The parish of St Norbert
The Catholic parish in Vejle was established as an independent parish on 2 February 1904. Before then a priest from Fredericia would come a few times a year to celebrate the liturgy. Pastoral care was taken over by Premonstratensians from Averbode Abbey in Belgium. Father Josef Brems (later bishop) became the parish’s first priest. Services were held in a chapel at Nørregade 7 (February to December 1904) and in St Norbert’s chapel, Blegbanken 3 (from December 1904 to July 1924).
St Norbert’s church
Architect: F. Wipfler. The foundation stone was laid on 19 July 1922 and the church was consecrated on 19 July 1924. The organ was dedicated on Christmas night 1939 and the bell in 1940.
Saint Norbert and the Premonstratensians
Saint Norbert was a bishop and founder of the Premonstratensian Order. Born in Xanten around 1080. Died in Magdeburg in 1134. Canonised in 1582. Feast day 6 June. St Norbert came from a noble Rhineland family and until about the age of 35 lived a courtier’s life at princely courts, although he was a cleric in minor orders with several privileges. He was then suddenly converted after escaping a threatening death. He was ordained priest, but enthusiasm for his new reforming spirit provoked some of the clergy in Xanten, who in 1118 accused him of preaching without authorisation and of being a hypocrite. Norbert then gave what he owned to the poor and went to Pope Gelasius II, who was then in Languedoc. The pope gave him permission to preach wherever he wished, which he did in northern France to great effect. In Valenciennes he met the young priest Hugh of Fosses, and in 1120 they founded a community of canons regular in the valley of Prémontré near Laon. From a very modest beginning it quickly developed into an order, the Premonstratensian canons, with other abbeys and priories. St Norbert continued as an itinerant preacher in France and Germany whenever opportunity arose, and in 1126 he was elected Archbishop of Magdeburg.
The diocese was in a poor state, and Norbert took it in hand with his usual energy. He met much resistance, especially from the laity, when he set about recovering church property that had been wrongly taken from the Church. More than one attempt was made on his life. In 1130 he used all his influence for the cause of Pope Innocent II in his dispute with the antipope Pierleone, and shortly before his death he was appointed chancellor of Italy by Emperor Lothar II.
In the mere twenty years St Norbert lived after his conversion he left his mark on his age, especially by founding the Premonstratensian canons regular, whose way of life is the so-called Vita mixta: life in the community of the monastery (like monks) combined with apostolic work beyond it, according to the Rule of St Augustine. In 1627 St Norbert’s relics were transferred from Magdeburg to his order’s abbey at Strahov near Prague. His emblem is a monstrance.
In 2021 the Premonstratensians from Averbode Abbey in Belgium handed the monastery in Vejle over to German Premonstratensians from Hamborn Abbey, who now provide pastoral care in the Catholic parishes of Vejle and Fredericia.