Schools and Higher Education – Diocese of Speyer

The Diocese of Speyer manages its educational infrastructure through the Main Department for Schools, Universities, and Education (Hauptabteilung II), which oversees the administration of Catholic educational institutions across the Pfalz and Saarpfalz regions of Germany.

Based on the diocesan administrative structure, the department is responsible for the operational and strategic oversight of schools, higher education initiatives, and continuous professional development programs. The administration is headquartered at the Episcopal Ordinariate in Speyer.

Administrative Leadership and Structure

The Main Department for Schools, Universities, and Education is led by Dr. Irina Kreusch. The administrative office operates from the Episcopal Ordinariat located at Große Pfaffengasse 13 in Speyer.

The department’s organizational framework is detailed in an official organigram updated as of February 9, 2026. This structure coordinates the various educational tiers under the diocese’s jurisdiction, ensuring alignment between ecclesiastical goals and state educational requirements.

Scope of Educational Services

The diocese’s educational portfolio is divided into several primary pillars designed to support students, educators, and the broader community:

• School Management: The diocese operates Catholic schools with specific profiles, providing a material pool of teaching ideas and spiritual impulses for educators.
• Pastoral Care: The department manages school chaplaincy (Schulseelsorge), providing personnel and specific projects within school environments.
• Higher Education: Through Catholic University Communities (Katholische Hochschulgemeinden), the diocese maintains presence at university and college locations. These communities serve as hubs for students, lecturers, and staff to engage in intellectual discourse and interdisciplinary exchange.
• Digital Resources: The diocese maintains relilab, an online network specifically designed for religion teachers to collaborate and share resources.

Institutional Support and Infrastructure

Beyond formal classroom instruction, the Diocese of Speyer maintains several specialized institutions to support academic and historical research.

The Diocesan Library and the Diocesan Archive serve as the historical record for the Catholic Church in the Pfalz and Saarpfalz regions. The archive specifically preserves records, maps, and photographs dating back to the re-establishment of the diocese in 1817 and 1821.

the diocese operates educational and conference centers (Bildungs- & Tagungshäuser), which provide venues for professional events and structured educational programming.