Time to spend more time with female friend- Father Faber to be finally forced out next year
Archdiocese of Vienna confirms retirement of Cathedral Parish Priest Faber
Diocesan spokesman Prüller: Archbishop and Cathedral Parish Priest reached an agreement "on good terms" – Faber to retire on 31 August 2027 – Selection process for Faber's successor begins
The Archdiocese of Vienna confirmed to Kathpress on Friday that Archbishop Josef Grünwidl and Cathedral Parish Priest Toni Faber have reached an agreement "on good terms," including the details regarding Faber's future path. Accordingly, he will retire as Cathedral Parish Priest on 31 August 2027. This marks the start of the selection process for Faber's successor, with the new incumbent set to take office on September 1, 2027, according to diocesan spokesman Michael Prüller. Prüller further noted that, even after his retirement, Toni Faber would remain an "active priest and pastoral caregiver within the challenging environment of city-centre ministry." He would also be "free to dedicate himself to new tasks beyond that."
The diocesan spokesman was responding to a report by the newspaper *Die Presse* and other media outlets based on a recent letter Faber sent to his staff; in it, he announced his retirement date while also preparing them for an upcoming, intensive year of collaborative work. Additionally, he is expected to move later this year from his apartment in the Curhaus at Stephansplatz to a nearby apartment owned by the Cathedral Chapter that is better suited for his age. A Record-Breaking 30-Year Tenure
As early as May 23, Archbishop Josef Grünwidl confirmed on the Ö1 radio program *Mittagsjournal* that the position of parish priest at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna would be filled by a new appointee in the summer of 2027. Grünwidl cited the long tenure of the current cathedral parish priest, Toni Faber, and the fact that he will reach retirement age next year as key reasons for the change. "In the history of the cathedral parish, no one has held this office for 30 years," Grünwidl said, noting that Faber had thereby "set a record."
Faber has served the cathedral parish since 1997; on January 1, 1999, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn appointed him as the parish priest of St. Stephen's. At the same time, the Archbishop emphasized back in May that this move did not signify Faber’s withdrawal from pastoral care or from St. Stephen's Square, and that he greatly valued Faber's service.
Faber (64) is well-known across Austria for his significant media presence and his extensive pastoral contributions. Recently, however, there have been debates—some played out in the media—regarding Faber's lifestyle and his public appearances in the company of women.
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