Art and faith united: Father Schörghofer about his passion

Art and faith united: Father Schörghofer about his passion

Father Gustav Schörghofer, who was born in Salzburg, has established himself over the decades as a crucial figure at the intersection between art and faith. As rector of the Jesuit Church, one of Vienna's great baroque churches, he is not only responsible for the care and maintenance of this cultural heritage, but also for promoting contemporary art through numerous exhibitions and projects.

Schörghofer was born in Salzburg in 1953 and grew up directly on the majestic Hohensalzburg Fortress, where he came into contact with art at an early age. These experiences shaped him and led him to study art history and classical archeology with Wilhelm Messerer and Hans Walter. In 1981 he entered the Jesuit order, where he studied philosophy and theology until he was ordained a priest in 1988. He then took up the challenge and became editor-in-chief of the magazine “Decision” from 1988 to 1997 before working as a pastor in Lainz-Speising for a few years.

One of the highlights of his career is running the Jesuit Foyer, a small gallery in the Jesuit Church that has been working with contemporary artists since 1999. These collaborations provide platforms to explore artistic expressions within a spiritual framework. Schörghofer sees interesting connections in the relationship between art and faith, even if these two areas are not always directly connected.

Resonance of art in faith

An indispensable part of Schörghofer's work is the examination of the role of art in religious and philosophical discourses. He is deeply convinced that contemporary art can have a voice in intercultural and interreligious dialogue. “Art and Church” is an important reference point in this context. This ecumenical magazine is dedicated to current positions in art and architecture and illuminates their influence on faith. She analyzes how modern church buildings and artistic projects transform central content of Christian tradition and thus underlines the important connection between religion and contemporary work.

Schörghofer's passion for art is also reflected in his dedication to looking at old masterpieces in a new way. For example, he spent eight hours in front of a painting by Caravaggio to better understand its depth and meaning. This speaks to his belief that engaging with art can open up a deeper spiritual dimension.

Musical accents and views

Another highlight of today's conversation, which took place at 2:05 p.m. in the Jesuit Church, was the musical performance. The playlist included works by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and created a harmonious connection between art and faith with compositions such as “I. Mariae Annunciation – Sonata No. 1 from the 'Rosary Sonatas'”. The soloists such as violinist Daniel Sepec and musicians Hille Perl, Lee Santana and Michael Behringer ensured that the church's radiant acoustics created a special atmosphere.

Father Gustav Schörghofer remains a key figure in Vienna, playing a central role in both the art scene and religious life. His commitment to contemporary art and the preservation of cultural values ​​shows that the connection between art and spirit is not only alive but also necessary. By supporting initiatives such as the Jesuit Church and the Jesuit Foyer, he opens doors to creative and spiritual debate.

For more information about his impressive career and projects, you can visit [oe1] and [jesuiten.org] and explore the discussion-promoting platform [kunst-religion.de].