KLJB Regensburg takes a stand against extremism and elects a new board

KLJB Regensburg takes a stand against extremism and elects a new board

The autumn diocesan meeting of the Catholic Rural Youth Movement (KLJB) from the diocese of Regensburg took place from October 11th to 13th in the picturesque Werdenfels house near Nittendorf. Representatives from different regions came together to discuss important issues and develop new strategies.

The first priority was to process numerous applications that affected diverse aspects of the youth movement. A central concern was the position paper against extremism and anti-Semitism, which the KLJB sees as a clear signal for an open, democratic society. This document was developed to counteract the increasing shift to the right that is evident in today's society.

Innovations and changes to the statutes

Another important item on the agenda was updating the KLJB statutes. A notable change concerns the lowering of the entry age from 14 to 12 years. This decision reflects rural youth's efforts to give younger people the opportunity to actively participate in the community. Associated with this change was also the effort to strengthen the living faith among the young members by integrating volunteers into the groups as “spiritual companions”.

In order to further delve into the weekend's topics, the delegates used Saturday morning to research various renewable energies in a simulation game. There they learned which energy sources - from biogas and photovoltaics to wind and water energy - are best suited for the environment and their own finances. This practical approach promoted awareness of sustainable energy and its use.

New board elected

The afternoon of this productive day was marked by the election of the new board. The rural youth confirmed Christian Liebenstein as pastor and Johannes Theisinger as managing director for another two years. On the other hand, the resignation of Daniela Kirchmeier as diocesan chairwoman left a gap that had to be filled by electing new board members. The team, consisting of Laura Bugl, Sebastian Rückl and Josef Haßlbeck, was elected with a large majority and will soon be actively involved in the management of the diocesan association.

The crowning conclusion of the weekend was the official farewell to Daniela Kirchmeier. Under the motto “Wine instead of crying”, her extraordinary commitment was recognized, while at the same time she was able to remain in the certainty that she will remain an active member of the association in the future.

The gathering in Haus Werdenfels not only took important organizational steps, but also offers an impressive insight into the commitment of young people to a future-oriented community. Additional details about these significant developments are available in the article from bistum-regensburg.de to read.