Opening speech by the diocesan bishop
Words of H.Ex. Diocesan Bishop Dr Egon Kapellari at the opening and blessing of the new Akademikerhilfe student residence in Graz's Münzgrabenstraße on 8 October 2009
Today is a reason for me to be happy because this house has remained a student residence.
On 1 February 1970, many people were festively gathered in this room: my two predecessors in the office of bishop, Dr Johann Weber and Dr Josef Schoiswohl, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Rossi, the provincial governors Josef Krainer senior and junior, many professors and students and especially the 60 students for whom a new dormitory had been set up in this Dominican monastery by the Catholic University Community of Graz.
An architectural tour de force had been achieved for this work with little money. The new/old building was then awarded the rare builder's honour by the Austrian Central Association of Architects. The rental and building rights contract between the Dominican convent and the Diocese of Graz-Seckau for the university community was concluded for 30 years. At the time, that seemed like an astronomically long time, which was then extended by another few years. However, when I returned to Styria, the building was very run-down and the diocese was not in a position to make large-scale investments, so it cancelled the contract.
I consider it a stroke of luck, or rather a great blessing, that the Benedictine Admont Abbey has now doubled its presence in Graz by adding the old Dominican convent to the building in J.-J.-Fuxgasse. Both houses are dedicated to the life of the three universities in Graz and fit into the broad spectrum of university chaplaincy provided by the Catholic University Community, Catholic Corporations and Opus Dei.
Diocesan priests, Jesuits, Opus Dei priests, Benedictines and Dominicans continue to work here in association with Christians in non-ordained ministry. The student support association Akademikerhilfe has taken over the administration of this new Admont student residence and ensures that life is lived in order and harmony.
This old and at the same time new house, in which we are now festively gathered, has a long and varied history: it was founded by the order of Augustinian hermits. The famous preacher Abraham a Sancta Clara, alias Ulrich Megerle from the Swabian town of Meßkirch, which was also the home of Martin Heidegger, also worked here for many years. Jesuits later worked here after the re-founding of this order and finally the house was extended by new buildings, monastery and study centre of the Dominicans, in whose ownership the neighbouring buildings have remained and will remain.
