Mechernich – The support association of the widely respected ‘Stella Maris’ hospice of the Communio in Christo in Mechernich has a new prominent chairman in Mayor Dr Hans-Peter Schick (63).
The head of the town, who will complete his 25th year in office in September, was elected unanimously on Tuesday evening in the seminar room of the Ordo Communionis in Christo. 20 of the almost 300 members of the support association attended. The Mechernich hospice has always been close to his heart. He will be happy to take on the new honorary social office at Communio in Christo.
The previous chairman Heiner Dieroff became Dr Schick's deputy, Miriam Arnold remained secretary and Dr Thomas Göbel treasurer. Guido Plützer and Wilfried Schmidt were elected as assessors. Superior General Jaison Thazhathil and Norbert Arnold as Chairman of the Board of the social welfare organisation are natural members of the Board. Ursula Schmidt-Lehr and Deacon Manfred Lang audit the cash register.
Five per cent from donations
The hospice's support association finances the five per cent deficit in the hospice's budget required by social law. Because it is not allowed to do business with hospices and dying people in Germany, health insurance companies and social security providers only finance 95 per cent of the actual personnel and material costs incurred.
The remaining five per cent - almost 90,000 euros a year - is provided by the ‘Stella Maris’ support association in Mechernich. The sum is largely made up of donations. Added to this are the contributions of the currently exactly 278 members - and a small but growing proportion from inheritances.
The new chairman promised that he would use his high profile to ask people in the neighbourhood to support the hospice and recruit new members, just like the former chairman of the social welfare organisation Helmut Weber.
‘I visited my doctoral supervisor and other trusted people before him at the hospice and I know what is done for people here,’ said the mayor: ’I am fully behind it, I really, really enjoy doing this voluntary work and I am looking forward to it!’
"Bringing light into the world every day"
Hospice nurse Silvia Sack reported on the work of the hospice using a PowerPoint presentation prepared by Verena Izzo, head of nursing at the Stella Maris hospice in Mechernich run by the Communio in Christo e.V. social organisation.
In an unspectacular but extraordinarily warm-hearted way, the hospice tries to maintain as much normality as possible with its guests throughout the year, with biscuit baking and handicrafts at Christmas, doughnuts and costumes at carnival, Easter egg dyeing and first stays in the sun wrapped in blankets in spring, barbecues, ice cream parlours, "Fragrance Day" and table tennis in summer and autumn.
"Together with our guests and their relatives, we try to bring a little more light into this world every day," said Silvia Sack at the end, to applause from those attending the meeting. She particularly thanked the hospice team, the hospice volunteers and the new chairperson for their support. Two colleagues are currently undergoing further training to become palliative care specialists.
pp/Agentur ProfiPress
