Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus-Stiftung Augsburg

The Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus-Stiftung Augsburg (also known as the Katholische Waisenhaus-Stiftung Augsburg) is a public foundation under German civil law (öffentliche Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) based in Augsburg, Bavaria. Its sole and direct purpose is the operation and financial maintenance of the St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe, a child, youth and family welfare service, and the sponsorship of the St. Gregor children's home. The foundation traces its origins to an orphanage established in 1572, making it one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Europe. The foundation is a charitable and benevolent body within the meaning of German non-profit law. Its endowment capital is intended to be preserved permanently, and only the income generated from the endowment is used to finance the St. Gregor welfare service. Additional support comes in the form of donations and testamentary bequests. The foundation is governed by a foundation council (Stiftungsrat or Administration) of nine to ten members, which includes the head of the St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe, the foundation officer of the City of Augsburg, a clergyman appointed by the bishop, two Catholic city council members, and five citizens of Augsburg. The St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe today supports more than 700 children, adolescents and young adults aged 3 to 20, and where possible their families, on a continuous basis, alongside numerous short-term counselling and open services. Its differentiated range of services includes youth social work at schools, family counselling, outreach educational assistance, therapeutic day centres, residential care in living groups, foster families, housing for mentally ill mothers and their children, and experiential and cultural education. Locations are in Augsburg and in the districts of Augsburg and Dillingen an der Donau. The foundation's name derives from its historical function as a Catholic orphanage and poor children's home. In 1980, on the suggestion of Dr. Walter Berz, the administration chose Pope Gregory the Great as the institution's patron, and the name St. Gregor has been used since 1984. The foundation is a significant example of a long-lived charitable endowment that has adapted from early modern poor relief to modern youth welfare services.

The Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus-Stiftung Augsburg traces its origins to 1572, when the Almosenamt (alms office) of the Imperial City of Augsburg acquired a property in the Bäckergasse (Litera A 134/135) and opened an interdenominational orphanage there. Within four years, more than 200 children were housed in the building. This institution, exemplary for other cities, was initially intended for children of both confessions following the Peace of Augsburg of 1555. However, shortly after the Peace of Westphalia, a separation occurred in 1649. The Catholic orphanage was relocated to its current site on the Kreuz, while the Protestant institution continued separately. In 1811, the Catholic orphanage merged with the foundling and poor children's home to form the Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus (Catholic Orphan and Poor Children's Home). From 1853, the institution was entrusted to the order of the Poor School Sisters (Armen Schulschwestern), who also founded an orphanage school. The lives of the orphaned children in earlier centuries were shaped above all by the social environment and the political and economic conditions of their time. The majority of Augsburg's urban population lived in poverty; the splendour and wealth of the Free Imperial City were limited to a few. Wars, plague and crop failures had direct consequences for the children of the orphanage. In times of crisis, survival was possible only through the support of generous citizens. Daily life was determined by the triad of work, prayer and school. During the Second World War, the institution was severely damaged by Allied air raids and had to be rebuilt after the war. In 1961, the City of Augsburg released the foundation from its administration, and the independent Katholische Waisenhaus-Stiftung was created. In 1967, the orphanage school run by the nuns was closed. Due to a shortage of personnel, the order decided in 1986 to leave the institution. Sister Johanna, one of the last Poor School Sisters to work in the house until 1987, recalled arriving in 1978 to establish an intake and diagnostic group. The name St. Gregor-Heim der Kath. Waisenhaus-Stiftung, used since 1984, was changed in 2003 to St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe der Katholischen Waisenhaus-Stiftung Augsburg. In 1980, on the suggestion of Dr. Walter Berz, the administration chose Pope Gregory the Great (Gregor I., c. 540–604) as the institution's patron and namesake. Pope Gregory is venerated for his care for youth, including the legendary ransoming of children from slavery and their education in his house. The institution celebrates its patronal feast (Patrozinium) in March, alongside its annual festival. Today the foundation's sole and direct purpose is the operation and financial maintenance of the St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe and the sponsorship of the St. Gregor children's home. The foundation serves charitable and benevolent purposes. Its endowment capital is preserved permanently, and only the income from the endowment is used to finance the welfare service, supplemented by donations and testamentary bequests. The foundation is led by a foundation council (Stiftungsrat or Administration) of nine to ten members, comprising the head of the St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe, the foundation officer of the City of Augsburg, a clergyman appointed by the bishop, two Catholic city council members, and five citizens of Augsburg. The St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe today supports over 700 children, adolescents and young adults aged 3 to 20, and where possible their families, with a differentiated range of services at locations in Augsburg and the districts of Augsburg and Dillingen an der Donau.

• 2003

  The name is changed to St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe der Katholischen Waisenhaus-Stiftung Augsburg.

• 1986

  Due to a shortage of personnel, the order of the Poor School Sisters decides to leave the institution.

• 1984

  The name St. Gregor-Heim der Kath. Waisenhaus-Stiftung comes into use.

• 1980

  On the suggestion of Dr. Walter Berz, the administration chooses Pope Gregory the Great as the institution's patron and namesake.

• 1967

  The orphanage school run by the nuns is closed.

• 1961

  The City of Augsburg releases the foundation from its administration; the independent Katholische Waisenhaus-Stiftung is created.

• 1853

  The institution is entrusted to the order of the Poor School Sisters, who also found an orphanage school.

• 1811

  Merger with the foundling and poor children's home to form the Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus.

• 1649

  After the Peace of Westphalia, the institution is awarded to the Protestants; the Catholic orphanage is relocated to its current site on the Kreuz.

• 1630

  The institution receives a Catholic orientation through the imperial Restitution Edict.

• 1576

  More than 200 children are housed in the orphanage building.

• 1572

  The Almosenamt of the Imperial City of Augsburg acquires a property in the Bäckergasse and opens an interdenominational orphanage.

A centuries-old Catholic charitable foundation dedicated to the operation and financial support of child, youth and family welfare services in the Augsburg region.

• St. Gregor Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe

  The child, youth and family welfare service operated and funded by the foundation, supporting over 700 children, adolescents and young adults aged 3 to 20.

• St. Gregor-Kinderhaus

  The children's home sponsored by the foundation.

1. 1Stiftung - St. Gregor Jugendhilfe Augsburgst-gregor.de
2. 2Geschichte - St. Gregor Jugendhilfe Augsburgst-gregor.de
3. 3Unser Namenspatron - St. Gregor Jugendhilfe Augsburgst-gregor.de
4. 4Im Gespräch mit Schulschwester Johanna - St. Gregor Jugendhilfe Augsburgst-gregor.de
5. 5Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus-Stiftung Augsburg - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Katholische Waisen- und Armenkinderhaus-Stiftung Augsburg - Wikidatawikidata.org