I would like to write a few words here on the passing of Fr. Paulus Blum since unfortunately, no one from his Salvatorian Lay circle in Germany has done so so far. So I can only take some data from the official death letter and complete it with my own memories.

As a pastor, as a teacher, and as a musician, Fr. Paul proclaimed the Good News in such a way that it reached people in a wholesome way. For this, Fr. Paul worked and worked with all his strength. These words are to read at the beginning of the death announcing – an that is true.

I personally learned him to know about 30 years ago, first by exchanging letters and afterward by personal meetings. He was a kind of human who guided one soon into a comfortable and brotherly atmosphere, who tried to meet other ones on an equal level.

He was born in the area around the Bodensee and came there in contact with the Salvatorians, who attracted him to stay and become a priest. His big love was music and he studied it with graduation from the music academy of Stuttgart. Over a long time, he was a teacher for music and religion at the Gymnasium of Bad Wurzach. Through him, several generations of students have discovered music for themselves and have taken a serious look at the Christian faith. With the school choir, he set unforgettable musical highlights with musicals, singing plays, and church concerts. Until a year ago, Fr. Paul taught various instruments and especially the organ. Many women and men who play in the parishes Sunday after Sunday today not only learned the instrument from him but also found access to church music.

From the background of his several pastoral ministries, the “Community of Salvatorian Laity” (GSL) grew in 1993. This was the first Salvatorian lay community in Germany in the sense of the first plans of our founder Fr. Francis Jordan. As I wrote above I had several letter exchanges with him about the establishing and the goals of the Salvatorian Lay Community, because we started this project in Austria some years before. From my point of view, I think he was the engine that brought the Salvatorian Lay Community in Germany into gears. If this focus is wrong, the people may forgive me, because I’m from outside.

But in this way I will leave him in my memories, as a human, inspired by the dream of Fr. Francis Jordan, becoming all for all. I may thank God for the mercy to had the opportunity to get into contact with him for a few moments and share the searching thoughts.

May God him rest in peace.

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