I was hosted with great warmth and generosity by Bishop Matthias König, Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn, who has visited Sandhurst twice and is well-known to many from the Diocese who have visited Paderborn over the years.  I joined Bishop König at Saturday evening vespers and concelebrated the Vigil Mass in the Cathedral, which is dedicated to Mary, St Liborius and St Kilian.

 

On Sunday, I concelebrated a pilgrimage Mass arranged by the Knights of Malta at the Wallfahrt Church of the Assumption in Werl and then, in the afternoon, attended the installation of a new parish priest in Büren.  In a fortunate coincidence, the new assistant priest in the Büren parish was one of the two Paderborn priests who had been in Australia at the time of my episcopal ordination and had represented the Archdiocese at the ceremony. 

 

On Monday, I had the opportunity to visit the secretariat of the German Bishops’ Conference and meet with some of those coordinating the ‘Synodal Path’ in Germany.  They were very interested to hear about the experience of the recent Plenary Council in Australia.

 

On the final day, I met with the mayor of Paderborn before a tour of the Cathedral and the Archdiocesan seminary.  That evening, I was hosted by the family of Christopher Müller.  Christopher had been working with Sandhurst Youth Ministry for his gap-year when his plans were abruptly interrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

The visit to Paderborn was a very welcome opportunity for me to personally renew the connections that have been built up over the decades with the Archdiocese of Paderborn.  Our Diocese is fortunate to have such strong links in the present with the original home of our earliest priest.

 

Bishop Shane with Bishop Matthias König in Padeborn City Square.

 

October 2022