Helmut Burkard Vicar General

I am vicar general of the diocese of Graz-Seckau in Austria which numbers approximately one million Catholics and 400 parishes. Right Now my greatest concern is to find priests for parishes and for other pastoral activities. The average age of our priests is around 60 with only a few young priests. There are nights in which I am unable to sleep because of these worries.

Communion with my brothers in focolare and unity with many others, young people and adults, is a great help in this situation. I cannot speak with them about all the problems, but I’m able to carry them because I’m not alone. To know that I am supported by mutual love gives me hope, light and strength.

I try to live in depth the words of St. Peter: “Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you” (Pt 5:7). I try to welcome Jesus crucified in difficult situations, and at the same time to entrust to him all the problems. I always experience anew that God opens unexpected doors and possibilities. This enables me to carry out my ministry with gratitude and often even with joy.

Andreas – seminarian in Graz

My name is Andreas and I’m a seminarian.

Everyone knows about the cases of paedophilia that took place in one of the Austrian seminaries. This year then, to our great surprise, two rectors left the priesthood. All this was a great shock to the Christian people and especially to the seminarians.

I tried to recognize the countenance of Jesus crucified in these events and went ahead, supported by him. I try to live the art of loving in the seminary and to create a family atmosphere. This has brought about a relationship of trust with many.

The relationship with the priests of the Movement is a big gift for me. To know about their problems and to see that their lives are so serene helps me to look to the future with hope.

I began to invite other seminarians to occasionally spend evenings with them. To see them cooking together – including the vicar general and an official of the ecclesiastical court – and to experience the simple and brotherly atmosphere that unites them, was a great surprise for my companions. “What a beautiful evening!” one of them said to me. “I was afraid of the possibility of loneliness and superficial relationships among priests. Tonight all my doubts disappeared.”

Stefan Ulz – spiritual director in the minor seminary of Graz

I’m Stefan Ulz and I’ve been the spiritual director in the minor seminary of Graz for the past seven years. Besides the 90 seminarians, I have been entrusted with the 600 high-school students of the diocese.

Like everywhere else in Austria , we strongly feel the problem of vocations. Rarely, one of our students passes directly to the major seminary. I noted that often they start thinking seriously about their vocation only after they graduate.

Up until now I’ve tried to personally follow the few that showed signs of a calling. But now we would like to propose that they spend a period together with priests who live this spirit of communion. Both the diocesan bishop and the auxiliary agree with this idea.

Not only this, but Willi Krautwaschl, a pastor who lives this spirituality with us, has been appointed rector of the minor seminary and is also in charge of the vocational pastoral program and young priests. This will enable us to an even more intense life of communion and to offer it to future priests.