Adolph Kolping (1813-1865), the ‘Father of the Journeymen’ was born on 8th December, 1813 at Kerpen, a small village near Cologne in Germany. He was born in a poor shepherd family and therefore he experienced the stringent poverty in his early childhood. As the parents could not afford to educate him after middle level, Adolph Kolping had to drop out at the age of 13, although he had an earnest aptitude for school education. Consequently, he took up apprenticeship under a shoe-maker to earn a living. He worked for ten years as a shoe maker, moving from place to place. During these days, he came to know the miseries of migrants who had to leave their family in the rural areas, migrating to urban centres in search of livelihood. After mastering the shoe making skill. He continues the secondary schooling at the age of 23 with the support of a benefactor as the thirst for higher education continued to be alive within him. During the study days, he realized that he had a special call for priesthood and subsequently joined the University of Munich in 1841 for theological studies. Adolph Kolping was ordained to priesthood in the church of the Minor Friars in Cologne on 13th April 1845.
Adolph Kolping, during his first assignment at Wuppertal-Elberfeld showed significant involvement in the issues of journeymen as he was much familiar with the hardships of the migrants during the ten years of his craftsmanship in shoe making. Therefore, the concerns of journeyman became the primary focus of his ministry. Adolph Kolping founded the first Journeymen’s Association on 6th May 1849, which is now called Kolping Family Association. The commitment towards the wellbeing of the poor working class was so intense that Adolph Kolping never cared for his health. This was the reason for the early death of Adolph Kolping at the age of 51 on 4th December 1865. Father Adolph Kolping was laid to rest in the Minorite Church. Adolph Kolping was declared “Blessed” in Rome on 27th October 1991. Blessed Adolph Kolping stands as a tall model in the society as his life and teachings are meaningful and relevant even today.
The work initiated by Adolph Kolping in Germany, about 170 years ago, has now spread far and wide across several continents. Despite the rapid growth and fast changing socio-economic-political contexts, Adolph Kolping remains an Icon inspiring people to continue his development work among the people in need.
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