Occupation Catholic priest | Name Wolfgang Rosch | |
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Born 25 August 1959 (age 64) ( 1959-08-25 ) Wiesbaden, Germany Education Technische Universitat Darmstadt
Hochschule Sankt Georgen
Pontifical Gregorian University Years active 2010–2013 St. Bonifatius, Wiesbaden
from 2013 Vicar general of Limburg | ||
Wolfgang Rosch (born 25 August 1959) is a German Catholic priest. He was from 2010 to 2013 Dean of Wiesbaden at the parish St. Bonifatius. From 23 October 2013 he has been vicar general of the Diocese of Limburg, also administering the diocese during the absence of the bishop.
Career
Born in Wiesbaden, Rosch grew up in Erbach, Rheingau as one of four brothers. He first studied mechanical engineering for five years at the Technische Universitat Darmstadt. A month after completing his studies he began to study philosophy and theology at the Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt, later at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1990 by Karl Lehmann.
His first positions were as Kaplan (assisting minister) in Wetzlar and Hadamar. He led the office Diozesanstelle Berufe der Kirche of the Diocese of Limburg. In 1997 he succeeded Thomas Lohr as Regens (director) of the Priesterseminar Limburg (seminary for candidates for the priesthood). In 2003 bishop Franz Kamphaus made him minister of the parishes of Konigstein and Kronberg.
From 2010 to 2013, Rosch was Catholic dean of the city of Wiesbaden and minister of St. Bonifatius, He managed in 2012 the union of eight parishes to a larger parish (Pastoraler Raum, literally: pastoral space). He was also at the same time president of the Wiesbaden chapter of Caritas.
He succeeded Franz Kaspar as general vicar of Limburg from 23 October 2013, not only assisting the bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst as originally planned but leading the diocese while the bishop is suspended by the Vatican. Vatican Radio published: "Vicar General Rosch will administer the diocese of Limburg during the absence of the diocesan bishop, within the sphere of competence associated with this office". At a press conference in Limburg, he spoke about plans for personal meetings to re-establish trust, admitting that it is difficult. ("Es ist immer schwer, verlorenes Vertrauen zuruckzugewinnen.") He stated that whatever the investigation commission will reveal, there will be no winner. ("Egal wie es ausgeht, es wird keinen Sieger geben.") He described himself as "eher ein Mann der zweiten Reihe, ein Mann, der den direkten Kontakt suche, ein Mann der Demut" (rather a man in the second row, a man who seeks direct contact, a man of humility").
A farewell service was held in Wiesbaden on 12 January 2014, attended by 1,200 people. Rosch invited participants not to concentrate on what is missing but rely on creative energy ("kreative Kraft") and hope.