Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich

What Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich does

Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich is the cantonal-level governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. It operates as a public-law corporation (Körperschaft) under cantonal law, led spiritually by Bishop Joseph Maria Bonnemain, governed corporately by the Synodalrat under President Franziska Driessen-Reding, and administered operationally through the Generalvikariat under Generalvikar Josef Annen. Its core function is to coordinate, support, and resource a canton-wide network of parishes (Pfarreien) and Kirchgemeinden that deliver sacraments, pastoral care, faith formation, and community programs to Catholics from approximately 150 countries of origin.

The organization's service portfolio spans both physical and digital channels. Physical delivery is anchored in the parish network and the Paulus Akademie adult-education center. Digital delivery is anchored in the zhkath.ch website, the "Grüss Gott Zürich" email newsletter, the iKath intranet for staff, the Forum Magazin event-calendar aggregation platform, and active social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp. Cross-cutting programs include the "Nachhaltig Kirche leben!" ecological-sustainability initiative (overseen by Sustainability Officer Markus Staudinger), the "Dossier Missbrauch" zero-tolerance abuse-prevention framework, and a Weiterbildung (continuing-education) catalog for Kirchenpflege members and church staff. Ecumenical and interfaith partnerships with the Reformierte Kirche Zürich, Verband Orthodoxer Kirchen im Kanton Zürich, Caritas Zürich, and the Zürcher Forum der Religionen extend its social footprint.

The organization's revenue model is dual and recurring: statutory Kirchensteuer (church tax) collected from registered Catholic members in the Canton of Zurich, supplemented by voluntary donations and offerings. Religious services are provided free of charge to the public. Operations are headquartered at Hirschengraben 66 and 70-72 in Zürich, which also houses the Synode (church parliament), Forum editorial offices, the Fachstelle für Religionspädagogik, and the national-level Römisch Katholische Zentralkonferenz (RKZ). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich

Legal name

Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich

Website

https://zhkath.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The cantonal governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, coordinating a network of parishes and Kirchgemeinden that deliver sacraments, pastoral care, faith formation, education, and social programs to Catholics of 150 nationalities, funded by church tax and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Pastoral ministry
• Parish community
• Spiritual care
• Church administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Church Tax Revenue: In Switzerland, the Catholic Church receives church tax (Kirchensteuer) from registered members, which constitutes a primary source of funding for operations.
2. Donations and Offerings: Voluntary donations and offerings from congregation members during services and through direct giving programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich provides religious and pastoral services to Catholics across the Canton of Zurich, including the celebration of sacraments, spiritual guidance, faith formation, community programs, ethical discourse, and adult education. It coordinates these offerings through a cantonal-wide network of parishes (Pfarreien) and local Kirchgemeinden, supported by central governance bodies (Synodalrat, Generalvikariat) and educational institutions such as the Paulus Akademie.

Product overview

Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich operates as a religious organization with a comprehensive digital and community service portfolio. Its core offering is the website zhkath.ch, which serves as the central information hub for the Catholic community in Canton Zurich. Supporting services include the "Grüss Gott Zürich" email newsletter for regular updates, the internal iKath intranet for staff, and the Forum Magazin event calendar aggregating activities from all parishes. The organization runs the "Nachhaltig Kirche leben!" sustainability program focusing on ecological responsibility. Additional offerings include professional development courses for employees and volunteers, a church finder service for locating parishes, and the Paulus Akademie as an adult education center for theological and ethical programs. The digital ecosystem is complemented by social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Church Finder (Kirche finden) Directory service helping users locate Catholic churches and parishes within the Canton of Zurich; intended for congregation members and the broader public seeking local Catholic services.
• Professional Development (Weiterbildung) Continuing education and training courses offered to church employees, Kirchenpflege members, audit committee members, and volunteers; topics include financial management for church finances, employee evaluation, and interview training theory and practice.
• Paulus Akademie Adult education and conference center operated by the Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich, hosting lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and cultural events on theology, ethics, interfaith dialogue, and contemporary societal issues; aimed at the general public, intellectuals, and interfaith participants.
• Forum Magazin Event Calendar Event agenda platform aggregating events from all parishes and institutions across the Canton of Zurich; serves congregation members and the broader public looking to attend Catholic events.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Römisch Katholische Zentralkonferenz (RKZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RKZ is headquartered at the same location (Hirschengraben 66) and represents the Roman Catholic Church at the national level in Switzerland, coordinating between cantonal churches and the Swiss Bishops' Conference.
• Forum MagazincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Forum magazine and its editorial team are located at Hirschengraben 70-72, serving as a key publication for Catholic news and commentary in the canton.
• Fachstelle für ReligionspädagogikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReligious education center located in the same secondary building, providing educational resources and support for religious instruction.
• Verband Orthodoxer Kirchen im Kanton ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Orthodox churches in Canton Zurich with whom the Catholic Church cooperates on ecumenical events such as the annual celebration of Zurich's patron saints Felix, Regula and Exuperantius, and the Orthodox pilgrimage to Einsiedeln.
• Reformierte Kirche ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical partnership with the Reformed Church in Zurich for joint events, the annual 'Lange Nacht der Kirchen' (Long Night of Churches), and collaborative social initiatives.
• Caritas ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services organization affiliated with the Catholic Church, providing poverty relief, humanitarian aid, and community support programs such as the 'Eine Million Sterne' solidarity action.
• Zürcher Forum der ReligionenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith forum bringing together various religious communities in Zurich for dialogue and joint initiatives, including the annual 'Woche der Religionen' (Week of Religions).

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche Schweiz (EKS): The national federation of Swiss Protestant churches. Comparable as a higher-level religious organization providing coordination, advocacy, and program support across cantonal member churches, mirroring the Catholic cantonal-to-national governance structure.
• Schweizer Bischofskonferenz (SBK): The Swiss Bishops' Conference serving as the national-level Catholic governance body. Comparable as the higher-level Roman Catholic institutional counterpart coordinating doctrinal, pastoral, and policy matters across all Swiss cantonal churches including Zurich.

Emerging players

• Caritas Zürich: The Catholic-affiliated social services organization operating poverty relief and humanitarian aid in Canton Zurich. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit partner delivering community programs such as "Eine Million Sterne," operating within the same cantonal ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Römisch-Katholische Zentralkonferenz (RKZ): The national coordination body of the Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland, headquartered in the same building as Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich. Comparable as a Catholic organizational entity operating under Swiss public-corporation law and coordinating between cantonal churches.
• Reformierte Kirche Kanton Zürich: The Protestant counterpart cantonal church operating in the same Canton of Zurich. Directly comparable as a parallel public corporation (Körperschaft) under cantonal law, funded by Kirchensteuer, running parishes and ecumenical programs with overlapping congregation geography.
• Katholische Kirche im Kanton St. Gallen: Another cantonal Catholic church organization following the identical Swiss legal and funding model. Comparable in offering parish services, education programs, social outreach, and Kirchensteuer-funded operations within its canton.
• Katholische Kirche im Kanton Bern (RK Bern): A cantonal Catholic organization in Canton Bern operating under the same Swiss Körperschaft model. Directly comparable across parish networks, Kirchensteuer funding, and educational/social service programming.
• Katholische Kirche im Kanton Luzern: A peer cantonal Catholic church organization operating under the same Swiss cantonal public-corporation model. Directly comparable in structure, funding (Kirchensteuer), parish network, governance, and programming, differing only by canton.

Regional players

• Jüdische Liberale Gemeinde Zürich (JLG): A Jewish congregation and community organization operating in Canton Zurich. Comparable as a regional non-Christian religious community participating in the same interfaith initiatives (e.g., Zürcher Forum der Religionen) and serving a multi-ethnic membership base.

Others

• Paulus Akademie: The adult education and continuing education center operated by the Catholic Church in Canton Zurich. Comparable as a program-level peer offering theological, ethical, and interfaith public lectures, hosted within the same organizational footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/zhkath
• Facebookfacebook.com/zhkath
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zhkath
• Instagraminstagram.com/zhkath

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Katholische Kirche im Kanton Zürich