With heartfelt thanks and appreciation: Farewell event in honor of Academic Director Klaus König

Some moments are difficult – especially when it means saying goodbye to colleagues who have shaped our work over many years in profound ways. This is true in the case of Academic Director Klaus König, who has been part of the Chair of Religious Education, Catechetics, and Didactics of Religious Instruction at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt since 1995 and will retire at the end of September 2025.

Klaus König is a person with, as the saying goes, his heart in the right place. Alongside his outstanding professional competence, he has for decades been a committed university lecturer, a valued colleague, and – for many of us – a loyal companion and friend. His contribution has been marked by reliability, humility, humor, and a deep willingness to help – qualities that have enriched daily life at the chair in a very special way.

Klaus König has also made a significant mark in academic work. His key areas of focus include religious learning in engagement with history, the role of music in religious education, issues of religious culture, and the development of textbooks for religious education in Bavarian secondary schools. Many of his publications testify to his pedagogical sensitivity and his consistently context-aware, practice-oriented perspective.

As an expression of our gratitude and to jointly honor his contributions, the chair team organized an outing on July 29, 2025. In a festive atmosphere – with a shared lunch in Beilngries, a private guided tour of Sandersdorf Castle by Dr. Horst-Florian Jaeck, and a relaxed conclusion at the Kratzmühlsee – we not only looked back, but also celebrated what remains: the memory of many shared years and our deep appreciation for a consistently warm and collegial spirit.

Dear Klaus, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts – for everything you have given, supported, and made possible. We wish you all the very best for this new chapter in life: joy, inspiring encounters, and many happy moments. At the same time, we sincerely hope that you will remain connected to the chair in the future!