time of improving their mechanical skill. In 1847 he became the second president of the Gesellenverein, German Catholic societies for the religious, moral, and professional improvement of young men which gave its members both religious and social support. In 1849 he returned to Cologne as the cathedral's vicar and established Cologne's branch of the Gesellenverein. "Initially his objective was to provide a home-away-from- home for young apprentices and journeymen while they learned a trade that would enable them to make a decent and honest living." The Cologne society soon acquired its own home, and opened therein a hospice for young traveling journeymen. In his efforts to develop the work Kolping was energetic and undaunted. He was eloquent both as speaker and writer. He visited the great industrial centres of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary. In 1850 he united the existing associations as the "Rheinischer Gesellenbund" – this fusion was the origin of the present international "Kolpingwerk". In 1854 he founded the newspaper "Rheinische Volksblätter" (or the "Rhine Region People’s Paper") which quickly became one of the most successful press organs of his time. He was the editor of the Catholic People's Calendar from 1852 to 1853 and of the Calendar for the Catholic People from 1854 to 1855. In 1862 he became the rector of the Saint Maria Empfängnis church in Cologne. Pope Pius IX titled him as a Monsignor in 1862 – this came about after the pair met in Rome in a private audience in May to discuss the priest's work. By 1865, over 400 local groups of the journeymen’s organization had been established and were functioning throughout Europe and in America. He died on 4 December 1865 due to lung cancer; he had suffered from a severe joint inflammation in his right forearm that spring. His remains are buried in the Saint Maria Empfängnis church (Minoritenkirche). He is remembered as the "Father of All Apprentices" and in 2003 was ranked eleventh in the Unsere Besten. Pope John Paul II visited his tomb in November 1980 while visiting the nation. He said:”We need models like Adolph Kolping in today’s Church". Quotes "The signs of the times will teach you what to do." "Let's show Christian living in ever more practical ways and the present will be better and the future brighter." "The human life cannot exist without joy, without fun, least of all during youth. Thus joy and