Retirement for Christoph Bernhard: A new beginning in Saxony's education

Retirement for Christoph Bernhard: A new beginning in Saxony's education

Dresden, Deutschland - On June 16, 2025, Christoph Bernhard, who has headed the main department of schools and universities in the Dresden-Meißen diocese since 2017, was ceremoniously retired. In a festive Holy Mass in the Dresden Cathedral, his commitment to Catholic education in Saxony was recognized. Numerous high -ranking guests from church, ecumenism, school system and politics took part in the event. Dr. Andreas Verlsdonk, a proven expert for religious education at the German Bishops' Conference, gave the lecture on the challenges and opportunities of Catholic education.

With Bernhard's resignation, a new era is competing, because Andrea Katzer, who most recently worked as a headmistress in Döbeln, becomes his successor. Bernhard himself looks back on a moving career; Before he came to the diocese in 2014 as an episcopal school council, he worked for 22 years in the state school supervision, most recently in the regional office in Leipzig of the Saxon Education Agency. For his merits, he is awarded the papal New Year's Order, one of the highest papal amateur orders. Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers emphasized in his speech in Bernhard's role as a bridge builder and his exemplary culture of responsibility.

A difficult course in adult education

Not everything is vain joy: the Catholic education area in Saxony faces dramatic challenges. From 2026, the Catholic dioceses will have to implement massive savings in the new federal states, including the diocese of Dresden-Meißen. This affects traditional educational institutions that play an important role in social and cultural life. One reason for this is the planned end of the inner Catholic financial equalization, which leads to an annual savings requirement of 17.5 million euros. The Vicar General Andreas Kutschke announced that the sector has to make do with only 1 million euros - a sum that is inadequate for maintaining the previous educational offers.

As reported by the [Herder] (https://www.herder.de/hk/online-exkliv/dioezesane-savings-saving. These developments have a devastating effect on adult and youth education. The Catholic Academy under Thomas Arnold has established itself as a platform for political discourse, but without financial support from the state and society, its future is on the brink.

a call to support

The need for a comprehensive realignment of Catholic adult education is evident. A working paper of the [German Bishops' Conference] (https://www.dbk-shop.de/de/publikations/die-deutschen-bischoefe/kommissions/katholische-erwachsenbildung-deutschland-deutschland-dädtung-sperspective. According to the paper, Catholic adult education could be increasingly becoming a contact point for those who do not find any adequate offers in territorial pastoral care. An appealing and intellectually demanding educational offer is more than ever in demand.

In this tense situation, the dialogue between society and religion becomes essential to ensure the diversity of educational offers in Saxony. It is therefore due to the church, the state and society to take responsibility together so that the Catholic education area can continue to play an important role in the Saxon Education Landscape.