The imposing structure before you is the Priesterseminar St Hieronymus. It stands as a testament to faith and scholarship a place where generations of priests have been trained. This seminary isn’t just a building. It’s a living history.
Originally housed in Dillingen an der Donau as the Collegium St Hieronymi a Jesuit college it dates back to the 16th century. Cardinal Truchsess Otto von Waldburg established it in 1549. In 1563 he entrusted its leadership and the University of Dillingen to the Jesuits. Famous theologians like Johann Michael Sailer and Cardinal Walter Brandmüller taught here.
For centuries this seminary thrived in Dillingen. The Jesuits were responsible for training priests for the Diocese of Augsburg until 1773. The Dillinger University gained a reputation throughout the German-speaking world. Bishop Heinrich von Knöringen founded a diocesan seminary in 1614 implementing the decrees of the Council of Trent. This helped overcome the crisis of the Reformation for the Augsburg clergy. Even after secularization the seminary enjoyed a revival in the mid-19th century. Today the college buildings house the Bavarian Academy for Teacher Training and Personnel Development. Their library and Golden Hall are well worth a visit.
Due to limited space in Dillingen an additional seminary was established in Pfaffenhausen in 1745. It focused on the pastoral training of future clergy. The then-existing parish church served as the seminary church explaining its impressive size. After secularization in 1803 it closed. It became the property of Dominikus Ringeisen and now houses a school for the blind.
The seminary’s move to Augsburg in 1970/71 marked a significant turning point. Bishop Josef Stimpfle initiated this relocation coinciding with the founding of the University of Augsburg. Initially it was accommodated in the motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy. The present building designed by Alexander Freiherr von Branca was completed in 1987. Pope John Paul II blessed it during his second pastoral visit to Germany. The building itself garnered international attention. It aimed to provide facilities for contemporary priest training.
The seminary’s architecture is striking. It comprises several interconnected buildings. There’s a residential area for seminarians a student dormitory classrooms a large dining hall a gymnasium and a spacious library. A large hall hosts conferences events and celebrations. At the heart of the complex is the octagonal seminary church. Connected to it is the seminary chapel. Both share a tabernacle oriented eastwards. The church’s central location reflects its spiritual importance. Life at the seminary revolves around the celebration of the Eucharist. Peter Schubert created the ceiling painting drawing from Ephesians 4:10. The vibrant colors evoke Baroque church painting. The painting’s theme of heaven is mirrored in the chapel’s ceiling. The octagonal shape symbolizes completion in God and creation’s completion. The seminary church is dedicated to the Holy Cross. Its titular feast is the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The old Dillingen seminary already had a Holy Cross chapel back in 1603.
The Priesterseminar St Hieronymus continues its vital role. It shapes future generations of priests. It remains a place of faith learning and spiritual growth. A significant landmark in Augsburg. A building that speaks volumes.