The members of the allocation committee of the Diaspora Commissariat (top from left): Prelate Alfons Hardt, Chairman of the Diaspora Commissariat (Paderborn), Monsignor Georg Austen (Secretary General of the Bonifatiuswerk and Managing Director of the Diaspora Commissariat), Dean Carsten Menges (Lüneburg), Vicar General Ulrich Beckwermert (Osnabrück) and (below from left) Spiritual Counselor Prof. Dr. Thomas Schwartz (Renovabis), Canon Thomas Renze (Fulda), Pastor Dr. Michael Müller (Hünfeld) and Pastor Ludger Hojenski (Dortmund). © Matthew Band
30 January 2023
Diaspora Commissariat of German Bishops awards funding for 2023
Paderborn/Dresden. Catholic priests in Germany donate one percent of their salary every month to support priests and deacons in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe. With these funds, the Diaspora Commissariat of the German bishops supports financially weak diaspora dioceses – this year with 5.2 million euros. The funds are used for salary support as well as for transport and building aid for the priests and deacons working in pastoral care.
“With the support from Germany, the priests are sending a clear signal of solidarity. Catholics in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe are a numerical minority in most countries. The signal that they are not alone and can count on our help is all the more important. We are united with them in prayer and solidarity. Their testimony of faith and their example of universal church community are role models for us,” says the managing director of the Diaspora Commissariat, Monsignor Georg Austen. The pastoral workers in particular got involved under “extremely difficult and financially challenging conditions”.
Sign of international solidarity
The Diaspora Commissariat supports the dioceses in northern Europe with around 4.4 million euros. These funds are divided between salary supports, construction projects and the purchase of vehicles. Around 2.5 million euros will be made available for the salaries of the priests. The construction and maintenance of priests’ apartments will be funded with 1.6 million euros. 350,000 euros are available for the purchase of vehicles, which the priests urgently need in their large communities in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. In Central and Eastern Europe, the Diaspora Commissariat provides salary support for priests and deacons in the amount of 660,000 euros.
Since 2014, the approved project aid, such as salary support, transport aid and building aid, has been earmarked via the Bonifatiuswerk of German Catholics. The funds are allocated by an allocation committee made up of representatives of the bishops of Paderborn, Fulda and Osnabrück, the working group of priests’ councils, the Eastern European aid organization Renovabis and the Bonifatiuswerk. The management and administration of the Diaspora Commissariat cooperate with the Bonifatiuswerk, so that ongoing project support is guaranteed. The allocation committee is chaired by the former vicar general of the Archbishop of Paderborn, Prelate Alfons Hardt. “The financial help is a strong sign of transnational solidarity,” says Prelate Hardt and thanks all priests for their valuable support.