Johannes Bündgens
Encyclopedia
Johannes Bündgens is auxiliary bishop
of Aachen
.
Born in Eschweiler
, he applied to become a priest after graduation in school in 1974. After studying theology and philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome, he was ordained a priest on October 10 1980. From 1981-85 he worked as chaplain
at the St. Cornelius parish, Viersen
-Dülken. He then worked at the Gregorian University, until he graduated as Doctor of Theology
in 1990.
Returning to his home diocese, he then worked in the general vicariate, as well as being subsidiar of the parishes Aachen
-Kornelimünster and Venwegen.
In 1992 he became spiritual advisor at the Collegium Leoninum seminary
in Bonn
, 1997 also spiritual for the diacons.
In 2002 he was appointed as priest for several parishes in Heimbach
(Eifel
), he also worked in the diocese for the beatification
of Heinrich Hahn.
On March 15 2006 he was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Aachen and titular bishop
of Árd Carna. He was ordained on May 20 by Heinrich Mussinghoff
in the Aachen Cathedral
.
leaf above and below the knot also symbolizes the connection with Ireland, as well as his ancestry of farmers. The colors blue and golden were chosen as the colors of his hometown Eschweiler.
The slogan of Bishop Bündgens is Mysterium magnum Ecclesia (This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church), taken from Epistle to the Ephesians
(5:32).
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
.
Born in Eschweiler
Eschweiler
Eschweiler is a municipality in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the German-Belgian-Dutch frontier, and about 15 km east of Aachen and 50 km west of Cologne.- History :...
, he applied to become a priest after graduation in school in 1974. After studying theology and philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome, he was ordained a priest on October 10 1980. From 1981-85 he worked as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at the St. Cornelius parish, Viersen
Viersen
Viersen is the capital of the district of Viersen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Viersen is situated approximately 8 km north-west of Mönchengladbach, 15 km south-west of Krefeld and 20 km east of Venlo ....
-Dülken. He then worked at the Gregorian University, until he graduated as Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
in 1990.
Returning to his home diocese, he then worked in the general vicariate, as well as being subsidiar of the parishes Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
-Kornelimünster and Venwegen.
In 1992 he became spiritual advisor at the Collegium Leoninum seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, 1997 also spiritual for the diacons.
In 2002 he was appointed as priest for several parishes in Heimbach
Heimbach
Heimbach is a town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Rur, in the Eifel hills, approx. 20 km south of Düren. Heimbach is the city with the smallest number of residents in North Rhine-Westphalia...
(Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
), he also worked in the diocese for the beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
of Heinrich Hahn.
On March 15 2006 he was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Aachen and titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Árd Carna. He was ordained on May 20 by Heinrich Mussinghoff
Heinrich Mussinghoff
Most Reverend Dr. Heinrich Mussinghoff is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Aachen, Germany.Born in Osterwick in northwestern Westphalia, he studied philosophy and theology in Münster and Freiburg. 1968 he was consecrated as priest in Münster by Bishop Joseph Höffner...
in the Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" , is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages...
.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of Johannes Bündgens is based on the coat of arms of the diocese of Aachen, a black cross on a golden shield. The inner blue shield displays a golden "love knot" in the middle, symbolizing the love between God and men. It is also an allusion to his family name, which relates to the word bonding. It also looks similar to celtic ornamentic plaits, which connects the coat of arms to his titular diocese of Árd Carna in Ireland. A golden trefoilClover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
leaf above and below the knot also symbolizes the connection with Ireland, as well as his ancestry of farmers. The colors blue and golden were chosen as the colors of his hometown Eschweiler.
The slogan of Bishop Bündgens is Mysterium magnum Ecclesia (This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church), taken from Epistle to the Ephesians
Epistle to the Ephesians
The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, often shortened to Ephesians, is the tenth book of the New Testament. Its authorship has traditionally been credited to Paul, but it is considered by some scholars to be "deutero-Pauline," that is, written in Paul's name by a later author strongly influenced by...
(5:32).
Resources
- Biography at the Diocese of Aachen (German)