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Suffragan diocese Essen, Germany

Diocese of Essen

Essendien(sis)

Latin Church

The Diocese of Essen is a Latin Church diocese covering the industrial Ruhr area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Erected in 1958, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cologne and led by Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck since 2009.

On the map

Esri
The address the register holds for Essen Cathedral, in Essen, Germany.

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Established
1958
Catholics
844,188
Priests
356
Territory
1,877 km²

Parishes and churches

40 listed churches in our records. Open a parish for Mass times, confession, directions and sources where recorded.

This is our recorded coverage, not an official diocesan parish count. Confirm service times with the parish before travelling.

The bishop

Bishop
Franz-Josef Overbeck
Born
19 June 1964
Birthplace
Marl

Explore the ministry of the bishop.

The cathedral

Essen Cathedral stands in Essen, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

History

Erected on 1 January 1958, the Diocese of Essen serves roughly one million Catholics across the heavily urbanized and industrial Ruhr Area of Germany. Its bishop is seated at Essen Cathedral (Essener Dom or Essener Münster), a church more than a thousand years old that once belonged to Essen Abbey. Its Latin name is Dioecesis Essendiensis.

This see in the wire

Filed by the see itself

Published on the see's own news feed. A diocese reports on the whole Church, so these are often about somewhere else.

  • Diocese of Essen hosts 700 volunteers at Ehrenamtstag

    The Diocese of Essen hosted 700 volunteers at the Henrichshütte in Hattingen on Saturday, September 26. The event brought together people who serve in parishes, communities, groups, associations, and other Catholic organizations across the region spanning from Duisburg and Bochum to the Märkischer Sauerland. Various diocesan departments and institutions presented services to support volunteer work, including the Bahnhofsmission, the diocesan administration's real estate office, the innovation lab, and the World Church department. Attendees participated in several interactive activities, such as games hosted by the liturgy and faith communication department and a virtual walk on the roof of the Essen Cathedral. A volunteer team from the St. Peter and Paul parish in Hattingen served coffee and tea from a mobile catering vehicle.

    Sep 26, 2026 · Dioceses

  • Bischöfliches St.-Hildegardis-Gymnasium dedicates new schoolyard

    Bischöfliches St.-Hildegardis-Gymnasium dedicated its new schoolyard in Duisburg on Friday, September 18, 2026. The project, which includes a playground and a courtyard with shade trees, follows the opening of a new sports field nearly one year ago. The construction department of the Diocese of Essen completed the project in two years for 1.1 million euros, which was less than the original 1.3 million euro estimate and the planned three year timeline. Most of the work took place during school holidays. The school's support association provided significant funding for a new climbing frame installed in the courtyard. Duisburg First Mayor Edeltraud Klabuhn thanked the diocese for its investment in the school during the dedication ceremony and school festival. The renovated courtyard provides more space for play, sports, and learning within the school's Dellviertel location.

    Sep 18, 2026 · Education

  • Generalvikar Klaus Pfeffer discusses prevention of sexualized violence

    Sep 17, 2026 · Life & Family

  • Diocese of Essen celebrates international youth Mass

    Sep 17, 2026 · Dioceses

  • Diocese of Essen secures Johannes-Kessels-Akademie funding until 2031

    Sep 17, 2026 · Education

38 stories in the wire either name this see or come from its own feed. Read the wire.