Bishop Glettler celebrates 60th birthday with art auction for people in need

Bishop Glettler celebrates 60th birthday with art auction for people in need

The Innsbruck Bishop Hermann Glettler celebrated his 60th birthday on January 8th - not private, but with an impressive benefit event in the St. Michael education house. The occasion was an art auction, which brought in a whopping 24,800 euros for charitable purposes from Caritas. The entire proceeds are evenly distributed to two important projects: the "Haus Sabine" in Armenia, which offers childcare for needy children around the clock, as well as support offers for single parents in Tyrol, who are offset by special financial challenges. Bishop Glettler, who has headed the Innsbruck diocese since 2017, used the auction to offer its own works of art, including series such as "CrossFit" and "Paint Again!"

In a further sign of his commitment to art and charity, Glettler explained: "With my artistic work, I try to achieve people's inner rooms." His works were not only estimated in the auction, but also exhibited in the newly opened Sankt-Hedwigs-Cathedral in Berlin. The artist, who is known for his creative approach, also personally visited the “Haus Sabine” project in May 2024 and wanted to donate hope and courage to the children there. Caritas director Elisabeth Rathgeb and project officer Elisabeth Haun recognized the commitment of the bishop and raised: "Thanks to this initiative, we can help people in need and open up new perspectives," as well as on dibk is.

symbolism and commitment

Bishop Glettler, which is rooted between Innsbruck and Graz, carries unmistakable symbols of both cities on his coat of arms. The clock on the Graz clock tower points to ten to twelve - an urgent indication of how important it is to follow the call of God. Based on its leitmotif, the episcopal blessing in his coat of arms symbolizes the concern, faith and charity. With the motto "Euntes Curate et Praedicate", he encourages active participation in the service of people, which is also impressively underlined by its annual events, such as the current auction.