Study trip to the "Katholikentag" in Würzburg with the seminars “Empowerment” (Pastoral Theology) and “Speaking of God in the New Testament” (New Testament Studies)

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the 104th German "Katholikentag" came to a close under the motto “Have courage, stand up!” Over the weekend, 74,000 people participated. Among them were two groups from Eichstätt: students in the Empowerment seminar led by Dr. Tanja Grabovac and Prof. Dr. Katharina Karl, and in the seminar on “Speaking of God in the New Testament” led by Prof. Dr. Marievonne Schöttner, as well as students from the digital bachelor’s program and the certificate program “Personal Development and Engagement.” We were all encouraged to experience the "Katholikentag" with a special focus on these respective themes and how they were implemented.

How is empowerment addressed? How is empowerment understood conceptually? These and other questions served as our guide during the analysis. We explored them not only during the daily events we attended together, but also through our individual experiences at the “Katholikentag”. During a hands-on activity, we tried our hand at adapting a text from the Book of Tobit into easy-to-read language. The concept of empowerment behind this: enabling people with learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities to read on their own. At a panel discussion on the topic “Have Courage, Stand Up… For Refugees,” Interior Minister Hermann and Sr. Juliana Seeligmann were to conclude by encouraging one another in their work and switching perspectives. While there is certainly room for improvement in terms of support for the cause of asylum seekers, the event had an empowering effect on both guests. During our reflection in the seminar group, we shared our impressions and experiences from each day and engaged in further discussion.

How can we speak of God today? What are the different ways of speaking about God? With these guiding questions in mind, New Testament students attended three Bible workshops led by Prof. Dr. Marievonne Schöttner.

Do we have the courage to perceive and acknowledge other ways of reading the Bible? The first workshop focused on three different ways of reading the New Testament based on the motto of the “Katholikentag”, “Have courage, get up!” (Mk 10:49). New Testament scholar Prof. Dr. Sabine Bieberstein presented the Christian interpretation of Mk 10:49 with regard to the theme of discipleship. Here, Bartimaeus serves as an exemplary figure who demonstrates the courage to follow Jesus on his path. Jewish theologian Helene Braun, on the other hand, emphasized the theme of human dignity. Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi interpreted Mk 10:49 as an expression of self-confidence. The three experts agreed that Mk 10:49 depicts a scene of empowerment: Jesus gives him the courage to develop confidence and to articulate it.

Do we have the courage to move beyond our colonial legacy? Dr. Stefan Silber’s workshop raised participants’ awareness of colonial traces in translations of prayers, using the Lord’s Prayer as an example. He encouraged us to decolonize our thinking and knowledge. We also noted the danger of misinterpreting the Bible based on our own interests.

Do we have the courage to speak about God in a gender-sensitive way? In her workshop, Prof. Dr. Marievonne Schöttner introduced us to a gender-sensitive way of speaking about God in the New Testament using two parables (Luke 15:1–10; Matthew 20:1–16). In Luke 15:1–10, the evangelist first chooses a male figure and then a female figure to speak of God. Prof. Dr. Schöttner spoke of a “mosaic of God” that allows for a diversity of ways of speaking about God. The workshop encouraged participants to have the courage to recognize and promote a gender-sensitive way of speaking about God that is already justified and used in the Gospel.

A shared moment for both seminars was the group photo in front of the cathedral and the reflection session that followed. We wrapped up Saturday with a group dinner. And on Sunday, after the concluding Mass on Residenzplatz, the last members of the group set off for home in Eichstätt, feeling fulfilled yet tired. It was the inspiring events that made this “Katholikentag” special for us, but not only that - it was also the small and large, planned and unexpected moments when people came together.

Sara Rowshan and Adel Simon