Places of Interest: Introducing St. Paul’s Cathedral Muenster

September 1, 2024. In exactly one week, on Sunday, September 8, the 21st International General Chapter of the international Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of St Francis will open with Holy Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Muenster. The service will be celebrated by Cathedral Provost Hans-Bernd Köppen, with the Congregation’s Spiritual Director, Professor Father Dr. Dr. Michael Plattig O.Carm. as concelebrant. This Holy Mass will be streamed on the website of the Diocese of Münster, www.bistum-muenster.de, as well as on the diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

In the following film we give you some insights into the history of the Cathedral and the diocese of Muenster. Below, you will find the full text.

On the opening Sunday of our General Chapter, Mass will be celebrated in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Muenster. The origins of Muenster, and its Cathedral, date to the end of the 8th century. Liudger, a missionary, started building a missionary center, including a cloister, a school, and a small church. In 805, Liudger became the first Bishop of Muenster and made this church the centre of his new diocese. St. Paul’s Cathedral as we see it today has been functional since 1956. Earlier buildings were destroyed by fire and the bombings in World War II. As the Bishop’s seat, this church is at the heart of Catholic Muenster. The Cathedral is full of beautiful great art. Visitors are fascinated by the Astronomical clock ticking since 1540.