Former Auxiliary for the Diocese of Mainz and Bishop of the Titular See of Catrum, Monsignor Werner Guballa was born in Mainz, Germany, and studied philosophy and theology, first at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and later at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Cardinal Johannes Willebrands ordained him to the priesthood on October 10, 1970, in Rome. In 1975, he completed his studies with a theological dissertation on the Dominican Melchior Cano, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Karl Becker SJ. That same year, he resumed his pastoral work in the Diocese of Mainz as Chaplain in Bensheim-St. George. From 1977, he spent five years as an economist and sub-regent at the Seminary in Mainz. In February 1982, he was appointed by Cardinal Hermann Volk with the leadership of the Catholic community of St. Albert, the University of Mainz. In 1991, he became pastor in Darmstadt-St. Louis, while in 1992, he was elected Dean of the Deanery of Darmstadt. Pope John Paul II honored him with the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness in 1992, and Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1998.
On October 1, 1996, Guballa was named Vicar General of the Diocese of Mainz, succeeding Monsignor Martin Luley. At 58 years of age, Guballa was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Mainz together with Dr. Ulrich Neymeyr by Pope John Paul II, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catrum on April 21, 2003, from Cardinal Karl Lehmann, assisted by Archbishop Karl Josef Rauber and Bishop Wolfgang Rolly at the Cathedral of Mainz.
Since May 1, 2003, he served as episcopal vicar for the Clergy and Religious in the Diocese of Mainz, and was in charge of the Institute for the spiritual guidance of full-time pastoral care workers. In 2004, he was appointed by Cardinal Lehmann, episcopal vicar for the Charity and Chairman of the Caritas Association for the Diocese of Mainz. As a member of the Commission for Science and Culture, he was the Bishop responsible for the pastoral care of German Universities.
In June 2011, Bishop Guballa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In two interviews with the "Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz" and the "Bild" newspaper in July 2011, he was spoke about his dealings with cancer. At that time, he said: "I am sick and accept the will of God there, too. But I say to God: Help me, to find a way. I told my tumor, Thou shalt not have the last word." He concluded by saying: "I go my way, which is not in fear but in confidence." The Bishop died of respiratory failure in the afternoon of Monday, February 27, 2012, aged 67, after being hospitalized at Vinzenzkrankenhaus a week before due to a severe pneumonia.
Pontifical Requiem Mass for Bishop Guballa was held at the Cathedral of Mainz on Wednesday, March 7, at 10.30 am., presided by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, followed by interment in the cathedral crypt.
Cardinal Johannes Willebrands ordained him to the priesthood on October 10, 1970, in Rome. In 1975, he completed his studies with a theological dissertation on the Dominican Melchior Cano, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Karl Becker SJ. That same year, he resumed his pastoral work in the Diocese of Mainz as Chaplain in Bensheim-St. George. From 1977, he spent five years as an economist and sub-regent at the Seminary in Mainz. In February 1982, he was appointed by Cardinal Hermann Volk with the leadership of the Catholic community of St. Albert, the University of Mainz. In 1991, he became pastor in Darmstadt-St. Louis, while in 1992, he was elected Dean of the Deanery of Darmstadt. Pope John Paul II honored him with the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness in 1992, and Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1998.
On October 1, 1996, Guballa was named Vicar General of the Diocese of Mainz, succeeding Monsignor Martin Luley. At 58 years of age, Guballa was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Mainz together with Dr. Ulrich Neymeyr by Pope John Paul II, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catrum on April 21, 2003, from Cardinal Karl Lehmann, assisted by Archbishop Karl Josef Rauber and Bishop Wolfgang Rolly at the Cathedral of Mainz.
Since May 1, 2003, he served as episcopal vicar for the Clergy and Religious in the Diocese of Mainz, and was in charge of the Institute for the spiritual guidance of full-time pastoral care workers. In 2004, he was appointed by Cardinal Lehmann, episcopal vicar for the Charity and Chairman of the Caritas Association for the Diocese of Mainz. As a member of the Commission for Science and Culture, he was the Bishop responsible for the pastoral care of German Universities.
In June 2011, Bishop Guballa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In two interviews with the "Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz" and the "Bild" newspaper in July 2011, he was spoke about his dealings with cancer. At that time, he said: "I am sick and accept the will of God there, too. But I say to God: Help me, to find a way. I told my tumor, Thou shalt not have the last word." He concluded by saying: "I go my way, which is not in fear but in confidence." The Bishop died of respiratory failure in the afternoon of Monday, February 27, 2012, aged 67, after being hospitalized at Vinzenzkrankenhaus a week before due to a severe pneumonia.
Pontifical Requiem Mass for Bishop Guballa was held at the Cathedral of Mainz on Wednesday, March 7, at 10.30 am., presided by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, followed by interment in the cathedral crypt.
Former Auxiliary for the Diocese of Mainz and Bishop of the Titular See of Catrum, Monsignor Werner Guballa was born in Mainz, Germany, and studied philosophy and theology, first at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz and later at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Cardinal Johannes Willebrands ordained him to the priesthood on October 10, 1970, in Rome. In 1975, he completed his studies with a theological dissertation on the Dominican Melchior Cano, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Karl Becker SJ. That same year, he resumed his pastoral work in the Diocese of Mainz as Chaplain in Bensheim-St. George. From 1977, he spent five years as an economist and sub-regent at the Seminary in Mainz. In February 1982, he was appointed by Cardinal Hermann Volk with the leadership of the Catholic community of St. Albert, the University of Mainz. In 1991, he became pastor in Darmstadt-St. Louis, while in 1992, he was elected Dean of the Deanery of Darmstadt. Pope John Paul II honored him with the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness in 1992, and Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1998.
On October 1, 1996, Guballa was named Vicar General of the Diocese of Mainz, succeeding Monsignor Martin Luley. At 58 years of age, Guballa was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Mainz together with Dr. Ulrich Neymeyr by Pope John Paul II, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catrum on April 21, 2003, from Cardinal Karl Lehmann, assisted by Archbishop Karl Josef Rauber and Bishop Wolfgang Rolly at the Cathedral of Mainz.
Since May 1, 2003, he served as episcopal vicar for the Clergy and Religious in the Diocese of Mainz, and was in charge of the Institute for the spiritual guidance of full-time pastoral care workers. In 2004, he was appointed by Cardinal Lehmann, episcopal vicar for the Charity and Chairman of the Caritas Association for the Diocese of Mainz. As a member of the Commission for Science and Culture, he was the Bishop responsible for the pastoral care of German Universities.
In June 2011, Bishop Guballa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In two interviews with the "Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz" and the "Bild" newspaper in July 2011, he was spoke about his dealings with cancer. At that time, he said: "I am sick and accept the will of God there, too. But I say to God: Help me, to find a way. I told my tumor, Thou shalt not have the last word." He concluded by saying: "I go my way, which is not in fear but in confidence." The Bishop died of respiratory failure in the afternoon of Monday, February 27, 2012, aged 67, after being hospitalized at Vinzenzkrankenhaus a week before due to a severe pneumonia.
Pontifical Requiem Mass for Bishop Guballa was held at the Cathedral of Mainz on Wednesday, March 7, at 10.30 am., presided by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, followed by interment in the cathedral crypt.
Cardinal Johannes Willebrands ordained him to the priesthood on October 10, 1970, in Rome. In 1975, he completed his studies with a theological dissertation on the Dominican Melchior Cano, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Karl Becker SJ. That same year, he resumed his pastoral work in the Diocese of Mainz as Chaplain in Bensheim-St. George. From 1977, he spent five years as an economist and sub-regent at the Seminary in Mainz. In February 1982, he was appointed by Cardinal Hermann Volk with the leadership of the Catholic community of St. Albert, the University of Mainz. In 1991, he became pastor in Darmstadt-St. Louis, while in 1992, he was elected Dean of the Deanery of Darmstadt. Pope John Paul II honored him with the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness in 1992, and Honorary Prelate of His Holiness in 1998.
On October 1, 1996, Guballa was named Vicar General of the Diocese of Mainz, succeeding Monsignor Martin Luley. At 58 years of age, Guballa was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Mainz together with Dr. Ulrich Neymeyr by Pope John Paul II, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Catrum on April 21, 2003, from Cardinal Karl Lehmann, assisted by Archbishop Karl Josef Rauber and Bishop Wolfgang Rolly at the Cathedral of Mainz.
Since May 1, 2003, he served as episcopal vicar for the Clergy and Religious in the Diocese of Mainz, and was in charge of the Institute for the spiritual guidance of full-time pastoral care workers. In 2004, he was appointed by Cardinal Lehmann, episcopal vicar for the Charity and Chairman of the Caritas Association for the Diocese of Mainz. As a member of the Commission for Science and Culture, he was the Bishop responsible for the pastoral care of German Universities.
In June 2011, Bishop Guballa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In two interviews with the "Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz" and the "Bild" newspaper in July 2011, he was spoke about his dealings with cancer. At that time, he said: "I am sick and accept the will of God there, too. But I say to God: Help me, to find a way. I told my tumor, Thou shalt not have the last word." He concluded by saying: "I go my way, which is not in fear but in confidence." The Bishop died of respiratory failure in the afternoon of Monday, February 27, 2012, aged 67, after being hospitalized at Vinzenzkrankenhaus a week before due to a severe pneumonia.
Pontifical Requiem Mass for Bishop Guballa was held at the Cathedral of Mainz on Wednesday, March 7, at 10.30 am., presided by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, followed by interment in the cathedral crypt.
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