Four in one go: Haus St. Benno has every reason to celebrate

Created: 07/08/2022 13:26

By: Andreas Sachsen

"Thank you to the church taxpayers": Cardinal Marx had the laughs on his side.

© Gerald Fortsch

The St. Benno house celebrated its 25th anniversary.

And the inauguration of a new living area.

And the arrival of a new leader.

We were there.

Oberschleißheim – The St. Benno house celebrated its 25th anniversary.

High-ranking dignitaries from the district and the country rice brought congratulations and a personal check.

The mayors of Oberschleißheim and Unterschleißheim bowed their heads.

Because of the pandemic, the Catholic Men's Welfare Association (KMFV), as the sponsor of St. Benno, was forced to postpone the anniversary to the year 25 + 1.

Board member Ludwig Mittermeier had four reasons to celebrate: the 25th anniversary, the inauguration of the new living areas, the change from Kornelia Ritz to Renate Deger in management and ten years of outpatient services in the Munich district.

So four in one fell swoop.

"One bathroom, barrier-free access - that's not a luxury"

Elderly people with double and multiple impairments, homeless or mentally impaired would find a new home in Oberschleißheim, said District President Josef Mederer (CSU) in his speech: "Without facilities like these, many people would have to be permanently accommodated in clinics." The 50 inpatients so far The district spends 1.8 million euros a year on places.

Money well spent, as Mederer thinks.

"What could be nicer than helping people." The district council president expressly welcomes the fact that seven new apartments have been created and another seven have been modernised.

"A bathroom, accessibility - that's not a luxury," he said: "People are not supplicants!"

One of four occasions to celebrate: This new residential area has only recently opened.

Those in need of help are accommodated here in seven apartments.

© gerald förtsch

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who blessed the new rooms, agrees.

The expansion of the two top floors cost 2.8 million euros.

The archdiocese added 1.4 million.

"Thank you to the church taxpayers," warned Marx and had the laughter on his side.

It's been a while since Annette Ganssmüller-Maluche, who, as deputy, sent greetings from District Administrator Christoph Göbel, met Otto Schily and Alfred Heinle very close by.

In 1993, the SPD member of the Bundestag wanted to know whether it was still appropriate to speak of a men's welfare association.

Longtime KMFV board member Heinle resisted the urge to change.

Men's and women's welfare association?

Not in St. Benno, which is reserved exclusively for men in social distress.

Anecdotes like these, told by the Deputy District Administrator, are generally well received.

The issue is serious enough.

Greetings with flowers: Alexander Schuchmann (centre) said goodbye to the former head of St. Benno, Kornelia Ritz (left), and welcomed the new one, Renate Deger.

© Gerald Fortsch

It is unacceptable for mentally handicapped men to keep falling through the grate, said Alexander Schuchmann, head of the district's homeless assistance service.

“We need a lot more integrated offerings, like St. Benno;

for housing, for advice, for employment.” Thanks to medium and long-term aid, the establishment of the KMFV in Oberschleißheim is exemplary.

also read

Gun shooting despite the Ukraine war: Bavarian tradition or trauma?

Ganser company dreams of "energy center of the future"

Mayor Markus Böck (CSU) can no longer imagine the community without the KMFV.

St. Benno, the neighboring Hans Scherer house, a reintegration home.

In addition, the organic farm shop, the bike workshop.

"You are part of it, create value locally." As far as social issues are concerned, Böck summed it up with a malicious look at the mayor of the neighboring town sitting next to him, "we don't have to hide from the financially stronger Unterschleißheim".

Now Böck had the laughs on his side and went one better: the mayor quoted from a nationwide ranking of communities worth living in, which Schleißheim ranked 14th.

Unterschleißheim is not listed as a town, but otherwise it would certainly not stand a chance.

More news from Oberschleißheim and the district of Munich can be found here.