Working Group of Catholic Soldiers
Working Group of Catholic Soldiers (AKS) is an Austrian community of Catholic soldiers of all ranks and civil servants and takes on tasks in the context of military pastoral care .
History and goals
The first constituent meeting took place on February 28, 1969. At the first federal conference on October 10, 1970 in Melk Abbey , the AKS decided on its future working methods. The Second Vatican Council stressed the vocation of the laity in a number of statements. In particular, the "Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity" of November 18, 1965 by Pope Paul VI. and the later Apostolic Exhortation “Christifidelis laici” on the calling and mission of the laity in the Church and in the world of Pope John Paul II of December 30, 1988.
These papal documents took up the changed understanding of the laity and encouraged the increased cooperation of lay organizations and the formation of elected advisory bodies. The Working Group of Catholic Soldiers sees itself as “an official church institution specially appointed by the military bishop to lay apostolate ” (from: Statute of the AKS).
The aim of the working group is to awaken, spread and deepen the Christian world and view of life among the soldiers. The working group sees itself as a movement of soldiers and civilian members of the armed forces who want to implement the lay apostolate in daily service. As a community of Christians, their members try to contribute to this by maintaining and developing Christian life in the armed forces, by supporting the military chaplains, through communal Eucharistic celebrations and religious training. This includes, above all, a constant effort to build a conscience and sharpen awareness.
organization
The statute of the military ordinariate of the Republic of Austria of March 21, 1989 describes the working group of Catholic soldiers as the Catholic action in the jurisdiction of the military bishop . The extension of the area of jurisdiction to include civilian members of the armed forces and their families was thus taken into account - while retaining the previous name .
Working groups exist in the individual military parishes ; they elect a presidium for five years, which is responsible for representation at the federal level. At the military parish level, the main tasks were to support the military chaplains , organize pilgrimages, children's holiday activities, adult education events or family reunions. The support of soldiers in need was also one of the concerns of the working group from the start.
The AKS is organized as part of the international association of the national Catholic soldiers' associations Apostolat Militaire International .
Members
- Emil Spannocchi , first president of the AKS from 1973 to 1977