent. This time also includes gatherings where children meet St. Nicholas. Dedicated parish women prepare packages that Nicholas distributes to the children, accompanied by angels who also need to be rounded up. The St. Nicholas gift-giving in the church delights both children and their parents and they very much look forward to it. Rorate Masses are also a hallmark of our Advent season.
What are Rorate Masses?
Children and adults gather early in the morning for masses in honor of the Virgin Mary, during which the words “Rorate coeli” – meaning, “Drop down dew, ye heavens” – are sung, echoing the Old Testament‘s plea for Chris§ts coming. These services begin with a procession of lanterns or candles and are sometimes partially celebrated in a dark church lit only with candles. In today‘s world of artificial lights, adverts, and noise, this quiet time can be essential for some. It fosters the much-needed ability to anticipate, rejoice, and marvel.
What do the individual candles on the Advent wreath signify?
Everything on the wreath has deeper meaning. Its circular shape symbolizes God‘s eternity for the Christians, as it has no beginning or end. The green branches of evergreens represent life, pointing to Christ, who triumphed over evil and death. The four candles – three purple and one pink – symbolize the four weeks of Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas. Each week, another candle is lit, with the growing light reminding us of the approaching birth of the Light.
Do the candle colors also hold symbolic significance?
Yes, they do. The purple candles (and ribbons) emphasize penitence and introspection, while the pink candle, the more joyful one, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. Beyond the liturgical meanings, there are other interpretations, such as naming the candles: the first as the prophet‘s candle, the second as the candle of Bethlehem, the third as the shepherd‘s, and the fourth as the angel‘s candle. Another naming tradition identifies them as hope, love, joy, and peace.
Do you have your own nativity scene in Moutnice?
Yes, like in other churches, we have a nativity scene, set up just before Christmas Eve. The children eagerly place the figurines, from Mary and Joseph to shepherds and even the sheep. It makes them happy. And the adults then rearrange things a little. The baby Jesus figurine is carried in a procession during the Christmas Mass and placed in the manger as part of the liturgy. Until then, the nativity scene feels incomplete; Christ gives it its true meaning. A picture for the seeker, so to speak. On Epiphany, we add the Wise Men and their entourage, including a camel and an elephant. The dark-skinned Wise Man symbolizes the fact that Jesus was visited by the representatives of various nations and ethnicities and that he was born for everyone in the world.
What does Advent mean to you personally?
Advent is a time of pleasant anticipation for me – awaiting the opening of something beautiful within us that we experience at Christmas. Despite the commercial clutter, we still sense the uniqueness of this season. Its essence is a message, not seasonal consumerism. For me, the waiting of Advent is essential. Beautiful things are beautiful precisely because they take time. While others are bustling before Christmas, I strive to “listen to the silence” and reflect on life‘s vertical dimension, so I can offer these insights in my Christmas sermons. A priest is expected to listen in prayer, to have personal experience with God while remaining grounded in earthly life.
How should people approach Advent?
Advent provides a four-week opportunity not just to prepare gifts and festive meals but also to prepare one‘s heart. This makes everything more beautiful. It‘s a chance to work on bad habits and mend relationships with others and with God. Forgiveness and restored relationships are the greatest gifts. At Christmas, the best present often is time spent with loved ones. For believers, the Christmas liturgies and church atmosphere are especially uplifting.
Confessions also take place during Advent. After so many years of hearing people‘s stories, how does it affect you?
It influences me both professionally and personally. As a priest, it deepens my understanding of human nature; as a person, it teaches me greater empathy and compassion. For instance, when I see how evil harms and destroys a person and their surroundings. A confessor doesn‘t have to experience everything in the same way, just as a doctor doesn‘t go through every illness their patients might have. Confession is a gift for the soul – it makes you feel good and content, like when you‘ve tidied your home. Leading up to Christmas, many people clean not just their homes but their inner selves as well.
And we‘ve come to Christmas Eve and the Midnight Mass. How do those make you feel?
The church exudes a festive, peaceful atmosphere on this day that extends beyond its walls. During the Midnight Mass, I focus on what message I want to convey to uplift the people present. I also feel gratitude – for having reached another Christmas and for the gift of Christ‘s birth.
What does your personal Christmas Eve look like?
A priest has little free time at Christmas, as he serves others and cannot always observe family traditions. On Christmas Eve, I bring the Light of Bethlehem, which attendees take to their homes, prepare sermons for the festive masses, and usually wrap gifts for parish children, family, and friends. After the family- oriented mass, I have dinner with my loved ones, exchange gifts, and enjoy their company. Then I prepare for the next day‘s services.
NESVAČILKA CHAPEL
The chapel emerges from God‘s nature – with compacted soil at its base, a stone at its center, and wood rising upward under a stream of light from above. The stones in the three-meter base symbolize the burden of earthly life. They resemble people – small, large, a diverse community. Above them rises a 17-meter laminated structure made of fir wood, joined with oak wedges and consisting of 1,000 individual lamellae. The lamellar structure‘s casing features 55 windows, evoking the mantle of Mary‘s tears. The central stability is ensured by seven hand-carved 15-meter beams, one of which is pierced by a vertical beam, together forming a large cross above the chancel. This cross bears a message of redemption and God‘s love for humanity. The roof is shaped like an egg, symbolizing new life and resurrection, much like the Easter symbol. A window in the center of the roof serves as a passageway to heaven. The light streaming through it into the chapel, as the biological condition of life on our planet, points to Jesus, who declared Himself the Light of the world. The exterior is adorned with larch wood. The surroundings of the chapel will feature an outdoor altar and include an avenue of trees, an orchard, and Stations of the Cross.
CV BOX
René Strouhal (born April 22, 1977, in Vyškov) is a Roman Catholic priest.
He serves as a parish priest on the outskirts of Brno in the villages of Moutnice and Nesvačilka, where he succeeded in building the filial church of Our Lady of Sorrows (commonly known as the Nesvačilka Chapel).
He is also active as a prison chaplain in the prisons of Rapotice and Brno, as well as an academic and researcher. He works as an external lecturer at the Masaryk University in Brno Faculty of Social Studies, Jan Amos Komenský University in Prague, and Ambis University in Brno. He holds three doctorates - in pedagogy, adult education, and social work.
In 2003, he has ordained a deacon and served in Znojmo. He received priestly ordination in 2004 in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Brno. He worked as a chaplain at the Diocese Youth Life Center in Osová Bítýška and has been the parish priest in Moutnice since 2007.
He collaborates with the media to raise awareness of church life and is the author of commentaries and essays in various magazines. As a supporter of families, he is a devotee of St. Zdislava, whom he regularly makes pilgrimages to in the town of Jablonné v Podještědí. He enjoys traveling, reading, and science. His companion is Lara, a German shepherd.
