Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Aachen is one of 22 diocese
s in Germany
. It is also one of 7 dioceses that has a population that is in majority Catholic, in this case 57.6 %. The weekly attendance rate at mass in the Diocese of Aachen is 11.5% of the Catholics in the diocese.
in the north till mountainous area of the Eifel
to the south. Neighboring dioceses are Cologne, Münster, Essen and Trier in Germany, Liège in Belgium
and Roermond
of the Netherlands
.
The diocese is subdivided into 7 regions, which are in turn further subdivided into 538 parish
es.
who was ordained as bishop on 11 February 1995. He is assisted by two auxiliary bishops, Johannes Bündgens
and Karl Borsch
. Furthermore, there are two emeritus
auxiliary bishops, Gerd Dicke and Karl Reger.
The vicar general
is Manfred von Holtum, who was appointed to the post on October 1 1997.
Historically the city of Aachen belonged to the Diocese of Liège, divided by the Archdiocese of Cologne by the Wurm River.
The diocese was first created in 1802, covering the area west of the Rhine formerly belonging to Cologne, as well as parts from the dioceses Liege, Utrecht, Roermond and Mainz. After the first bishop Marc Antoine Berdolet died in 1809, Pope Pius VII didn't approve the successor suggested by Napoleon, Jean Dénis Francois Le Camus. After the end of the French rulership over the area the diocese was abolished by the bull "De salute animarum" of July 16 1821, and included into the archdiocese of Cologne.
On August 13, 1930 by the papal bull "Pastorale officii nostri" the diocese was reerected. Joseph Vogt
was appointed as its first bishop.
, which was built in the year 800 by Charlemagne. It also was the first German world heritage site, inscribed in 1980.
Two churches within the diocese have received the basilica minor title by the pope.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is also one of 7 dioceses that has a population that is in majority Catholic, in this case 57.6 %. The weekly attendance rate at mass in the Diocese of Aachen is 11.5% of the Catholics in the diocese.
Geography
The diocese is located in the west of Germany, extending from the town KrefeldKrefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
in the north till mountainous area of the 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....
to the south. Neighboring dioceses are Cologne, Münster, Essen and Trier in Germany, Liège in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Roermond
Diocese of Roermond
The Diocese of Roermond is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The diocese is one of the seven Roman-Catholic dioceses suffragan to the Archdiocese of Utrecht....
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The diocese is subdivided into 7 regions, which are in turn further subdivided into 538 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es.
- Region Aachen-Stadt (Aachen city)
- Region Düren
- Region Eifel
- Region Heinsberg
- Region Kempen Viersen
- Region Krefeld
- Region Mönchengladbach
Ordinaries
The bishop of Aachen is Heinrich MussinghoffHeinrich 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...
who was ordained as bishop on 11 February 1995. He is assisted by two auxiliary bishops, Johannes Bündgens
Johannes Bündgens
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...
and Karl Borsch
Karl Borsch
Karl Borsch is auxiliary bishop of Aachen.Born in Krefeld, he grew up in Kempen, where he also visited the gymnasium Thomaeum, where he graduated with abitur. 1979-1985 he studied law in Bonn...
. Furthermore, there are two emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
auxiliary bishops, Gerd Dicke and Karl Reger.
The vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
is Manfred von Holtum, who was appointed to the post on October 1 1997.
History
The diocese was first created in 1802, covering the area west of the Rhine formerly belonging to Cologne, as well as parts from the dioceses Liege, Utrecht, Roermond and Mainz. After the first bishop Marc Antoine Berdolet died in 1809, Pope Pius VII didn't approve the successor suggested by Napoleon, Jean Dénis Francois Le Camus. After the end of the French rulership over the area the diocese was abolished by the bull "De salute animarum" of July 16 1821, and included into the archdiocese of Cologne.
On August 13, 1930 by the papal bull "Pastorale officii nostri" the diocese was reerected. Joseph Vogt
Joseph Vogt
Joseph Vogt was a German classical historian, one of the leading 20th century experts on Roman history....
was appointed as its first bishop.
Major Churches
The cathedral of the diocese is the Aachen CathedralAachen 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...
, which was built in the year 800 by Charlemagne. It also was the first German world heritage site, inscribed in 1980.
Two churches within the diocese have received the basilica minor title by the pope.
- Basilica SS. Potentinus, Felicius und Simplicius, Kall-Steinfeld, October 7 1960
- Münster-Basilica St. Vitus, Mönchengladbach, April 25 1973