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Germany
Population: 82 million Life expectancy males/females: 73/80 years Infant mortality rate: 5.1‰	Religions: Protestant 34.6%; Catholic 34.2%; Others 31.2%. GDP per capita: US $27,510

Spiritan presence: since 1863.

A new animation
The provincial authorities have worked hard to encourage confreres to broaden their vision, looking at the Province, the European Region and the Congregation as a whole. Without making confreres lose sight of reality, this open spirit has helped them to be more available and more generous in their service. Efforts have been made to get rid of the idea of two categories of German Spiritans: those who remained at home and those who left for the 'missions'.

New initiatives
For a long time, Spiritans have been working closely with different groups of lay people. These groups do not know each other very well, but for several years now, they have also had a general assembly, which has led to a better understanding and co-operation between them.

The Province was cofounder of MAZ (Missionaries for a time) and the community of Stuttgart is particularly involved with this work. The Province continues to put much money and personnel into the scheme. Many young people have been able to give some years of their lives to helping the confreres in their mission, and at the same time, getting to know another culture and another Church.

There are still a certain number of confreres active in parishes. Having given over the responsibility to others, they continue on as assistants. There have always been some confreres who move around the country giving retreats. Knechtsteden continues to be a place of pilgrimage and over recent years, much restoration work has taken place. The year 1996 saw the 100th anniversary of the Spiritans' arrival. Libermann House on the same compound receives groups of people for meetings, classes and retreats. Finally, there is a section for retired confreres; a floor has been adapted for their needs and a confrere has been appointed full-time to look after them.

The Province works closely with other missionary and religious Institutes, one result of which is the review 'Kontinente'. Each Institute can produce its own insert and the publication is highly appreciated by tens of thousands of Germans. At present, the Institutes are also working together to set up a branch of AEFJN.

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