Although there were some Christian communities in the Austrian provinces at
the time of the later Roman Empire, Catholicism was only fully introduced in
what was to become Austria in the course of the 7th century, a regular
hierarchy being set up soon afterwards.
In 1945 this hierarchy comprised :
- the Archdioceses of Salzburg and Vienna
- the Apostolic Administrations of Burgenland and Innsbruck - Feldkirch
- the Abbey Nullius of Wettingen - Mehrerau
There also existed an Austrian Military Vicariate from 1920 to 1938.
Note
Before 1918, at the time of the Austrian Empire, some archdioceses and
dioceses, which after 1918 became part of other countries, were also part of
the Austrian Roman Catholic Hierarchy :
- the Archdiocese of Görz divided between Italy and Yugoslavia after 1918.
- the three Archdioceses of Lemberg/Lwow - one for each of the Armenian,
Ruthenian and Latin rites - which, after 1918, became part of Poland.
- the Archdiocese of Olmütz, which, after 1918, became part of Czechoslovakia
- the Archdiocese of Prague, which, after 1918, became part of Czechoslovakia
- the Archdiocese of Zara, which, after 1918, was divided between Italian
Zara and Yugoslavia.
- the Dioceses of Brixen, Trient and Lavant - suffragans to Salzburg - which
after 1918, became part of Italy (the first two) and Yugoslavia.
- the exempt Diocese of Krakow, which, after 1918, became part of Poland.
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In 1922 the territory of the new Austrian land of Burgenland was detached
from the jurisdiction of the Hungarian dioceses of Györ and Szombathely and
organized into the Apostolic Administration of Burgenland
Apostolic Administrators
1922 - 1949 The Archbishops of Vienna
Provicars
1922 - 1932 Franz Hawati 1868 - 1940
1932 - 1949 Josef Köller 1891 - 1975
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In 1921 the parts of the diocese of Brixen which had remained Austrian after
the tranfer of the diocese to Italy, were organized as a separate Apostolic
Administration, directly dependent of the Holy See.
Apostolic Administrators
1921 - 1938 Sigismund Waitz, Titular Bishop of Cibira
in Caria 1864 - 1941
1938 - 1964 Paul Rush, Titular Bishop of Lycopolis in
Thebaide I 1903 -
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The Austrian Abbey of Mehrerau was founded ca 1097. It was suppressed in 1806
its buildings serving afterwards for several purposes.
In 1854 monks of the Swiss abbey of Wettingen - founded 1227 and suppressed
by the government of the canton of Aargau in 1841 - searching for a new home
received authorisation from the Austrian government to settle in the remains
of the buildings of the former abbey of Mehrerau, in this way founding the
new Abbey Nullius of Wettingen - Mehrerau.
Abbots
1864 - 1878 Martin Reimann
1878 - 1893 Maurus Kalkum
1893 - 1895 Laurentius Wocher
1895 - 1902 Augustin Stöckli
1902 - 1917 Eugen Notz
1917 - 1949 Kassian Haid
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In 1794 a military vicariate was established for the Austrian - later Austro
-Hungarian - Army. It was abolished in 1918, but 1n 1920 a vicariate for the
Austrian troops was revived. It was once again abolished in 1938, at the
annexation of Austria to Germany.
Apostolic Vicars for the Austro- Hungarian Army
1863 - 1875 Dominik Mayer 1809 - 1875
1875 - 1878 August Landt 1809 - 1896
1878 - 1890 Anton Joseph Gruscha 1820 - 1911
1890 - 1911 Koloman Belopotoczky, Titular Bishop
of Tricala in Tessalia II 1845 - 1914
1911 - 1918 Emmerich Bjelik, Titular Bishop of
Thasos in Macedonia 1860 - 1927
Military Vicar of Austria
1920 - 1939 Ferdinand Stanislas Pawlikowski 1877 - 1956
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