New Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Freitag in the Graz Cathedral!

New Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Freitag in the Graz Cathedral!

Graz, Österreich - On May 1, 2025, Johannes Freitag, 52 years old, was consecrated to auxiliary bishop in the Graz Cathedral. The ceremony was led by the Graz diocesan bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl, supported by Salzburg Archbishop Franz Lackner and military bishop Werner Freistetter. Over a dozen bishops and more than a hundred priests from the Graz-Seckau diocese and various Styrian religious communities were welcomed in this solemn establishment. Numerous representatives from politics and society were also present, which underlined the importance of this event. ots reports .

The consecration took place as part of a liturgy, in which the laying of hands - an essential part of the apostolic succession - played a central role. In his sermon, Bishop Krautwaschl encouraged that the church should progress together according to the words of Pope Francis. Friday will work as a "bishop's vicar for synodality" and bears the episcopal motto "The joy of the Lord is your strength", taken from the book Nehemia (Nehemia 8:10). This shows on Fridays to spread the joy and strength of faith in its new role. Nön continues .

a new auxiliary bishop for Styria

Johannes Freitag, the 15th active bishop in Austria, explained after the appointment that she was initially surprising for him. He had not expected to be appointed auxiliary bishop, and initially thought it was a joke. The appointment came at the request of Bishop Krautwaschl, who was looking for support for the increased exchange with the community. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana had searched for suitable candidates, and Pope Francis finally blessed the appointment on Fridays. katholisch.at supplements .

Friday was born in Knittelfeld in 1972 and was baptized in the parish church of Lind. His priestly career began in 1999 as a deacon, followed by the ordination in 2000. His previous stations include, among other things, as a chaplain and pastor as well as as a head in the pastor "on Eisenstrasse". He was also a military pastor and accompanied broadcasting and television broadcasts from services. It is worth noting that Friday also has an MBA degree from the Vienna University of Economic Affairs and has been working in various church offices for years, including as a pastoral office manager. NÖN offers more background information .

celebrations and musical accompaniment

The consecration celebration, which started at 10 a.m., was transferred live to ORF III and Radio Maria. Dom music Graz under the direction of Melissa Dermastia took over the musical accompaniment. The highlights of the ceremony were the handover of the episcopal insignia designed by the sculptor Manuel Egger-Budemair. Among the presented insignia was the bishop's rings, which was presented by Caritas President Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler, as well as the bishop's staff, which was handed over by Vikar Mathew Joseph. The mitra received on Friday from a representative of the synodal process in the diocese of Graz-Seckau. katholisch.at documents the process of Celebrations .

The ordination took place not only on a symbolic date, the consecration day of the Graz Domes, but also in front of an almost full audience, since only a few places were available in the cathedral and the neighboring mausoleum. Registered guests were invited to take part in an Agape in the courtyard of the priest seminar, which strengthened the community and the exchange in the sense of the ceremony.