She looks back gratefully on her intensive active time in the Catholic rectory in Salzstetten. As the head of the acolytes work with sometimes over 60 minis, she has grown fond of many girls and boys. With her special organizational talent, she has prepared and carried out more than 60 camps and three Rome pilgrimages for the minis. “I am happy that the seeds have sprouted,” says today’s jubilarian, adding: “For every hour I spent in Salzstetten, I am grateful that I was allowed to accompany people.”
She succeeded in getting children, young people and young mothers excited about working in the parish. She took on numerous tasks as a parsonage housewife and parish secretary. Holding Bible seminars was one of her favorite pastimes. For many years she was a sought-after speaker, because she has the ability to express theological context in simple words.
She fondly thinks back to her theology studies in Tübingen with Professor Gerhard Lohfink with her favorite subject “New Testament”. Teaching Catholic religion and preparing youth and family services was important to her. She always acted according to her personal motto “Serve one another in love”. She has worked a lot for the parish and for her family. The Catholic parish owes a lot to her.
Born in Sulz am Neckar, the former retail saleswoman counts reading, theater and music to her hobbies. “My three sons were all absorbed in music,” says the 80-year-old. Patrick (1980), Mainz, is an organist, Christian (1982), Loßburg-Lombach, a well-known trumpeter and Martin (1984), Stuttgart, is a drummer. After studying computer science and mathematics, Patrick fulfilled his lifelong dream and explored the world with his partner Anne, a doctor. Today he works creatively as a freelancer. Christian directs the music and art school in Freudenstadt and from October the municipal music school in Nagold. His wife Ashley, an accomplished pianist from the USA, works at the Freudenstadt and Calw music schools and implements a state support program in kindergartens. Martin works as a freelance musician and teaches drums. Her life story was directed “by the good God”, says the theologian.
Shadow of the church tower
The shadow of the church tower shaped her life everywhere. After being admitted as the first woman to the Collegium Ambrosianum in Stuttgart to obtain the university entrance qualification, she passed the Abitur for gifted students with a large Latinum in Freiburg / Breisgau in 1974. She studied Catholic theology at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen. She wrote her diploma thesis in 1980 in theological ethics with Professor Alfons Auer before the Pöndls moved from Tübingen to Salzstetten in September 1981.
Communion courses, children’s nativity plays, caroling campaigns, ecumenical world prayer days and senior afternoons bore her signature. She worked as a lecturer, lecturer, communion helper, liturgical worshiper, lent her voice to the Catholic women’s choir, organized women’s pilgrimages and accompanied Lourdes trips as a travel and pilgrimage guide. For eleven years she was a consultant for the Catholic Education Center.
And what gave the 80-year-old the most joy during her fulfilled activities in Salzstetten? Anneliese Benz-Pöndl says: “To inspire and motivate children, adolescents and young mothers to work in the church community, as well as to guide them to discover their personal talents, to develop and promote them.”
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