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Why Tobias Schmitt is now working as a theologian in the monastery

2021-10-19T12:10:50.871Z


Peißenberg - Tobias Schmitt actually wanted to stay in Peißenberg for another year to complete his training as a pastoral consultant in the Peißenberg-Forst parish community, but the 27-year-old changed his plans: since September he has been working as a theologian in Ettal Abbey, where he was nine years ago graduated from high school. Together with Father Sebastian Fischer OSB, he leads the all-day care of the boarding school and is building a youth and education center. In an interview, he explains how this came about.


Peißenberg - Tobias Schmitt actually wanted to stay in Peißenberg for another year to complete his training as a pastoral consultant in the Peißenberg-Forst parish community, but the 27-year-old changed his plans: since September he has been working as a theologian in Ettal Abbey, where he was nine years ago graduated from high school.

Together with Father Sebastian Fischer OSB, he heads the all-day care of the boarding school and is building a youth and education center.

In an interview, he explains how this came about.

Originally you wanted to stay in Peißenberg for another year, right?

Yes, that was actually my plan.

I wanted to live another year as a pastoral assistant in Peißenberg in order to complete my training as a pastoral consultant there.

But things turned out differently: In February I moved to Ettal and since September 1st I have also been here professionally and work as a theologian in the monastery.

How did that happen?

On Christmas Eve I phoned Father Sebastian from the Ettal Abbey, who told me that he was to temporarily head the boarding school of the monastery, where he worked as an educator until ten years ago and also as deputy director for the past few years.

After such a long break, this task was a bit scary for him at first and I realized that he could use some support.

The next day I called him again and said, “I support you.

Give me a room and I'll come to help you on a voluntary basis - in addition to my training in the parish community. ”Six days later, on December 31, I gave notice of my apartment and then moved to Ettal at the beginning of February and initially closed it commuted from my job to Peißenberg.

What happened that made you move to Ettal professionally?

In the months that followed, it became clear that Father Sebastian would now be in charge of the entire boarding school.

In addition, the monastery decided to close the boarding school in three years due to declining numbers and rising costs and to build a youth and education center at the same time.

As a result of this decision, the monastery offered me the management of this new facility, which I simply could not refuse.

What exactly does your new field of activity look like?

First of all, we are still in the planning phase for the youth and education center, developing usage and financial concepts. It is already clear that a former boarding wing is to be converted into a youth center, with around 40 beds in two-bed rooms with bath and toilet. During the week we mainly want to host school classes and on the weekends and during the holidays we want to host religious youth groups such as acolytes or confirmers. In a further step - according to current considerations - brand new single rooms are to be created, for example for parish councils, funeral seminars or retreats. In addition to managing the house, in my role as a theologian I will also offer offers for the respective groups. In addition, we are just about toTo build Ettal in a new form into a spiritual center for our region. We have some committed young people who are very attached to our monastery and with whom wonderful things can happen here. In addition, I manage the full-time care of the boarding school with Father Sebastian and am jointly responsible for the approximately ten employees.

Was it difficult for you to leave Peißenberg and finish your training early?

The time in Peißenberg came to an end faster than planned. And yet it was a very intense time in which I experienced almost nothing but positive things: We had a great team around our pastor Georg Fetsch, to whom I am particularly grateful for the warm welcome and the great time in Peißenberg. I was able to gain a foothold in the village very quickly. My Christmas shop last year in the premises of the former “Ruprich” company was of course a personal highlight of my time in Peißenberg. Of course you get a little sad. But on the other hand, Ettal presented me with a unique opportunity that I just couldn't refuse. After my own school days in Ettal, I ended up studying theology in Regensburg. But already then I noticedthat I want to go back - at least in the area. So I applied to the diocese of Augsburg with the request to be deployed as close as possible to Ettal, whereupon the position was assigned to Peißenberg.

What did the people around you say about your decision?

The reaction was actually always the same: On the one hand, everyone was sad that I'm leaving now, on the other hand, everyone who knows me knows that I've always been drawn back to Ettal, and that for me - privately as well professionally - a unique opportunity and therefore the only right decision.

Especially since it is almost impossible to be hired as a theologian in a monastery, since such positions are usually filled internally.

Did you never consider joining Ettal Abbey as a monk?

No, that was never really an issue for me, even if it would certainly not have surprised many - especially since I wrote almost 180 pages about entering the Benedictine order in my master's thesis at the university, which should normally be 60 pages even a doctorate on this subject was offered.

But actually this question came up in many conversations after my move.

Will you keep in contact with Peißenberg?

In any case.

It was only this year that I was unanimously elected as the successor to Angie Eichberger as deputy chairman of the CSU Peißenberg.

Of course, I would like to live up to the trust placed in me and the support I have promised to our Chairman Frank Zellner.

In addition, we are currently in the middle of implementing the “Garden of Creation” that is currently being built behind the Church of St. Johann.

For this I am in Peißenberg almost every day to create the glass art for the individual stations.

But what remains above all are the many friendships that I have been able to make in Peißenberg over the past few years and for which I am very grateful.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-10-19

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