Gruber, Karl

Catholic clergyman

Born: 25.12.1857 in Langenschwalbach (today Bad Schwalbach)

Died: 25.04.1927 in Wiesbaden

Gruber attended the episcopal convent in Montabaur, studied theology at the episcopal seminary in Würzburg and was ordained a priest in Freising in 1882.

He spent his years as a chaplain at St. Boniface's Church in Wiesbaden, among other places. In 1895, he became rector with the title "parish priest" at the new Maria Hilf Church in Wiesbaden. In 1910, the bishop appointed him coadjutor (assistant) to the ailing parish priest Adam Keller. After Keller's death in 1911, the parish was transferred to him. In 1914, the parish of St. Boniface was divided and the pastoral districts of Maria Hilf and Dreifaltigkeit were elevated to independent parishes. The parishes were merged into a single association, of which Pastor Gruber became chairman. Shortly afterwards, he was also appointed dean of the Wiesbaden district chapter.

During the First World War, Gruber made efforts to provide pastoral care for prisoners of war, looked after war hospitals and increased social and charitable aid for the suffering population. For this, he was awarded the Red Eagle Order 4th Class by Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was thanks to his energetic advocacy that the bells of St. Boniface's Church were not melted down. The social hardship, exacerbated by the Ruhr War, continued after the end of the war and required great organizational skills to continue the work.

Gruber's time in office saw the construction of several clubhouses, the orphanage, the brothers' chapel and the Holy Trinity Church.