Bishop Dominicus (Michael) Meier

Dr. Dominicus Meier OSB was born on 10 July 1959 in Finnentrop-Heggen as Michael Meier. He grew up in Grevenbrueck. In 1982 he completed his Abitur at the Klemens-Hofbauer-Kolleg in Bad Driburg. In the same year he entered the Benedictine Abbey of Koenigsmuenster in Meschede, where he took the religious name Dominicus. The abbreviation OSB (Order of Saint Benedict, Latin Ordo Sancti Benedicti) after his name identifies him as a member of the Benedictine order. From 1983 to 1988 Dominicus studied theology and philosophy in Wuerzburg and Muenster. On 14 January 1989 he was ordained a priest by Reinhard Lettmann, then Bishop of the Diocese of Muenster, in Koenigsmuenster Abbey. After his priestly ordination Dominicus undertook doctoral studies in Salzburg, where in 1991 he received the doctorate in theology. As a canon lawyer he served in various functions from 1989 to 1991 at the Archdiocesan Diocesan Tribunal of Salzburg and from 1992 to 2001 at the Archdiocesan Diocesan Tribunal of Paderborn. After advanced studies and the habilitation in canon law at the University of Muenster, Dominicus received the chair of canon law at the Philosophical-Theological College of Vallendar in 2000 and was appointed full professor. On 6 October 2001 his benediction as abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Koenigsmuenster in Meschede took place. He held this office for twelve years before beginning a new task as judicial vicar for the Archbishop of Paderborn on 1 September 2013. Pope Francis appointed Dominicus Meier OSB titular bishop of Castro di Sardegna and auxiliary bishop in Paderborn on 15 July 2015. His episcopal ordination took place on 27 September 2015 through the Archbishop of Paderborn, Hans-Josef Becker. For his episcopal ordination Dominicus chose the motto "Per Christum congregamur" - "Through Christ we are brought together". Currently Dominicus is deputy chair of the Migration Commission of the German Bishops' Conference. He is also the delegate of the German Bishops' Conference for the faithful of the Eastern Churches united with Rome. On 21 June 2021 he was appointed by Pope Francis for a five-year term as a judge at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura in the Vatican. On 28 May 2024 Pope Francis appointed Dominicus Meier OSB Bishop of Osnabrueck. He took office on 8 September 2024. Did I not tell you: If you believe, you will see the glory of God?