Pastor Angelo after dismissal: Schockwelle meets Gerasdorf!

Pastor Angelo after dismissal: Schockwelle meets Gerasdorf!

in the heart of Gerasdorf, part of the parish "Three Anger of Vienna", an unexpected event divides the community: the popular pastor Angelo Rajaseelan, generally known as "Pastor Angelo", was suddenly relieved of his office on April 26, 2025. This put the faithful in a shock, and many volunteers, including Mesner and parish councils, resigned from solidarity. As the Kurier have no concrete misconduct against him, which the situation is even more confusing.

Rajaseelan, who has his roots in Sri Lanka and moved to the Archdiocese of Vienna in 2022, was known for regularly posting the events in his community. His abrupt excretion and the associated anonymous symptoms, but which did not contain any serious allegations, raise questions. Auxiliary Bishop Stephan Turnovszky said at the information evening that no concrete misconduct was found, but he recommended Rajaseelan to leave the parish, which he accepted.

conflicts in the parish association

The conflict within the community is not the first of its kind. Similar tensions can also be observed in other parishes of the archdiocese. In the parish of Vienna-Penzing there was a "reconciliation period" until summer 2015 after the minds of the pastor Christian Sieberer heated up and around 60 members left the community. Critics of the pastor reported a tough tone within the community and allegations that the community had been pushed. This shows the big problem of many communities: there is often a lack of consensus -oriented coexistence, as well as the illuminated.

Another challenge is to deal with the resigned volunteers. The archdiocese invites you to continue to participate actively in parish life, again a sign that despite the difficulties of the will, there is a unity. Rajaseelan himself now sees himself in an insecure location and does not know where it will go in the future, but plans to go where it is needed. His situation is reminiscent of the committed pastor of an innovative community in Germany, which despite the challenges in his community maintains a strong socio-political engagement, as the ekd

The events related to Pastor Angelo are another example of the challenges with which many communities are confronted today. It remains to be seen whether and how there is a reconciliation between the conflict parties, because one thing is clear: good cooperation is essential for community life and well -being of everyone involved.