God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

04/01/2010 • 5:31 pm Comments Off on 01.04.2010 Holy days ahead

01.04.2010 Holy days ahead

For us Christians there are now very three very holy days ahead, starting today with Holy Thursday and ending with Easter, the most important feast of Christianity. In between Good Friday which tells a bloody story about suffering and death. I find it always important to have this Good Friday in between – a day where our faith clearly and without any cover up is realising the cruelty of the world, the suffering, the injustice and all what goes with it. But it is also a day where we think of those marginalised today – those suffering of HIV and AIDS, those who are refugees in a foreign country and not welcomed, those in absolute poverty or sentenced without a fair trial. So many people to think of on Good Friday. Last but not least we can also look at ourselves, our wounds, our dark sides, our pain and shortcomings – and we can do this in the knowledge that it belongs to us, it is part of being a human, and that we have to accept most of it, change some of it, but that we all can trust that God will transform all of it to an Easter experience.

I think this counts a lot specially in the days where our church is going to the press because of all the old wounds never revealed. I hope and with that this Good Friday is a Good Day for our church, acknowledging our pain and shortcomings without excuses – that will be the first step to be able to experience also an Easter of our church.

Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

03/31/2010 • 10:29 pm Comments Off on 31.03.2010 Safe house

31.03.2010 Safe house

HOPE Cape Town was the first project to receive the “safehouse” placket from the “Romantik Hotel Group” and “be your own hero e.V.

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Society and living environment, , , ,

03/29/2010 • 11:34 pm Comments Off on 29.03.2010 Holy Week

29.03.2010 Holy Week

For us Christian began the Holy Week, ending with Easter Sunday. But instead of having time of meditating the mysteries of the week, the time is packed with meetings, appointments and also liturgy. But the day started on a very sad note: Rainer H. from Switzerland died suddenly and unexpected, just returned home last week from Cape Town in his home country Switzerland. It is always a shock to learn about such news – he was a very special man. And my thoughts and prayers are with Sue and all the family.

And with such a death, the message of Easter becomes very actual as we believe that death is not the end but only a passing over to a new stage in life. Do we really believe it? And if we do so, what does that mean for our life here on earth?

For once I am sure: Rainer and Sues activities towards HOPE Cape Town meant hope and future for a lot of people – and I can pray that he will be rewarded for all he has done for our patients, but also for the sick participating in the pilgrimage to Lourdes over the years. R.I.P or better: Live in the joy of God.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Reflection, Uncategorized, , ,

03/25/2010 • 10:34 pm Comments Off on 25.03.2010 Safe House and Rome is calling

25.03.2010 Safe House and Rome is calling

Tomorrow, a representative of the “Romantic Hotel Group” is visiting HOPE Cape Town together with Joachim Franz and Sandra Wukowich. HOPE Cape Town will be presented with the first sign marking us as a recipient of the Safe House Fund of “be your own hero” e.V. I will go out and show the working of a primary health care facility, we will visit the family of one of our patience and lastly also seeing Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. It is good to have such networking and for the weekend, Joachim, Sandra and myself will stick our heads together for some exciting times in 2011.

Also on the POZ side, the initiative for HIV positive priests and religious there is some new development. Fr Wim and myself are granted a meeting in Rome with the secretary of the Papal Council for Justice and Peace. This is the second important meeting for Rome during our two days visit and I am looking forward to it. Things are developing in the right direction and it feels good to be part of this development.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, , , , , , ,

03/24/2010 • 4:36 pm Comments Off on 24.03.2010 Ball of HOPE – 22.05.2010

24.03.2010 Ball of HOPE – 22.05.2010

This morning meeting with Anja from the Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Adolf from the German Speaking Catholic Community as well as Petra from the Mediterranean Villa to discuss where we are with the Ball of HOPE 2010.
We discussed program, technicalities and the usual nitti-gritties connected with such an event. Since years the Ball of HOPE is one of the major social events in Cape Town with dinner, life music, dance, raffle and first class entertainment. Up to 300 guests can enjoy an evening of fun and laughter, but also of reflection on those less fortune than themselves. Having fun and doing good is the motto. So if you are living in and around Cape Town don’t forget to book to avoid disappointment. And if you leave abroad, there is always a reason to visit Cape Town as our mainly German visitors every year show.

The Ball of HOPE is a fundraiser, but the first objective is to remind people of their fellow neighbors, mainly poor and under siege with the HIV pandemic. For me personally it is an evening where we can be a like a bridge bringing people together who otherwise would never meet. Two worlds are meeting, living so much apart but at the end of the evening people go home with joy in their hearts and others have future and hope because of this event. We are blessed to do this now already for the 13th time in a row. Thanks to the fantastic people in Cape Town and where ever they come from to join us on this eve.

This years entertainment program will include the duet of a vocal star and a promising newcomer – performing together with the Brooklyn Holy Cross Primary School choir – a feast for those who will have the privilege to listen to them.

Welcome to the Ball of HOPE – tickets or more info via the SA – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cape Town or Petra @ the Mediterranean Villa 021 423 21 88. Or send me an email, also good  🙂 See you there.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, , ,

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