The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Irschenberg Children's Village: A warm farewell to Wolfgang Hodbod

2023-05-09T04:15:15.208Z

Highlights: Caritas Children's Village Irschenberg director Wolfgang Hodbod retires after 32 years. President of the Landtag Ilse Aigner: "If the motto of Caritas, see need and act, applies to anyone, then dear Wolfgang, it's you" Mayor: "You were always a great team player who stood by our side even in small and large emergencies" The village, with around 300 children and 120 employees, was named Germany's best employer in 2020.



The youth parliament of the Caritas Children's Village bid a moving farewell to its director Wolfgang Hodbod. © Helmut Hacker

Irschenberg – Wolfgang Hodbod recently retired with a standing ovation after 32 years as director of the Caritas Children's Village Irschenberg.

Many hundreds of young people from toddler to young adulthood who were not on the sunny side of life have now been given a home by the Caritas Children's Village Irschenberg, founded in 1972. For two-thirds of this time, Wolfgang Hodbod is responsible for this, as the President of the Landtag Ilse Aigner put it, "a very special place of power".

Aigner, who is also chairwoman of the Children's Village's Friends Association, praised Hodbod as always warm-hearted, absolutely reliable in times of need, but also pugnacious character when it came to "his children": "If the motto of Caritas, see need and act, applies to anyone, then dear Wolfgang, it's you."

Gabriele Stark-Angermeier, head of the Caritas Association of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, recalled the beginnings of the Children's Village under the leadership of the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Family: "They have continued this tradition in a great way and developed it from a static network across the district borders." Hodbod also attested to this by Sister Henriette of the Order of the Holy Family: "With your daring and ideas, the Children's Village has become something wonderful." As Stark-Angermeier said, this also includes the Rabenmoosalm in Ruhpolding, which has been expanded as a forest educational experience space thanks to Hodbod's commitment. In addition, Stark-Angermeier said, the outgoing head of the Children's Village was a sought-after expert in Rosenheim and the state capital.

District Administrator Olaf von Löwis unreservedly agreed with the words of thanks and praise for this "export hit" and "Mister Children's Village": "For you, challenges have always been opportunities that you have faced authentically and warmly. In doing so, you have created a great life's work that you can be proud of and for which we can all be grateful to you." Irschenberg's mayor, Klaus Meixner, symbolically compared the children's village to a large sailing ship: "You always managed to set sail correctly and never lose sight of the goal. You were always a great team player who stood by our side even in small and large emergencies."


The Caritas Children's Village, with around 300 children and 120 employees, is a valuable and highly valued employer in the community, which, as has been highlighted several times, was even named Germany's best employer in 2020 under Hodbod's leadership.


Hodbod as captain

With funny anecdotes and gifts, Hodbod's colleagues surprised him and the approximately 60 guests in the Prelate Müller Hall. But they saved the best until the end, a heart that stood for rock-solid honesty and faithful fulfillment of duty and Hodbod's often worn captain's cap. Because, as presenter Annette Ehnes said: "On every ship that floats and sails, you need someone to regulate the crew."


In a deeply moving scene, Hodbod was also bid farewell on behalf of "his" children by the youth parliament of the children's village. As a souvenir, there was a tree as a gift, which is now being planted in the children's village.


Before Deacon Andreas Maier spoke the blessing at the end of the ceremony, he said: "If many hundreds of children and now adults know a person, pronounce his name with respect, deep friendship and gratitude, he must be a very special person called and guided by God." Helmut Hacker

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-05-09

You may like

News/Politics 2024-02-19T06:31:06.329Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.