Superior General Frank Bayard | |
|---|---|
| Grand Master andAbbot | |
 | |
| Elected | 22 August 2018 |
| In office | 2018–present |
| Predecessor | Bruno Platter |
| Previous post | General Treasurer of the Teutonic Order |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 22 July 2006 by Friedrich Wetter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-10-11)11 October 1971 (age 54) |
| Nationality | German |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Residence | Vienna |
| Profession | Banker |
| Education | Allensbach Hochschule |
| Motto | Noli timere – meus es tu (Do not fear – you are mine) |
| Coat of arms |  |
Frank Bayard (born 11 October 1971) is a GermanCatholic priest and 66thGrand Master of theTeutonic Order.[1]
After completing an apprenticeship as a banker atDeutsche Bank, Bayard studied business administration and European economics at the Wissenschaftliche Hochschule Lahr (WHL), graduating with a degree inbusiness administration.[2][3]
In 2000, Bayard entered theTeutonic Order, made his perpetual profession on 19 September 2004,[4] and studied philosophy, Catholic theology, history, and health care management in Innsbruck and Vienna from 2001 to 2008. On 22 July 2006, he receivedthe sacrament of priestly ordination in the Collegiate Church of Weyarn from theArchbishop of Munich and Freising,Friedrich Cardinal Wetter.[1] Since 2015, he has been a parochial vicar of the parish ofGumpoldskirchen in theArchdiocese of Vienna.
In 2006 he was elected to the General Government of the Teutonic Order as General Councillor of the German Brotherly Province. From 2008 to 2018, he served as the order's general treasurer. On 22 August 2018, at the General Chapter of the Teutonic Order inVienna, Bayard was elected to succeed Bruno Platter as Abbot General and Grand Master of the Order for a six-year term[5] and was immediately installed in office. On 17 November of the same year, the abbatial blessing was imparted to him by thecardinalArchbishop of Vienna,Christoph Schönborn, inSt. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.[6][7]
After the founding of theAustrian Conference of Religious Orders in December 2019, as a merger of the Superior's Conference and the Association of Women's Orders of Austria, the women's and men's orders of the Archdiocese of Vienna and theDiocese of Eisenstadt, the Diocesan Conference of Vienna/Eisenstadt, chaired by Secretary General Christine Rod, appointed Bayard as president of the Diocesan Conference of Vienna/Eisenstadt on 15 September 2020.[8] As of 16 September 2020[update], Bayard was also appointed a member of the board of the Institute of Austrian Religious Orders.[9]
After theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Bayard made a personal donation of €5,000 and a donation of €10,000 from the Order to the local government ofMalbork in order to help Ukrainian refugees there.[10]
Grand Cross of theOrderpro Merito Melitensi – Ecclesiastical classpro Piis Meritis Melitensi (13 October 2021).[11] Awarded as a sign of the solidarity of the two orders of chivalry and in recognition of the achievements of the Teutonic Order in the service of the "Lord's Sick".
| Grand Master of the Teutonic Order | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hochmeister 2018–present | Incumbent |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
