Willibalds Week 2025: Pilgrims of Hope celebrate great community

Willibalds Week 2025: Pilgrims of Hope celebrate great community

Last weekend the diocese of Eichstätt experienced a very special time: Willibald's Week took place and ended with a grateful celebration for the committed volunteers. Project manager Markus Wittmann described the week as extremely eventful, characterized by touching church services and numerous encounters. The motto “Pilgrims of Hope” underlined the importance of this event as part of the global Holy Year, which encourages believers to reflect on their own faith and explore new paths. Many participants from the diocese of Eichstätt were there and enjoyed the warm community.

Vicar General Michael Alberter aptly described Willibalds Week as a “festival of encounters”. In a moving exchange, those present emphasized the enriching conversations that strengthened the faith of many participants. A participant in the gospel meeting day enthusiastically reported on her newfound commitment to her parish. For everyone who missed the festive days, there is a multimedia review on www.willibaldswoche.de and under the hashtag #willibaldswoche25 on social networks.

Highlights of the Willibalds Week

Particular highlights were the gospel day and the light show “Willibald meets Lights and Beats”. The open cathedral table on Cathedral Square attracted numerous visitors who wanted to end the evening in a convivial atmosphere. The festive service for the Willibalds Festival and regional services in Gunzenhausen and Neumarkt-Woffenbach were also very popular. The service in Gunzenhausen was led by pilgrimage rector Norbert Traub, while the musical accompaniment in the service in Woffenbach was provided by regional cantor Jan Blahuta and the Evangelical Trombone Choir Neumarkt.

Pilgrimage – A path to yourself

As katholisch.de explains, pilgrimage means making your way to a holy place. It is a search for closeness to God that is important in all religions. Pilgrimage not only has a religious dimension, but is also a search for identity and a deeper meaning in life. Many people take part in pilgrimages to find themselves and experience inner peace.

The Willibalds Week was therefore more than just a gathering; it was a celebration of faith and a witness to the vibrant community within the diocese of Eichstätt. Those responsible are now planning to evaluate the feedback in order to design and develop future events even better. Planning for the coming Willibalds Week is already in the starting blocks - with the aim of promoting an even stronger community and strengthening the faith of the participants.