Deacon Hans Steinhilber resigned from his position in Schongau on 31 May. © Andreas Jäger
"Different pastoral approaches" between parish priest Norbert Marxer and deacon Hans Steinhilber, as well as the resulting differences, led to Steinhilber ending his ministry in Schongau. At Steinhilber's request, Marxer was not invited to the deacon's May devotion, which was also his farewell.
Schongau – Deacon Hans Steinhilber has been working in Schongau since 2000, and last weekend the parish had to say goodbye to Steinhilber after 23 years: The deacon left Schongau on May 31, thus ending his service as a pastor in the Schongau hospital, the old people's homes and in the Schongau parish community. There was to be no official farewell to Steinhilber, after a May devotion in the Church of the Holy Spirit, the faithful were allowed to say goodbye to the deacon.
"Different pastoral approaches" Reason for the departure - Farewell after 23 years
The reason for Steinhilber's departure was "different pastoral approaches" between the deacon and city priest Norbert Marxer, which had come to light more and more, especially in the past eight months. The differences had also affected Steinhilber's health, the deacon explained during the May devotion. In 2021, he had already suffered a heart attack, Steinhilber said.
Not a good basis for further cooperation: Deacon Steinhilber: "My kind of pastoral care was different"
"For further cooperation, no good basis is seen by all parties involved," it said in a letter from the diocese of Augsburg in coordination with Steinhilber and Marxer. "My way of pastoral care was different," Deacon Steinhilber made clear again and again during the May devotion.
Steinhilber said goodbye to each churchgoer personally after the May devotion. © Andreas Jäger
Voices from the parish added in an interview with the local newspaper that Steinhilber did not feel sufficiently valued during his time in Schongau. The climax of the ongoing conflict was finally reached last October, when Steinhilber was ordered to vacate his office in the parish administration of Transfiguration of Christ. Since that event, the deacon had been on sick leave. It was "a tragedy" that Marxer and Steinhilber could not find a common consensus, a member of the parish told the local newspaper.
At the request of Deacon Steinhilber, Pastor Marxer did not attend the farewell ceremony
At Steinhilber's request, Pastor Marxer did not take part in the farewell. The deacon expressed his gratitude to all other companions during his time in Schongau. Where Steinhilber will continue his work as a deacon is currently still uncertain. "Talks are currently underway between Deacon Steinhilber and the personnel department regarding a new deployment site," said the letter from the diocese of Augsburg.
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At the end of the May devotion, there was much applause for the visibly touched deacon and standing ovations from the numerous church visitors. Steinhilber finally said goodbye to each of them with a handshake.
Pastor Marxer could not be reached for comment
Pastor Norbert Marxer could not be reached for personal comment by the time of going to press.
Andreas Jäger
