The Diocese of Münster

The Diocese of Münster is in the north-west of Germany. Its territory lies partly in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, partly in Lower Saxony. Both regions are home to a total of 2,070,000 Catholics in 680 parishes. Dr. Reinhard Lettmann has been Bishop of Münster since 1980.

In 805 Saint Liudger became the first Bishop of Münster. In 2005, the year of World Youth Day, the diocese will celebrate its 1,200-year history. Many places throughout the diocese bear witness to its long traditions. A characteristic feature of the diocese is its landscape: the lower Rhine valley, the parklands of the Münsterland, the northern reaches of the Ruhr industrial region, the Oldenburg part of the Münsterland and the North Sea coast with the island of Wangerooge. Among the diocese’s 21 pilgrimage sites is the Marian pilgrimage place of Kevelaer, the largest, which receives some 800,000 pilgrims each year.

Young people in the parishes spend their free time together and attend services alike. Youth association activities enjoy a long tradition in the diocese, with its 14 associations counting some 85,000 children and teenagers among their members. The old water castle of Gemen (near Borken) has been one of the many centres of youth activity (‘Jugendburg Gemen’) for 50 years.

Contact:
Bistum Münster
Domplatz 27
D-48143 Münster
Postal address:
D-48135 Münster
Phone: +49 (0) 251-495-0
Fax: +49 (0) 251-495-6086
The diocese’s Web address is: www.bistum-muenster.de
The diocese's WYD Web address is: www.wjt2005-muenster.de

Kevelaer: Pilgrimage site in the Diocese of Münster

Some one million pilgrims from Germany, the Benelux states and many other countries around the world come to the Marian pilgrimage site of Kevelaer each year. Besides Altötting in the south of Germany, Kevelaer is the largest and most important pilgrimage place in Germany. The season begins with the opening of the pilgrims' gate of the basilica on 1 May and ends on 1 November, The unassuming pilgrimage image, entitled ‘Consoler of the Sorrowful’, has attracted pilgrims for centuries. This fact is perceived as a message: To act, God does not require a great, impressive medium with an irresistible force. Rather, God can bring about great things even by the smallest means available.

Inquiries:
Wallfahrtsleitung Kevelaer
Dr. Rainer Killich
Kapellenplatz 35
D-47623 Kevelaer
Phone: +49 (0) 28 32 – 93 38 14
Fax: +49 (0) 28 32 - 7 07 26
e-mail: info@wallfahrt-kevelaer.de
www.wallfahrt-kevelaer.de