The 400 years of the Brothers of St John of God in Bavaria

“Your mission lives on”

 


On 11 November, the Brothers of the Bavarian Province celebrated theclosure of the 400th Jubilee Year of the Brothers of St John of God in Bavariawith 200 guests, including Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Bishop Bertram Meier ofAugsburg, the Prior General Brother Jesús Etayo, who had travelled from Romefor the occasion, and the Premier of Bavaria, Markus Söder. Exactly 400 yearsago, the Duke Wolfgang Wilhelm had signed the founding act of the St WolfgangHospital, the Order's first centre in Bavaria.

 

Cardinal Marx: what it means to be a Christian

 

In his homily during the Solemn Eucharist, Cardinal Marx said that theGospel story of the Good Samaritan teaches the importance of not looking atourselves, but rather looking at others. As Pope Francis says, the Church mustgo out to the peripheries. 'What counts is love,' he said.

 

St John of God and his successors, the Brothers of St John of God,understood this. A society is only a good society imsofar as it includes thesick, the old, the weak and the suffering. Cardinal Marx thanked the Brothersof St John of God and their co-workers for their commitment. At the same timehe spurred them on: "Your mission lives on! This is important because yourmission is 'a sign of encouragement and hope also for futuregenerations'".

 

The Premier praised the Order for its dedication

 

The ceremony following Mass in the Neuburg Municipal Theatre wasdominated by the Jubilee anniversary motto 'HOSPITALITY CREATES FUTURE'.

 

During the ceremony, the Bavarian Premier, Markus Söder, described theOrder of St John of God as a solid and reliable component part of Bavaria'shealthcare and social landscape. He thanked the Order for its commitment toChristian hospitality by the side of the sick, the poor and the needy.

 

The Bavarian Province:  a 'leader'in Europe

 

Asked whether the Bavarian Province of the Order held a privileged placein his heart, the Prior General, Brother Jesús Etayo, initially respondeddiplomatically, stating that there were a total of 17 Provinces in the Order whichnaturally work together synergistically at a regional level. In this sense, theBavarian Province was a "leader in Europe", the Prior Generaladmitted.

 

Afterwards, some of the employees and guests of the Province's centrespresented practical examples of the life and work of the Brothers in Bavaria'shospitals and institutions for people with disabilities today.



 

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