Future of pastoral care: Archdiocese of Hamburg discusses SeSam project
On September 26th and 27th, 2025, the Priests' Council will meet in Hamburg to discuss the SeSam project and shape the pastoral future.

Future of pastoral care: Archdiocese of Hamburg discusses SeSam project
Things will be happening at the Catholic Academy in Hamburg on September 26th and 27th, 2025. Important bodies of the archdiocese, including the Priests' Council, the Cathedral Chapter and the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPR), meet here to discuss the SeSam project. A full range of perspectives are incorporated into these discussions to provide a solid foundation for the archbishop's decisions. The Archdiocese of Hamburg reports that a future-oriented picture of the pastoral landscape should be drawn, which includes both objections and requests for changes from the members of the diocese.
The overarching goals are clear: The committees should work in preparation for the decisions of the diocese leadership to implement the project. This aims to ensure greater participation of believers in this process. The challenges of modern pastoral care should not be underestimated and require careful analysis in order to do justice to the community.
News from the Diocesan Pastoral Council
Another important point that provides a breath of fresh air is the new statute of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, which will come into force on September 1, 2025. Loud Archdiocese of Paderborn There is a clear direction: The DPR should now act as an advisory body to the Archbishop of Paderborn, which places great emphasis on the transformation of pastoral care and administration. The principle of synodality is strengthened and the participation of lay people and volunteers is anchored.
In these circles, fundamental decisions for the archdiocese are managed, and the new statute allows the inclusion of new groups, such as schools or native-speaking communities. This will support collaborative work across the archdiocese and emphasize the diversity of voices in the process.
Historical review of the Archdiocese of Hamburg
In recent years the archdiocese has initiated a number of comprehensive reforms. Diocesan Bishop Stefan Heße started a renewal process in 2016 to reduce the archdiocese's enormous debts. He sought annual savings of 20 million euros and the closure of unnecessary churches and buildings. Despite these challenges, the Archdiocese of Hamburg shows a strong commitment to the future of the Catholic community in northern Germany.