Paul Tomitschek CSsR

Paul Tomischek [Note: his father is still called Tomíček] was born in Wienings near the Lower Austrian municipality of Groß-Siegharts as one of eight legitimate children of the teacher Franz Tomíček and Karolina Henriette, née Petzold.

When Paul Tomischek was still young, the family moved to Vienna-Währing, where he attended elementary school and the first year of grammar school. He then transferred to the boys' seminary in Hollabrunn, where he graduated in 1899. He then joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) in Mautern. He was ordained on October 24, 1901 and ordained a priest on July 29, 1908, after which he taught mathematics at Katzelsdorf grammar school.

In 1934, Paul Tomischek moved to the Redemptorist monastery in Oberpullendorf as superior. There, on March 12, 1938, he witnessed the downfall of a free and independent Austria.

On the same day shortly before, Paul Tomischek had already been arrested by the Gestapo. In a sermon, he had pointed to a picture of the Kulturkampf, in which the devil makes fun of men who believe they can destroy the church. The National Socialists referred to this sermon - probably rightly so.

On April 30, 1938, Paul Tomischek was released from prison, but was banned from preaching and the Gau. He moved to the Redemptorist monastery in Innsbruck, Katzelsdorf and Puchheim before becoming parish provost in Franzen near Zwettl in Lower Austria in 1940. There he witnessed the liberation of Austria in May 1945.