Markus Schöbi: the priest with a dual calling
Markus Schöbi, priest at the Magdenau pastoral care unit in Flawil, lives an unusual double life – for two weeks of every year, he swaps his stole for robust work clothes to become a task specialist with Air Zermatt. As a 61-year-old Catholic priest who also trained as a nurse, this arrangement allows him to live out his second calling. His time in Zermatt not just offers him a change of pace, but also a source of strength – physically, mentally and emotionally.
Markus Schöbi’s journey with Air Zermatt began 20 years ago when he completed an internship in the ambulance service as part of his nursing training. “Back then, the ambulance work could be pretty quiet,” he recalls, “and I was able to help out with the task specialists. One thing led to another...” This was the beginning of a passion that is still going strong today
A childhood dream
Markus Schöbi has dreamed about helicopter flying ever since he was a child. But what really captivated him over the years wasn’t just his fascination with technology or flying, but working with the people who fly and operate these machines. “It’s the teamwork that inspires me. We don’t waste time philosophizing, we just get the job done. The people I work with are completely down to earth, and that’s exactly what grounds me.”
The closeness he experiences to others in his role as a task specialist often differs from his work in the parish. “Here you experience people’s problems firsthand, but in the parish you don’t always have that closeness,” he explains. Schöbi believes that his work with Air Zermatt also benefits the team. “Quiet moments often lead to deep conversations with colleagues about life issues, and I always have an open ear.”
From prayer to concrete casting
His work as a task specialist goes well beyond the theoretical. Schöbi is a fully fledged member of the team, and lends a hand wherever he’s needed. “I attach loads, and I’ve even helped to build avalanche barriers and cast concrete,” he says proudly. He often ends up outside his comfort zone, taking on physical challenges that may seem unexpected to many.
“When I’m with Air Zermatt, I’m physically more tired in the evening than after a day in the parish,” admits Schöbi. “I often have some really sore muscles on the second day of work.” But for him, this physical exhaustion is a welcome experience that shows him he still has plenty of strength and energy. “The physical work is good for me, and I can also recharge my batteries mentally,” he emphasizes.
Each year, Markus Schöbi devotes vacation time to these two weeks with Air Zermatt. For him, however, it’s not really a “sacrifice” as such. “This work gives me back more than it takes. It really is enriching,” he says. His parishioners are all well-accustomed to their somewhat unconventional priest. “I also spend one day a week working as a home-care nurse, for example. When people find out I work for Air Zermatt as a task specialist, they just smile and say ‘typical Schöbi’,” he adds with a grin.
Profound thoughts at lofty heights
Alongside the physical and mental challenges, there’s also the pastoral aspect. Markus Schöbi has even found solace and deep insight during challenging operations involving the recovery of bodies. “I’ve also incorporated the impressions I gather from these experiences into my sermons,” he explains. The unpredictability of life is a central theme for him: “Life can change completely in a matter of minutes. And this is a truth that is made very clear to me here.”
Schöbi’s double life as a priest and task specialist never fails to bring him into contact with extremes – both spiritually and practically. While building avalanche barriers or getting involved in emotional conversations with the team, for example, Markus Schöbi shifts seamlessly between heaven and earth, ensuring stability for both himself and others in the process.
For him, it’s cIear that these two weeks with Air Zermatt are much more than just a time out from everyday life. They are a key component of his calling, both as a priest and as a person.
