Bishop's visit to Fulda

Report: Student teachers, student and research assistants and professors visited Bishop Heinz Josef Algermissen in Fulda on June 28, 2017.

On June 28, at the end of the summer semester, 40 student teachers, staff and professors of the Institute of Catholic Theology visited Bishop Heinz Josef Algermissen in Fulda. Such a meeting, which is dedicated to the exchange about current social and church-political questions and especially focuses on the situation of future teachers of religion, takes place every two years. In the discussion, the students showed themselves to be highly motivated to show future children and young people their face of the Church. The acquisition of religious competence plays a central role in the study of Catholic theology. It is a matter of bringing the potential of the Christian faith, for example the power of contradiction against violence, exclusion and poverty, into the social debates, especially in view of the current social situation.

Also addressed were students' fears for the future of not being able to get a job as a teacher after graduation, despite the local need. "Step on the toes of those responsible in the Ministry of Culture when it comes to religious education." Student Martin Bartsch, addressing Bishop Heinz Josef Algermissen, also cited the reason for his request: "We reach children and young people who otherwise have no ties to the church. We are often the first port of call." Bishop Algermissen agreed with him, "In you, people discover the church. You give the church a face." Church reforms, for example regarding allowing married priests, were also addressed by the students in order to better meet the current signs of the times. Bishop Algermissen pointed out to the students the special situation and challenges of a world church in which cooperation must be shaped and differences must be endured.

The meeting started with a very personal service in St. Michael's Church. Afterwards, in the Auditorium maximum of the Faculty of Theology, the one-hour intensive conversation took place. Afterwards the students visited the cathedral of Fulda and had a guided tour through the library of the seminary.