Olchinger missionary priest Josef Aicher honored with the Bavarian Order of Merit

Created: 10/30/2022, 10:00 am

From left: Deputy district administrator Martina Drechsler, Olching's mayor Andreas Magg, Pastor Josef Aicher, Benjamin Miskowitsch, Minister of State Ulrike Scharf and Olching's second mayor Maximilian Gigl.

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District – Pastor Josef Aicher was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit by the Bavarian State Minister for Family, Labor and Social Affairs Ulrike Scharf.

Pastor Aicher was ordained in Freising in 1960 and took over the Yaloya parish from his brother in 1979.

There, Pastor Aicher built schools, infirmaries, roads and bridges, as well as a water and electricity supply.

Pastor Aicher paid for the teachers out of his own pocket because the state had no money.

The quote "The more you give to people, the more beautiful and happy life becomes" reflects his inner attitude.

Even after a political upheaval, when the parish was plundered and destroyed, Pastor Aicher didn't give up and continued.

When the rainforest from which the people there live was to be cut down, he successfully campaigned for its preservation.

At the pastor's persistent insistence, then Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with the Congolese government

Aicher will continue his life's work even in retirement

Pastor Josef Aicher has already received the Federal Cross of Merit for his commitment, is an honorary citizen of Olching and Honorary President of the Kolping Family.

Josef Aicher is a priest with body and soul and will continue his life's work in Congo even after retirement.

Benjamin Miskowitsch, member of the state parliament for the constituency of Fürstenfeldbruck-Ost, who attended the ceremony in the State Ministry, warmly congratulates Pastor Aicher: "This high award recognizes and honors Pastor Aicher's decades of commitment as a missionary priest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo."

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