Monsignore Peter Gruber

Peter Gruber was born in St. Ruprecht an der Raab, the son of the farmer of the same name Peter Gruber and his wife Johanna Gruber, née Lucher. After completing his school education, he entered the Graz seminary and was ordained a priest on July 21, 1907. He then became a cooperator (chaplain) in Krieglach from 1907 to 1909, chaplain in Kapfenberg from 1909 to 1913 and chaplain in Waasen in Leoben from 1913 to 1922.

On September 1, 1922, Peter Gruber became parish priest and dean in St. Xaver in Leoben. There he witnesses the fall of Austria as a result of the invasion of the German Wehrmacht on March 12, 1938. As a known opponent of National Socialism, he is taken into protective custody by the Gestapo for two weeks.

After this, he is once again a priest in Leoben. On December 31, 1943, he is given leave of absence. It is not clear why this happened, but after Peter Gruber died a year later, it can be assumed that it was a leave of absence due to illness.