Mechernich - Karl-Heinz Haus (88), the first Superior General of the Ordo Communionis in Christo founded in Mechernich on 8 December 1984 has died. Fr. Haus was ordained a priest in 1961 in St. Anna in Düren/Germany. On Monday, 17 January 2022, he passed away peacefully in the long-term nursing care facility surrounded by members of the community.
Still on All Saints Day, 2 November 2021, the Superior General Karl-Heinz Haus had left for Rome as one of a twelve member Communio delegation to hand over to Pope Francis in a special audience on 3 November the foundation cross and the Rule of the Ordo Communionis in Christo, thus explicitly laying the foundation of Mother Marie Therese into the hands of the Holy Father.
After having fulfilled this last earthly mission, the health condition of the Superior General who had been the foundress’ spiritual guide for decades, deteriorated every day. However, in his wheelchair he could still attend the Holy mass on the foundation commemoration day on 8 December as well as the mass on Christmas Eve. Since the beginning of the new year, he was confined to bed.
Grown up in the Lower Rhine region
Fr. Karl-Heinz Haus, much honored and loved by many people and who radiated a great love of human beings, of God and a special kindness could live to celebrate his 60th ordination anniversary on 25 July last year and his 85th birthday in 2018. He was born on 12 August 1933 in Nettetal-Lobberich in the Lower Rhine region. He graduated from Thomaeum high school in Kempen/Germany and studied theology till 1959 in Bonn.
The picture of his First Mass as a priest 60 years ago shows Saint Christopher, “The bearer of Christ” carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulders. Back then, this was the symbol of the Christian Youth of Workers. The words above the picture ran: “You are all bearers of Christ”. And underneath you find Fr. Haus’ motto: “Christ alone!” as well as a short prayer: “Hail Mary, pray for young working-class apostles.”
“To follow Christ, is what matters”, were the words for the ordination chosen by the five deacons, among them Karl-Heinz Haus, who were ordained priests in St. Anna, Düren in July 1961 by the Bishop Johannes Pohlschneider. “I took the discipleship very seriously,” admitted Fr. Karl-Heinz Haus in an interview and he went on to explain: “In all modesty, I took it seriously to such an extent that I abided by it against all opposition I had to face in connection with Mother Marie Therese’ story of foundation and sufferings.”
Establishment of the Social Institute
Mother Marie Therese had appointed Fr. Karl-Heinz Haus to be the Superior General for life. Fr. Jaison Thazhathil originating from India is his deputy. At the side of Mother Marie Therese, the former managing director of the Social Institute Communio in Christo, Helmut Weber, his successor Norbert Arnold and supported by a Chapter including external experts, Fr. Karl-Heinz Haus established nursing care facilities in Mechernich and Blankenheim for people in need of intensive care, for senior citizens and for moribund people.
On the occasion of Fr. Haus‘ 85th birthday, the Aachen Bishop Dr. Helmut Dieser as well as his predecessor Bishop Dr. Heinrich Mussinghoff had sent greetings. Both had already visited the motherhouse and the care facilities in Mechernich, where based on the principles of Christian love of neighbor it is about finding and honoring God. The motto of the loving socializing there is “Caritas est vivere in Deo”.
Between 1961 and 1968 Fr. Karl-Heinz Haus started as an assistant priest in Anrath and Mönchengladbach. He was the priest in charge of the Düren region from 1968 till 1975; in 1975 he was the Mechernich parish priest and between 1976 and 1981 he ministered as the dean of the Mechernich deanery as well as a priest of St. Lambertus parish in Holzheim (near Mechernich). In 1982 the then Bishop Dr. Klaus Hemmerle released him from his office so that he could help Mother Marie Therese’ with her foundations. In 1973 until her death in 1994, Fr. Haus was Mother Marie Therese’ Father Confessor and spiritual guide and in 1985 he was appointed the Superior General of the Ordo Communionis in Christo.
Funeral: 22 January, 11.30 am, cemetery of Mechernich
As wished for by Mother Marie Therese, the Superior General headed the spiritual and charitable legacy until his death. Those who got to know him would unanimously confirm, that he focused in total commitment and with all his power on Mother Marie Therese and her charitable work, rather than on his priestly existence, his ego as a human being, his appreciation as a preacher and theologian.
Not just the community and the Chapter, the members of the Ordo Communionis in Christo around the world and the employees of the Communio in Christo Social Institute mourn the loss of a great person, an upright clergy man, but also many people in the City of Mechernich, the Polish twin city Skarszewy, in the district of Euskirchen and in many countries worldwide. The festive funeral on the cemetery of Mechernich will be on Saturday, 22 January at 11.30 am. Due to the Corona pandemic the wake of the death and the requiem mass cannot be held publicly. A live stream of the Resurrection Mass will be available on the Communio in Christo homepage as of 10.00 am.
pp/agency ProfiPress
