Pseudo-clerical spiritual elites in Linz

An account has been published in the Diocesan newspaper.

Commissioning ceremony for about 100 spiritual companions in Schloss Puchberg

Many of the more than 100 men and women from across Upper Austria, who for years have been making their own way of spirituality but also have undergone in the Diocese (Catholic Educational Institute) training as a spiritual companions, Lenten companions, director of retreats in everyday life, mourning companions, meditation directors or pilgrimage companions gathered on Friday 15 2008 at Schloss Puchberg and experienced an emotional commissioning ceremony.

Pastoral director, Willi Vieböck official called the spiritual companions in his address a "a God experience at first-hand" in reference to the Bishop's Lenten Pastoral Letter and Bishop Dr. Ludwig Schwarz sees in them a as "hopeful tree with a lot of fruit".

Bishop Schwarz blessed the spiritual companions in a commissioning ceremony and presented each and everyone with a gift of an icon of Christ.

The training took place in European monastery of Gut Aich

Father Johannes Pausch, founder of the European monastery of Gut Aich, where the training for the spiritual companions and the meditation companions took place, showed clearly in his speech that one must have an ear for the other. So that one can be firmly grounded and to take one own steps, one needs to be aware of others.

Gabriela Broksch as coordinator of the spiritual network

and Susanne Gross as head of the Office of Spirituality led the program and received as a gift from P. Johannes Pausch a "Crook of an Abbess ."

"Civilisation of plenty"
It was loud and clear that this festival was a gathering of many people, who in their different ways are going in one direction: in our time of "a civilisation of plenty" to be there for other people in their search for meaning in life and strength in borderline situations, in their search for God.