Graz, July 10, 2023 (KAP) The Styrian Episcopal Vicar Heinrich Schnuderl celebrated his farewell as Graz cathedral priest with a festive service. “I’m not saying goodbye to the cathedral, just a responsible task – and with good wishes for my successor,” said Schnuderl, one of the most influential Styrian priests of the past decades, in front of numerous companions. On September 1st, Ewald Pristavec will take over the office of cathedral and Graz city pastor. Schnuderl will remain in downtown Graz as a priest, the Graz-Seckau diocese announced on Monday: “The experience of the multiple award-winning, including ‘citizen of the city of Graz’ and papal honorary prelate, can hardly be replaced.”
The Bishop of Graz, Wilhelm Krautwaschl, was unable to attend the farewell service because of a trip, and his predecessor Egon Kapellari because of a herniated disc. Vicar General Erich Linhardt conveyed their greetings; Former bishop Kapellari paid tribute to Schnuderl in very personal words: “We are both connected by an unmistakable friendship that has grown over decades and has been deepened again and again.” In particular, Kapellari both years as Graz university chaplain and Schnuderl time as vicar general during Kapellari’s tenure. Thanks to the dedication of the departed, the Graz cathedral has “become a shining bridge between the past, present and future”.
Schnuderl, who will be 80 on September 20, announced in a circular in mid-May that he would be retiring as cathedral priest for health reasons. Eight years ago, the episcopal vicar and former vicar general and university chaplain was appointed by diocesan bishop Krautwaschl as the successor to prelate Gottfried Lafer as pastor at the parish and cathedral church of St. Aegidius in Graz. Ewald Pristavec, currently working in the Kindberg and Bruck an der Mur pastoral care rooms, will take up his new post in the cathedral in September.
If not priests, then politicians
After studying at the University of Graz, Heinrich Schnuderl, who was born in Graz, was a university chaplain from 1970 to 1997, first at the Montanuniversität Leoben and then at the University of Graz. During this time he was also the clergyman of the Catholic Action in Styria and Austria. From 2011 to 2015 Schnuderl was Vicar General of the Diocese of Graz-Seckau, from January to June 2015 also diocesan administrator. As episcopal vicar, he is responsible for society, culture, media and science.
The “Kleine Zeitung” voted Schnuderl “Styrian of the Day” at the weekend. In it he announced that he had made the decision to become a priest at the age of 14. As a student chaplain in Leoben, his credo as a priest was strengthened: “Personal contact is the most important thing; without personal contact, pastoral care will be shipwrecked.” Schnuderl told the newspaper about his continued interest in current affairs: “If I hadn’t become a priest, I probably would have ended up in politics.” But: Schnuderl would like to become a priest again today, “you communicate with people on a level that is not business,” he emphasized.
2023-07-10 09:36:43
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