Change in the church: New pastor for Lienz and Sillian from September!

Change in the church: New pastor for Lienz and Sillian from September!

In the Diocese of Innsbruck, there are significant personnel changes from September 1, 2025, which can also be felt in the Dean's Baths Lienz and Sillian. These changes are part of a comprehensive restructuring concept that is supposed to strengthen pastoral care in the affected regions. As reports [osttirolerbote.at] (https://osttirolerbote.at/aktuelles/osttirol-aktuell/personal change-in-tekanaten-lienz-und--und----und----und---und---------und---und-------und-sillian), this change begins with the withdrawal of Dekan Josef Mair, who lies down his office for reasons of age and goes into well-deserved retirement.

The pastoral room Hochpuster Valley, which includes the parishes Sillian, Heinfels, Tessenberg, out and inner villus, as well as limestone, is now being built completely. Anita Webhofer will take over the management of this new pastor, while Paul Salamon will be responsible for all parishes in the Hochpuster Valley as a parish provisor. These occupations promise fresh wind and new impulses for the communities that are supposed to benefit from the innovations.

new vicar and helping priests

An exciting line -up is also pending with Andreas Schätzle. The former program director of Radio Maria returns to parish life and becomes the new vicar in the pastoral area of Hochpustertal. His awareness as a singing pastor not only brings faith messages, but also musical talent to the communities, which is certainly a wonderful enrichment for the parishioners.

In the adjacent pastoral room Tyrolean Gailtal, Héritier Mbulu from North Tyrol will support the community as a helping priest. This also creates valuable support for priesthood, which is often required in these rural regions.

Changes in the Deanery Lienz

not to forget the personnel change in the Deanery Lienz. Richard Agerer will work as a deacon in the pastoral area of Lienz-Nord from September. This new responsibility will not only expand its previous activities, but will also enliven local pastoral care. The parishes concerned have already been informed about the upcoming changes so that the transitions can be designed as smoothly as possible, as osttirol-heute.at.

The upcoming changes in the Innsbruck diocese are aimed at making pastoral care more efficient and better justice to the needs of the believers. It remains to be seen which further personnel adjustments are still announced in order to master the dynamic challenges in the area of the church. The Catholic Church in East Tyrol will continue to be shaped by strong personalities and committed pastors.