For the first time since 2002, the Austrian Bishops’ Conference (ÖBK) will be holding its spring Plenary Assembly in the Diocese of Feldkirch. The Assembly, which began yesterday, is chaired by the Archbishop of Vienna, Card. Christoph Schönborn, and is taking place in the historic rooms of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Gerold, which has been a social, cultural and spiritual centre in Vorarlberg since 960 and is now at the forefront of livestock breeding and organic farming, besides being an important centre for rehabilitative and therapeutic horse riding. The Assembly started with a study afternoon on contemplative religious life. Another main topic will be the impact of social change on school education, the Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference, Peter Schipka, told the Austrian Catholic news agency “Kathpress”. On the Bishops’ agenda will also be two global religious items: the first being an analysis of the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia”, to draw inspiration from it in light of the situation of the family in Austria; and, second, paving the way for the Lineamenta and the preparatory questionnaire for the next Synod on ‘Youth, faith and vocational discernment’ scheduled for October 2018”. Last but not least, there will also be an exchange of views on current social and ecclesial issues, with a special focus on the new law on “integration”.