Katholische Junge Gemeinde
A major German Catholic youth organization with democratic local groups across the country.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Katholische Junge Gemeinde, commonly known as KjG, is a German Catholic youth organization whose local groups are primarily based in Catholic parishes. It combines youth work, community life, Christian education, democratic participation and social engagement. The organization has approximately 80,000 members distributed among local groups throughout Germany, although membership figures and organizational structures may change over time. KjG was established in 1970 through the merger of two postwar Catholic youth bodies: the Katholische Jungmännergemeinschaft, an organization for young men founded in 1947, and the Katholische Frauenjugendgemeinschaft, established in 1954 for young women. These organizations themselves descended from older Catholic youth associations, including the Katholische Jungmännerverband founded in 1896 and the national organization of Catholic girls' associations founded in 1915. The development of KjG therefore reflects both the long history of Catholic youth work in Germany and the transformation of church-based associations during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The organization is structured democratically at several levels. Local groups generally elect a board of two or more chairpeople, often with an effort to maintain balanced female and male representation. Volunteer group leaders organize regular meetings, camps and other activities for children, adolescents and young adults. Although many groups operate from parishes, some are associated with schools or other community settings. Membership participation and voting rules can vary between local groups, but the organization presents young people as active participants in shaping its work rather than merely recipients of religious instruction. KjG's work extends beyond explicitly devotional activity. Its programs have included youth camps, group education, social projects, international exchange, political education and campaigns addressing discrimination, European participation and environmental policy. In 1979, its federal assembly supported a phase-out of nuclear power, demonstrating the organization's willingness to take positions on public policy. The 2001–2002 "enjoy the difference" campaign promoted tolerance and opposed discrimination and xenophobia. In 2014, the nationwide YOUrope project encouraged young people to consider youth rights and opportunities for participation in European political processes. KjG maintains connections with the wider Catholic youth movement. It belongs to the Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ), the German umbrella organization for Catholic youth associations, and to Fimcap, an international federation of Catholic youth organizations. Its international profile included cooperation with Fimcap during the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne, where KjG and Fimcap operated an international exchange center visited by more than 20,000 pilgrims. KjG later hosted Fimcap's general assembly in Munich in 2010, while the Munich and Freising diocesan branch hosted the Fimcap EuroCourse in 2012. The organization identifies Thomas More as its patron and uses a quotation attributed to him as its motto: "I never thought of consenting to a matter, if it would defy my morals." Its emblem, known as the Seelenbohrer or "soul drill," was designed in 1967 by Alfred Klever during a screen-printing course near Cologne. The symbol was associated with the 1968 joint Pentecost gathering of KjG's predecessor organizations and has been interpreted as representing Christ or the Gospel at the center, people seeking answers around that center, and movement toward action. KjG also influenced the development of contemporary worship music in Germany, particularly the Neues Geistliches Lied tradition. KjG remains an active, volunteer-based Catholic youth association in Germany. Its identity combines Christian orientation with democratic organization, youth leadership, social responsibility and participation in wider church and civic networks. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current headquarters, a single chief executive or a corporate ownership structure; these fields are therefore left unspecified.
History
KjG's institutional history reaches back to the late nineteenth century, when Catholic associations for young people began developing across Germany. The Katholische Jungmännerverband, regarded as a predecessor of the later male Catholic youth association, was founded in 1896. In 1915, the national organization of Catholic girls' associations in Germany was established, creating the predecessor tradition of the later Katholische Frauenjugendgemeinschaft. These organizations formed part of a broader Catholic associational culture that provided religious formation, social community and organized activities for young people. The Nazi regime prohibited Catholic youth organizations in Germany in 1938. After the Second World War, Catholic youth work was rebuilt. The Katholische Jungmännergemeinschaft was founded in 1947, followed by the Katholische Frauenjugendgemeinschaft in 1954. The two organizations represented separate male and female Catholic youth traditions, but changing social conditions and church reforms increasingly encouraged cooperation and structural integration. In 1970, the two associations merged to form the Katholische Junge Gemeinde. The merger created a unified Catholic youth organization with a democratic structure and local groups connected mainly to Catholic parishes. KjG's post-merger identity emphasized youth participation, voluntary leadership and shared responsibility. Its local groups typically elected boards and organized weekly meetings, camps and activities for children, adolescents and young adults. This model allowed the organization to function as both a church-based youth association and a platform for civic and social learning. KjG also developed a public-policy profile. In 1979, its federal assembly decided that the organization should support a phase-out of nuclear power. In 1995, it adopted the Altenberg Declaration, which addressed the place of spiritual assistants in the organization's leadership and emphasized that such assistants should be elected democratically. During 2001 and 2002, the "enjoy the difference" campaign promoted tolerance and opposed discrimination based on origin, appearance, race, possessions or other superficial characteristics. The campaign also took a clear position against xenophobia. The organization has participated in national and international Catholic youth networks. KjG is a member of the BDKJ, the German umbrella organization for Catholic youth associations, and Fimcap, an international federation of Catholic youth organizations. During the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne, KjG and Fimcap organized an international exchange center that attracted more than 20,000 pilgrims. KjG hosted Fimcap's general assembly in Munich in 2010, and its Munich and Freising diocesan branch hosted the Fimcap EuroCourse in 2012. KjG's civic and political education work continued through projects such as its participation in Germany's 72 Hours campaign in 2013. More than 100 KjG groups contributed projects to that nationwide youth social-action program. In 2014, during an election year for the European Parliament, KjG organized YOUrope – Strippenzieher*innen für eine jugendgerechte EU. The project sought to encourage young people to reflect on youth rights and identify ways to participate in European political processes. The organization has also had a cultural and liturgical influence. It is associated with the development of Neues Geistliches Lied, or contemporary worship music, in Germany. Its patron is Thomas More, and its motto is a quotation attributed to him concerning refusal to consent to matters that violate one's morals. KjG's emblem, the Seelenbohrer, was designed in 1967 by Alfred Klever and became associated with a joint Pentecost gathering of the predecessor organizations in Münster in 1968. The symbol's central point, surrounding bar and arrow have been interpreted as representing the Gospel, people seeking answers and dynamic movement toward action. Today, KjG is organized through local groups across Germany and operates as a volunteer-led Catholic youth association. Its work spans parish life, group leadership, camps, faith-related activities, social engagement, political education and international exchange. The available reference material identifies approximately 80,000 members but does not provide a current executive roster, headquarters address or detailed financial information.
- 2014
YOUrope project organized
[1]KjG organized a national project focused on youth rights and participation in European political processes.
- 2001
Enjoy the difference campaign begins
[1]KjG launched a campaign promoting tolerance and opposing xenophobia and discrimination.
- 1995
Altenberg Declaration adopted
[1]KjG adopted a declaration emphasizing the role of spiritual assistants and democratic election of those assistants.
- 1979
Federal assembly supports nuclear phase-out
[1]KjG adopted a position advocating the phase-out of nuclear power.
- 1970
KjG formed through merger
[1]The Katholische Jungmännergemeinschaft and Katholische Frauenjugendgemeinschaft merged to create Katholische Junge Gemeinde.
- 1954
Katholische Frauenjugendgemeinschaft founded
[1]The Catholic women's youth association was founded.
- 1947
Katholische Jungmännergemeinschaft founded
[1]The postwar Catholic young men's association was established.
- 1938
Catholic youth organizations prohibited under Nazi rule
[1]Catholic youth organizations were forbidden in Germany by the Nazi regime.
- 1915
National Catholic girls' association established
[1]The national organization of Catholic girls' associations in Germany was established, providing the predecessor tradition for the later women's Catholic youth association.
- 1896
Catholic young men's association founded
[1]The Katholische Jungmännerverband was founded and later became part of the institutional predecessor tradition of KjG.
Products and positioning
A democratic, volunteer-led Catholic youth organization combining parish-based community work with Christian formation, youth participation, social engagement and international exchange.
Youth community
Local youth groups
KjG's core organizational units are local groups, usually attached to Catholic parishes but sometimes based in schools or other settings. Volunteer leaders organize regular meetings, educational activities and community events for children, adolescents and young adults. Local boards are elected by members and coordinate the group's work.
Youth services
Camps and holiday programs
Camps and group trips are a prominent form of KjG youth work. They combine recreation, peer community, volunteer leadership and religious or values-based education. Activities are generally delivered by local volunteer teams and are aimed at children, adolescents and young adults.
International youth work
International exchange
Through its membership in Fimcap, KjG participates in international Catholic youth cooperation, exchange and training. Examples include the World Youth Day exchange center in Cologne, the Fimcap General Assembly in Munich and the Fimcap EuroCourse hosted by the Munich and Freising diocesan branch.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014YOUrope – Strippenzieher*innen für eine jugendgerechte EU
Germany · European Union
A nationwide project organized around the European Parliament election year. It encouraged young people to examine youth rights and consider ways to participate in European political processes.
Outcome. The available reference confirms the project and its participation objective but does not report a quantified result.
- 201372 Hours campaign participation
Germany
More than 100 KjG groups carried out projects as part of Germany's large youth social-action campaign.
Outcome. Participation connected local KjG groups with a nationwide youth volunteering initiative.
- 2001Enjoy the difference
Germany
A tolerance campaign that challenged discrimination based on origin, appearance, race, possessions and other superficial characteristics, while explicitly opposing xenophobia.
Outcome. The campaign ran during 2001–2002; a quantified outcome is not specified in the available reference.
Brand decisions
1995
Adoption of the Altenberg DeclarationStrategyBackground
The declaration addressed the role of spiritual assistants within KjG's leadership structure.
Action taken
KjG emphasized that spiritual assistants should be part of organizational leadership and should be elected democratically.
Aftermath
The decision reinforced the organization's combination of Catholic spiritual identity and democratic governance.
1979
Support for nuclear power phase-outStrategyBackground
KjG's federal assembly considered the organization's position on energy and environmental policy.
Action taken
The assembly decided that KjG should advocate phasing out nuclear power.
Aftermath
The decision demonstrated KjG's willingness to adopt positions on broader public-policy issues beyond parish youth work.
Recent events
- 2013
KjG groups participate in Germany's 72 Hours campaign[1]
Campaign
More than 100 KjG groups took part in the 72 Hours campaign, a large German youth social-action initiative.
- 2012
Munich and Freising branch hosts Fimcap EuroCourse[1]
Other
KjG's diocesan branch in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising hosted the Fimcap EuroCourse, an international youth exchange and training event.
- 2010
KjG hosts the Fimcap General Assembly in Munich[1]
Other
The organization hosted the general assembly of Fimcap, the international federation of Catholic youth organizations, in Munich.
- 2005
KjG and Fimcap operate an international exchange center during World Youth Day[1]
Other
KjG and Fimcap organized an international exchange center in Cologne during the 20th World Youth Day. More than 20,000 pilgrims visited the center.
Sources2 sources
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