It originated from a suggestion made by
Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger at the Third Catholic Congress of Germany, held at
Regensburg in 1849 and organized by
Josef Theodor zu Stolberg-Stolberg. The object of the association is to maintain what the Catholic Church possesses in those regions where Catholics are few in number, to found and support missions and schools, and to erect churches, parish-houses and schools for Catholics in the Protestant parts of Germany. The organization is called
Bonifatiusverein für das katholische Deutschland; Stollberg is elected to be its first president. Its second president was the
bishop of Paderborn,
Konrad Martin; since then the bishop of Paderborn is the official "protector" of the organization. The territories which the association has taken under its especial care included in the early 20th century: the
Diocese of Kulm; the
Delegature of
Brandenburg and Pomerania, belonging to the
Prince-Bishopric of Breslau; the
Vicariate Apostolic of Saxony; the Dioceses of
Paderborn,
Hildesheim,
Osnabrück and
Fulda; the
Northern Missions. The association was managed by a general committee at Paderborn; the diocesan committees have entire control of the contributions they receive; after consultation with their respective diocesan councils, and under the approval of the general committee, the diocesan committees designate the objects to which the money shall be given. Millions have been collected and many churches erected or aided. Besides the diocesan committees another important branch was formed by the Boniface collecting societies. The first of these was founded in 1885 among the merchants of Paderborn by the
Marist congregation; this branch of the association was designed to care for the religious training of Catholic children in non-Catholic communities, by the founding of orphan asylums and institutions where children are prepared for their first communion, funded by the collection and sale of objects of little value in themselves, such trifles as tin-foil, old postage stamps, clothing, leaden seals, old coins, books,
cigar bands and - tips. Related to the Boniface Association was the
Academic Boniface Association. Since 1860 the general association has had a printing office (the Bonifatius press) and since 1888 a bookstore for old and new publications, both at Paderborn. The popes have granted
indulgences and privileges to priests connected with the association. The association started issuing the "Bonifatiusblatt" in 1850; the "Schlesisches Bonifatiusblatt", 1860 and the "St. Bonifatiusblatt" at Prague, founded in 1904. ==Recent history==