Maria Alberta Lücker – Founder and Pioneer of the KAAD

Born in Bonn on September 28, 1907, Dr Maria Alberta Lücker is one of the most influential personalities in the history of KAAD. At a time when women in leadership positions in the church were still an exception, she established structures that are still in place today. With foresight, courage and organizational strength, she laid the foundation for a scholarship organization that combines education, international solidarity and dialogue between cultures.

After studying Romance languages, English and German in Bonn and Paris, she completed her doctorate in 1932. She soon became actively involved in the Ignatian-inspired Gral Movement, which she led in Germany from 1945 to 1970 and also helped to shape in international leadership from 1965 to 1971. This spiritual and organizational experience led her to the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) in the mid-1950s. There, she initially took over the cultural department and then became responsible for international relations – a role that allowed her to help shape the German church's global church activities in the post-war years.

This work gave rise to the "KAAD Action Group" in 1955, which Maria Alberta Lücker played a leading role in initiating. Her aim was to bundle support for foreign students in Germany and put it on a new footing. Even back then, she combined the promotion of academic education with spiritual support and global church responsibility – a guiding principle that has shaped the profile of the KAAD to this day. KAAD was registered as an association in 1958 and Maria Alberta Lücker took over the chairmanship.

But her work went far beyond KAAD: she was involved in setting up Misereor, was one of the co-founders of AGEH (now AGIAMONDO) in 1959 and headed the Secretariat of Lay Auditors during the Second Vatican Council. In doing so, she made a decisive contribution to ensuring that the voice of lay people and women was heard in Rome. She was later one of the co-founders of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) and took on the role of Vice-President; the first World Conference took place in Kyoto in 1970.

Dr. Maria Alberta Lücker combined intellectual clarity with political intuition and personal spirituality. She established structures that have endured for decades and continue to support the work of KAAD to this day. Even 118 years after her birth, she remains a guiding light: for a church that is open to the world and for a society that needs justice and peace.