By Daniela Kubiak, Unit Communicator, Province of Germany
Nestled in the heart of Münster, Germany, stands a building with a rich history, a testament to our values of inclusivity and sustainability. Once housing Good Shepherd sisters, the building was transformed 30 years ago into Hotel Haus vom Guten Hirten.
As we celebrate International Mother Earth Day on April 22 and Zero Discrimination Day on March 1, we honor this pioneering project that embodies the ethos of accessibility and environmental consciousness.
The current building was built in 1950 on the site of the original building from 1850 that served to support girls in our care, but much of which was destroyed during the Second World War.
By the early 2000s, many of the rooms lay empty, and a new use for the house was being considered. At that time, there were certain financial incentives to create opportunities for social integration and inclusion, and so the sisters came up with a plan to reach out to a new target group: women and men living with disabilities who would gain employment in a new integrative hotel.
Having eventually opened in 2009, the hotel has now been running successfully for 16 years. In its earliest days, sisters were involved in the work of the hotel, but now the work is carried out by trained, committed, and empathetic partners-in-mission. Driven by Good Shepherd values, their unwavering welcome to all, regardless of background or ability, has been seamlessly woven into the fabric of the hotel.
Today, Haus vom Guten Hirten remains a place where diversity is celebrated, where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, and where our role to care for our common home is embraced. The commitment to inclusivity is evident in the hotel’s barrier-free design, ensuring that guests with disabilities can navigate the building with ease and comfort.
The hostel is one of around 1,000 inclusive businesses in Germany that ensure the equal participation of people with disabilities in working life. In order to receive state funding for the initial redevelopment of the building, at least half of the staff had to be people living with a disability. This commitment continues to this day, with over half of the hotel’s employees – working in reception, service, or housekeeping – living with some form of disability.
The hotel’s dedication to sustainability aligns with the Congregation’s clear position on integral ecology and care for creation. Hotel Haus vom Guten Hirten stands as Münster’s first climate-neutral hotel, setting a new standard for environmental responsibility in the hospitality industry when it achieved this certification in 2022. A real highlight is the large photovoltaic system on the roof, which supplies the hotel with almost self-sufficient electricity.
“An overnight stay causes an average of 13.02 kg of COâ‚‚ emissions,” explains Co-Managing Direct, Kai-Uwe Kersten. “These emissions cannot be completely avoided, but we compensate for them fully by investing in climate protection projects in countries in the Global South.” These projects not only promote renewable energies and energy efficiency, but also strengthen women’s rights, improve healthcare, and open up new perspectives.
On this International Mother Earth Day, we celebrate the enduring legacy of our sisters, whose spirit of inclusivity and awareness of integral ecology continues to inspire all who step over the threshold of Haus vom Guten Hirten.
As we reflect on their life of service, let us renew our commitment to building a world where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. Let us carry forward the torch of compassion, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to thrive in a world free from prejudice and discrimination where inclusivity, sustainability, and integral ecology go hand in hand.
