Wolfgang Rösch

Wolfgang Rösch

Portrait, 2012
Born (1959-08-25) 25 August 1959
Wiesbaden, Germany
Education
Occupation Catholic priest
Years active

Wolfgang Rösch (born 25 August 1959) is a German Catholic priest. He was from 2010 to 2013 Dean of Wiesbaden at the parish St. Bonifatius. From 23 October 2013 he has been vicar general of the Diocese of Limburg, also administering the diocese during the absence of the bishop.

Career

Born in Wiesbaden,[1] Rösch grew up in Erbach, Rheingau as one of four brothers.[2] He first studied mechanical engineering for five years[3] at the Technische Universität Darmstadt.[4] A month after completing his studies[4] he began to study philosophy and theology[2] at the Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt, later at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.[5] He was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1990 by Karl Lehmann.[2]

His first positions were as Kaplan (assisting minister) in Wetzlar and Hadamar.[2] He led the office Diözesanstelle Berufe der Kirche of the Diocese of Limburg. In 1997 he succeeded Thomas Löhr as Regens (director) of the Priesterseminar Limburg (seminary for candidates for the priesthood).[2][3] In 2003 bishop Franz Kamphaus made him minister of the parishes of Königstein and Kronberg.[2]

Rösch (left) celebrating mass in St. Bonifatius on 27 October 2013
Limburg Cathedral

From 2010 to 2013, Rösch was Catholic dean of the city of Wiesbaden and minister of St. Bonifatius,[3] He managed in 2012 the union of eight parishes to a larger parish (Pastoraler Raum, literally: pastoral space).[6] He was also at the same time president of the Wiesbaden chapter of Caritas.

He succeeded Franz Kaspar as general vicar of Limburg from 23 October 2013, not only assisting the bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst as originally planned[7] but leading the diocese while the bishop is suspended by the Vatican.[1][8][9] Vatican Radio published: "Vicar General Rösch will administer the diocese of Limburg during the absence of the diocesan bishop, within the sphere of competence associated with this office".[10] At a press conference in Limburg, he spoke about plans for personal meetings to re-establish trust, admitting that it is difficult. ("Es ist immer schwer, verlorenes Vertrauen zurückzugewinnen.") He stated that whatever the investigation commission will reveal, there will be no winner. ("Egal wie es ausgeht, es wird keinen Sieger geben.") He described himself as "eher ein Mann der zweiten Reihe, ein Mann, der den direkten Kontakt suche, ein Mann der Demut" (rather a man in the second row, a man who seeks direct contact, a man of humility").[11]

A farewell service was held in Wiesbaden on 12 January 2014, attended by 1,200 people. Rösch invited participants not to concentrate on what is missing but rely on creative energy ("kreative Kraft") and hope.[5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 Röhn, Tim (30 October 2013). "Limburg-Kommission prüft noch bis nächstes Jahr". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Neuer Generalvikar übernimmt" (in German). Hessischer Rundfunk. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Scheuplein, Isabell (23 October 2013). "Roms neuer Statthalter in Limburg". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 Buschlinger, Gaby (5 November 2013). "Vom Zeichenbrett an den Altar". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 Fiedler, Ute (8 January 2014). "Nachfolger von Tebartz-van Elst "Die Entscheidung liegt beim Papst"". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Zuversicht, Großzügigkeit und gute Spaghetti / Herzlicher Abschied von Wolfgang Rösch in Wiesbaden" (in German). Diocese of Limburg. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Wechsel im Amt des Generalvikars / Bischof dankt Dr. Kaspar für segensreiches Wirken" (in German). Diocese of Limburg. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Pressemitteilung des Heiligen Stuhls insichtlich der Diözese Limburg Deutschland), 23.10.2013" (in German). Vatican. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Pope Francis temporarily suspends German 'luxury' bishop". Deutsche Welle. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Limburg Bishop to stay outside of Diocese for now". Vatican Radio. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Hegemann, Lisa (30 October 2013). "Tebartz-van Elst-Nachfolger Wolfgang Rösch / "Ich bin kein Erlöser der Diözese"". Handelsblatt (in German). Retrieved 15 January 2014.
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