Youngest priest in Styria
Father Vinzenz Schager heads the parishes of Gröbming, Öblarn, St. Martin and Kleinsölk. At the age of 32, he is not only the youngest priest in the Liezen district, but also in the whole of Styria.
„This was all old pink before I moved in,“ says Father Vinzenz, pointing to the now white walls of his office. In order to be able to paint them at all, approval had to be obtained from the Federal Monuments Office. After all, Gröbming is home to one of the oldest parishes in Styria, which is why the buildings also date back to historical times. Since September last year, the parish has been run by Father Vinzenz, who succeeds Father Andreas Scheuchenpflug. Like Father Vinzenz, he is also a Benedictine monk from Admont Abbey.
Support with all our strength...
Despite his advanced age, Father Andreas wants to support his successor with all his strength, which is why he will continue to live in the rectory in Gröbming. When asked what should continue in the same way and what should bear his own signature in future, Father Vinzenz replies: „I am a person who first looks at everything carefully and checks it out before changing anything.“ This is also how he intends to handle the takeover of the parish. Despite this basic attitude, he broke with an old tradition right at the start of his term of office: the harvest festival. This is because it had to be postponed for the first time last year. A circumstance that was merely „due to an unfortunate coincidence“, clarifies Father Vinzenz, as another festival was taking place in Gröbming at the same time. Fortunately, there was no bad blood: „The people welcomed me into their community in an extremely friendly manner and with open hearts,“ emphasises Gröbming's new parish priest.
Confession experiences a revival
The parish of Gröbming has been part of the Upper Enns Valley pastoral area for almost nine years. This comprises 11 parishes, whose care is now shared between the head of the pastoral area, Father Andreas Lechner, and the 32-year-old Benedictine monk. In addition to Gröbming, Father Vincent is also responsible for the parishes in Öblarn, St. Martin and Kleinsölk. What he wants to bring to each of these parishes is, above all, time. He can also be found on site as often as possible outside of masses, „so that people can simply drop by and have a personal chat with me“, as Father Vinzenz says. An offer that is definitely taken up. In addition to conversations with the priest, confession is also in demand, especially from younger people between the ages of 12 and 30. Father Vinzenz sees the reason for this primarily in the lack of privacy due to social media: „A generation that is growing up transparent thinks very carefully about who they confide in. Because the fear of being publicly exposed is really very great. Confession, on the other hand, guarantees the confidentiality of the other person. What is said there remains private and does not get out.“
Career aspirations from an early age
At the age of 32, Father Vinzenz himself also belongs to the younger generation. He grew up in the Göss district of Leoben and completed his A-levels in Graz. However, he felt the desire to become a priest much earlier: „Apparently I was already talking about it in kindergarten,“ says Father Vinzenz with a laugh. It is therefore not surprising that he was involved in the Göss parish as an altar boy shortly afterwards. The next big step followed at the age of 20: entering the monastery. However, this was not initially linked to any obligations, but „was simply to show me whether life as a priest would suit me,“ he explains. His parents accompanied him to Admont because „my mother in particular wanted to see how and where I lived. Whether I have a bright room or have to live in a dark room,“ remarks Father Vinzenz with a smile. Despite the unique ambience, it was not the light-flooded rooms of the monastery that persuaded Father Vincent to stay. „The monastery is a place where I can feel the future and progress,“ he says, describing the atmosphere in the abbey. Less than a year after moving in, he was already dressed in the Benedictine habit. In February 2016, he made his temporary profession and began studying theology in Salzburg. He made his perpetual profession in February 2019 and was ordained a priest just two years later. When asked whether he ever had doubts about his career choice despite his determination, he replies: „Of course there are phases when things don't go so well. But I have never questioned my decision.“
You are always a priest
Father Vinzenz himself comes from a Catholic family, but „my parents were never churchgoers. They have run a pub for a long time, so there was and is no time for anything else on Sundays,“ he says. Since taking up his post as a priest, Sunday has also been a busy day for him. Does he ever have a day off? „Of course, there's never a day when I'm not a priest. If you decide to do that, your whole life is organised around it,“ he says, describing the blurred line between professional and private life. Nevertheless, he tries to keep Mondays free of appointments so that he can spend time with his family and friends. In the evenings, he either works out at the gym, reads a book or „I just sit on the couch in my jogging bottoms and hoodie and watch a series, just like everyone else,“ says Father Vincent, outlining his leisure activities.
Making God's closeness tangible
His duties as a priest also include his involvement in local schools. Father Vinzenz taught at the Abbey Grammar School in Admont for three years and recently started teaching religion at the primary school in St Martin. „I want to familiarise the children with the sacraments and also explain to them why we celebrate certain church festivals,“ says the priest about the content of his lessons. However, not only the background, but also the organisation of church festivals is of great importance to him, as he says: „I attach great importance to liturgy.“ After all, he firmly believes that the care with which words are spoken and gestures are performed makes a difference. Because through the solemn celebration of Holy Mass, God can be made tangible, the community can be strengthened and strength for everyday life can be drawn, says Father Vincent, for whom one of his most important tasks is to connect people with God and with each other, as he says.
