“Ship ahoy!” Midsummer staff party on the MS Günther

It was an excursion with a difference on June 19 – instead of meeting on solid ground, for once, our employees assembled on a boat. It was a wonderful sight: the hospice as a meeting place on the water.

It started in the afternoon in beautiful summer weather. We left Münster’s harbor behind us and took the main route south after making a short detour to the north. The canal proved to be a fitting stage. We kept an attentive eye on the numerous bathers in waters that became increasingly calm. The upper deck of the MS Günther turned out to be the preferred spot. There was a barbecue, along with salads, sides, dessert and, of course, an abundance of cold drinks. The conversation was humorous but thoughtful, light like the summer and moving like the hospice.

This special mid-year festival allowed employees from different fields to get together in a casual setting – whether in-patient, out-patient, academy, grief, pastoral care, public relations or housekeeping, full-time or volunteer. We paid special thanks to those employees who were able to celebrate their 10^th and 15^th anniversaries working with us. We also honored the head of the in-patient hospice, Michael Roes. “Together we have already achieved a lot, which wouldn’t have been possible without your expertise. You have been a stroke of luck for Johannes-Hospiz,” said Ludger Prinz, recognizing Roes’ outstanding commitment.

As the soft evening light accompanied us on our return to the harbor, another surprise guest boarded the ship. Horst Schlämmer whirled through the crowd on the boat, wearing a tie and a trench coat that was far too warm. At this point, those “walking on water” as part of the Skulptur Projekte Münster had long since returned home.