For me hospitality is ...

An experience of hospitality

For someone like me, who is forced to reason in corporate/financial terms, it isn’t easy not to lose sight of hospitality. As the manager of a center for the elderly, upholding hospitality in spite of the economic pressure - and actually putting it above all else - is indeed a challenge.

A crucial experience in this sense was a pilgrimage to Granada in 2009, which I had the opportunity to take part in. I was captivated by this beautiful city, where I followed in the footsteps of Saint John of God and truly realized that the Saint completely renounced his own needs in order to dedicate himself entirely to others. The memory of this pilgrimage helps me – most of the time - to remember the principles of Saint John of God and to act accordingly. I am very grateful for this experience.

In my work as manager at the Saint John of God center of the elderly in Neuburg, Germany, hospitality means first and foremost being kind and friendly with the guests of the center. This is essential to me.

After all, if I have to go to the doctor for a visit, I want to be treated with kindness and consideration. That is why I make an effort to dedicate the necessary time to listening to the requests of all our guests. At the same time, I want to make sure that the elderly feel they are being treated on a par.