- Military Ordinariate of Austria
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Military Ordinariate of Austria
St. George's Cathedral, Burg Wiener NeustadtLocation Territory Austria Ecclesiastical province exempt to the Holy See Population
- Catholics
100 000Information Denomination Roman Catholic Rite Roman Rite Established Military bishopric in 1773
Military vicariate in 1959
Military ordinariate in 1986Cathedral St. George's Cathedral, Wiener Neustadt Current leadership Pope Benedict XVI Bishop Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Austria
Christian Werner
Titular Bishop of Wiener NeustadtVicars General Franz Fahrner Website mildioz.at The Military Ordinariate of Austria (German: Militärseelsorge Österreich, Latin: Ordinariatus Militaris Austriae) is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church.
Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Austrian Armed Forces and their families.
History
The Theresian Military Academy had been founded at the castle of Wiener Neustadt in Austria by Empress Maria Theresa in 1751. Twenty-two years, the empress created the office of military bishop in 1773, and that it was to be held by the bishop of Wiener Neustadt. However, the Diocese of Wiener Neustadt was abolished in 1785 and merged with the Archdiocese of Vienna. The last bishop of Wiener Neustadt, Johann Heinrich von Kerens, became the first bishop of Sankt Pölten. After the First World War, there was a gap over fifty years without any military bishops being appointed.
On 21 February 1959, a military vicariate was established, with Cardinal Franz König, Archbishop of Vienna appointed as the first military vicar. By the apostolic constitution decree "Spirituali militum curae", it was raised to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986.
The current military ordinary is the Most Reverend Christian Werner, who was succeeded the post on 22 February 1994, and also appointed Titular Bishop of Wiener Neustadt on 11 October 1997. The military ordinary has the same status as a diocesan bishop and is a member of the Austrian Episcopal Conference. The military ordinary's seat is located at the Cathedral of St. George (Kathedrale St. Georg) in Wiener Neustadt.
List of office holders
From Until Name Notes Military bishopric 1773 Ferdinand Michael Cyriakus von Hallweil Appointed Military Bishop in 1773; also was Bishop of Wiener Neustadt 1741–1773; died in office on 6 June 1773 1773 1792 Johann Heinrich von Kerens, S.J. Previously Bishop of Roermond 1770–1773; appointed Military Bishop on 6 November 1773; also was Bishop of Wiener Neustadt 1773–1785 and Bishop of Sankt Pölten 1785–1792; died in office on 26 November 1792 1792 1803 See vacant 1803 1815 Godfried Joseph Crüts van Creits Appointed Military Bishop on 28 July 1803; also was Bishop of Sankt Pölten 1806–1815; died in office on 5 April 1815 1815 1826 Joseph Chrysostomus Pauer Appointed Military Bishop on 24 April 1815; also was Titular Bishop of Dulma 1815–1823; translated to the Diocese of Sankt Pölten on 10 November 1823 1823 1833 See vacant 1833 1835 Michael Johann Wagner Appointed and Military Bishop on 27 April 1833; also was Titular Bishop of Belgrado e Semendria o Smederevo 1833–1835; translated to the Diocese of Sankt Pölten on 16 November 1835 1835 1863 Johann Michael Leonhard Previously Bishop of Sankt Pölten; appointed Military Bishop on 19 November 1835; also appointed Titular Bishop of Diocletianopolis in Palaestina on 1 February 1836; died in office on 19 January 1863 1863 1875 Dominik Mayer Appointed Military Bishop on 1 October 1863; also was Titular Bishop of Cisamus 1863–1875; died in office on 4 May 1875 1875 1878 See vacant 1878 1890 Anton Josef Gruscha Appointed and Military Bishop on 19 January 1878; also was Titular Bishop of Carrhae 1878–1890; ordained bishop on 28 April 1878; translated to the Archdiocese of Vienna on 24 January 1890 1890 1911 Koloman Belepotoczky Appointed Military Bishop on 22 July 1890; also was Titular Bishop of Tricale 1890–1914; ordained bishop on 5 October 1890; resigned as Military Bishop on 1 June 1911; died on 15 December 1914 1911 1913 See vacant 1913 1918 Emmerich Bjelik Appointed Military Bishop on 8 January 1913; also was Titular Bishop of Thasus 1913–1927; ordained bishop on 22 February 1913; resigned as Military Bishop on 11 November 1918; died on 9 May 1927 1918 1959 See vacant Military vicariate 1959 1969 Cardinal Franz König Appointed Military Vicar on 21 February 1959; also was Archbishop of Vienna 1956–1985; resigned as Military Vicar on 7 May 1969 1969 1985 Franz Žak Appointed Military Bishop on 8 May 1969; also was Bishop of Sankt Pölten 1961–1991; resigned as Military Vicar on 27 September 1985 Military ordinariate 1986 1990 See vacant 1990 1994 Alfred Kostelecky Previously Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna and Titular Bishop of Aggar 1986–1990; appointed Military Ordinary on 10 February 1990; also was Titular Bishop of Wiener Neustadt 1990–1994; died in office on 22 February 1994 1994 Present Christian Werner Appointed Coadjuator Bishop of the Military Ordinariate and Titular Bishop of Aeca on 9 January 1992; consecrated bishop on 2 February 1992; succeeded Military Ordinary on 22 February 1994; also appointed Titular Bishop of Wiener Neustadt on 11 October 1997 References
- Katholische Militärseelsorge Österreich (Official website, in German)
- Military Ordinariate of Austria (Catholic-Hierarchy)
- Military Ordinariate of Katholische Militärseelsorge (Austria) (Giga-Catholic)
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Categories:- Military of Austria
- Military of Austria-Hungary
- Roman Catholic dioceses in Austria
- Roman Catholic Military Ordinariates
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