The General Definitory Meeting at Bad Wörishofen
The first General Definitory of the year was held on 11-15 January, 2016 at Bad Wὅrishofen (Germany). On their arrival at Munich airport, the members of the Definitory were given a fraternal and warm welcome from Brother Benedikt, the Provincial Superior of the German Province, accompanied by Brother Rudolf who had gone on ahead of the other members to Munich. They then proceeded to the Provincial Curia community in Munich, where they first visited the Munich hospital, its palliative care unit and the hospice, with a guided visit by the hospital manager, Dr Nadine Schmid-Pogarell accompanied by the Provincial and by Brother Emmerich, the Community superior. At the end of the visit they went to the Provincial Curia community where they shared lunch with the Brothers.
After lunch they travelled on to Bad Wὅrishofen, where they were warmly welcomed by the director, Christine-Marie Rapp. Bad Wὅrishofen runs two centres - Kneippianum and Sebastianum - named after the founder, Fr Sebastian Kneipp, in 1896. These centres offer care and relaxation and dietary therapies accompanied by first class qualified professionals. They have also been awarded a UNESCO prize in recognition of this cultural heritage.
The members of the Definitory spent the remainder of their stay evaluating the life and mission of the Order, and the work of the Curia in 2015 in the light of the Lines of Action laid down at the last General Chapter. They then set about planning the activities for 2016. Speaking for the Definitory, and on his own behalf, the Prior General thanked the Provincial, Brother Benedikt, and the Munich community and the managers of the Munich hospital and the Kneippianum (Bad Wὅrishofen) for their hospitality and for their warm welcome which had enabled them to perform their work under the best possible conditions.