Liborius verbindet Paderborn mit der Welt
Translated from a story by Cornelius Stiegemann, Archdiocese of Paderborn.
In his homily at Paderborner Dom on Liborian Tuesday (29 July) , Bishop Shane Mackinlay emphasised the importance of St Liborius as a bridge builder between people all over the world.
The Archbishop-designate of Brisbane, Shane Mackinlay, has emphasised the importance of the connections that exist, through St Liborius, between Paderborn and various parts of the universal Church. "In 836, Bishop Aldrich of Le Mans made a promise of trust with the relics of Liborius. A trust in tomorrow," Mackinlay said in his sermon on Tuesday morning. “After more than 1000 years, the result of this promise has become greater than anyone could ever have imagined.”
“The first and most important connection is between Le Mans and Paderborn,” the appointed Archbishop continued. But there are also close connections with the Australian Diocese of Sandhurst, which Mackinlay has presided over as bishop so far.
170 years ago, the Paderborn priest Henry Backhaus was the first pastor for the people in the gold rush region around Bendigo. To this day, German and Australian theology students and priests visit each other, and the Diocese of Sandhurst has the Paderborn Cross Brooch in its coat of arms. The relic of St Liborius, kept in a parish church of the Diocese of Sandhurst, is also a "tangible sign of the connection between Paderborn and Australia".
Hope through connection
Mentioning his episcopal confreres from 27 nations who had come to Libori, Mackinlay emphasised the importance of St Liborius as a bridge builder between the different parts of the universal Church. "In this celebration of connections, we celebrate hope," Mackinlay said. And this hope is not naïve optimism or leaving everything to God, but a call to action. Nevertheless, without overestimating our own strength.
Visit from Down Under
Bishop Shane Mackinlay from the Australian Diocese of Sandhurst was last a guest in the Archdiocese in 2022. There is a close connection between the two local churches. The two Dioceses are also connected by the topic of synodality, among other things.
The city in East Westphalia was not an arbitrary stop on Mackinlay's journey. "I am in Paderborn to tie in with the beginnings of my Diocese," he said at the time. "The Diocese of Sandhurst owes its foundation in 1874 to a Paderborn resident: George Henry Backhaus (1811-1882), whose life reads like an adventure novel .”
Translated from a story by Cornelius Stiegemann for the Archdiocese of Paderborn. You can find the original story here: Liborius connects Paderborn with the world.
Paderborner Dom
Paderborn locals call their Cathedral ‘Paderborner Dom’. This 700-year-old Gothic Cathedral is officially called, Hoher Dom Ss. Maria, Liborius und Kilian (it’s dedicated to Saint Mary, Saint Kilian and Saint Liborius).
The German word 'Dom' doesn’t strictly mean ‘cathedral’; it is used for large historically significant churches, even if it’s not the bishop’s seat.
The term comes from the Latin domus Dei (House of God). Domus being Latin for house or home and ‘Dei' from Latin Deus, for God.
Paderborner Dom is in the middle of the City of Paderborn at Domplatz, ‘Cathedral Square’ – sound familiar?
You can find a brief history of Paderborner Dom here: