Würzburger Sonntagsblatt: A year full of anniversary celebrations!

Würzburger Sonntagsblatt: A year full of anniversary celebrations!

On January 6, 2025, the "Würzburg Catholic Sonntagsblatt" celebrates its 175th anniversary. The second oldest church newspaper in Germany can look back on a long tradition, which began in 1850 with the first edition as the "Catholic Sonntagsblatt für Stadt und Land". With the current issue, which appears in Magazinform every two weeks, the history of the sheet is counted further. domradio.de reports that the anniversary celebrations should take place all year round.

A highlight of the celebrations will be a festival service on June 26, which is led by Würzburg's bishop Franz Jung. In addition, reader trips to Croatia and Rome as well as articles on historical topics are planned. The editorial team gives insights into its own work to intensify the connection to readership.

regional importance and appreciation

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) recognizes the magazine for its important role in the region and its function in internal church discourse. Irme Stetter-Karp, President of the Central Committee of Catholics in Germany, also emphasizes the need for the transparency and independence of church media. Benedictine Father Anselm Grün describes the Würzburg Sonntagsblatt as a source of hope that encourages people to stay in the church.

The importance of church media is not only shown in newspapers, but also in the further market of religious literature. According to the German Bishops' Conference, the area of ​​religious topics accounts for around five percent of the annual new publications. These works are primarily published by around 50 Catholic publishers, many of them privately owned. The spread of this literature is increasingly taking place through monastery shops and around 80 Catholic bookstores, which are important sales outlets for religious titles. dbk.de emphasizes that media professionals who represent a value-oriented and Christian image of man can set positive social accents through their commitment.

The role of libraries and volunteer work

An important aspect of church life in Germany is also the work of the Catholic public libraries. With around 3,300 institutions and around 16 million media available, they offer local basic care with literature and information equipment. These libraries are characterized by an annual loan rate of 28 million units and are supported by around 35,000 volunteers. dbk.de explains that the libraries are not only used for education, but also act as communicative places and meeting points in the parishes.

The management of these libraries is carried out by qualified specialists, while the training and further education of the employees of organizations such as the St. Michaelsbund and the Borromäusverein are offered. The close networking of libraries and church institutions helps to promote spiritual life in the communities and to ensure access to important information.