Two new priests for Waldburg: Historical primary after 90 years!

Two new priests for Waldburg: Historical primary after 90 years!

Next Saturday, July 12, 2025, an important event will take place in the St. Magnuskirche in Bad Schussenried: Bishop Klaus Krämer consecrated two men. This is not only a festival for the two new priests, but also a ray of hope in times when the Catholic Church fights with a noticeable lack of young people. Some voices are loud that demands a rethink.

A radiant star on this day is Tim Miller from Waldburg, 31 years old. His primary service, the first service as a consecrated priest, will be celebrated in his home community on Sunday. This is particularly remarkable because it has been the first primary in Waldburg in around 90 years. The celebrations are vividly supported by the population and the local associations and show the connection of the community with its new priest. Miller is no stranger. He has prepared intensively for this task in recent years, including in the seminar in Rottenburg and as a deacon.

a classic and an unconventional path to ordination

The second consecrated priest, Patrick Kurfess, 26 years old, comes from Tomerdingen in the Alb-Donau district. He describes his way to the consecration as "classic" and was active in his home community. From early years as an altar boy to the companion of company groups, he has dealt strongly with the faith. Patrick would like to bring people closer to God through the sacraments and the liturgy in the future. He received special support from his home pastor, who accompanied him on his way.

In contrast to Kurfess, Miller's path to consecration is not quite as straightforward. After graduating from high school, he lived as an au pair in the USA for a year. A different life path emerged with a degree in political and administrative science and international relations in Friedrichshafen. But his own need to integrate theology into his everyday life grew, which ended up taking the decision to become a priest. After an internship at the German embassy at the Holy Chair in Rome, he returned to his home diocese and joined the Rottenburg priest seminar. "The world is beautiful and God is good," he underlines his motivation for the priesthood and the task of connecting people with God.

The lack of priests and the challenges of the future

This consecration is particularly important because the Catholic Church in Germany has been fighting for priestly consecrations for years. This tendency can also be observed in other regions. In 2024 there were only seven new consecrations in the five Catholic dioceses of North Rhine-Westphalia and even only two in East Germany. Over the past few years, the number of consecrated priestly has decreased and presents the church with great challenges.

A survey shows that many young men see marriage and celibacy as a obstacle. Over 70% of them perceive these requirements as a hurdle. Carl Severin Seibert, a 19-year-old who is preparing for studying theology, also spoke about the profession as exciting and versatile. Perspectives and reforms are required for a sustainable solution to the challenges. The need to make the priesthood more attractive is always loud, not only for men, but also for women in church work.

for the region and especially for Waldburg, the primacy of Tim Miller comes a long -awaited event that brings together both the believers and the entire community. Together you will experience that belief offers answers to basic life questions even in difficult times.

Further information can be found at SWR href = "https://www.drs.de/ansicht/artikel/zwei-berufungen-ein-ziel.html"> drs.de and Tagesschau .