The priest from Dom-Erch receives the Federal Cross of Merit. The District Head appreciates the ability of Father Schwarz to inspire people to be persistent to one thing.
EUSKIRCHEN – “It’s about the project,” said Father Stefan Schwarz, as he addressed the word to the Guest House in the district. Although the District Head Rosenke Günter handed to him the Federal Cross of Merit on Thursday morning, the priest from Dom-Esch had been very humble.
After he had contacts with Kosovo refugees in his parish of St. Cyriac in Neuss-Grimlinghausen in 1992, with the support of Malteser, he initiated a project to help Albania. He contributed not only in collecting donations and with his own financial resources, but also set out to Albania himself. There he helped to bring four ambulance cars in the city of Shkodra. Under his direction, doctors were organized, who ensured the basic needs for inaccessible mountain regions, and furthermore the region received a discarded auxiliary hospital, devices which are still in service. Father Schwarz convinced Malteser-Hilfsdienst as well, to set up a branch in Shkodra. It exists since 1995 and since 2005 it operates as an independent branch of Malteser Relief, with 120 people who help.
The District Head commended for the presentation of the Federal Cross of Merit, the ability of Father Schwarz to inspire people to be persistent to one thing. “Without the support of Malteser my Mission would have had no sustainable results,” Schwarz passed the honor to his supporters. “With the help of the Malteser the donated ambulance and the hospital would wisely and sustainably be used”, said the father.
He also thanked his family, who during his operations in Albania had always taken care of him. For the first trip he borrowed a camper from his mother. He also thanked his employers of JVA Rheinbach, where he worked since 1998 as a full-time priest and social contact for the employees. Without a commitment from the employer, it would have been not possible for him of course to support the project for several weeks in Albania.
Since 2009, Stefan Schwarz lives in the district of Euskirchen. He also holds exhibitions in Dom-Esch, to be familiar in the community. Even the district Head supported him for this project. He gave the priest the book “Guide to the Eifel” by Jacques Berndorf.