Father Johannes Maria Haw
Father Johannes Maria Haw, committed pastor, founder of the religious orders of the Sisters of St. John of Mary Queen and the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist.
Johannes Haw was born on May 26, 1871 in Schweich on the Moselle. The ancestors on the paternal side came from Bekond, where today's "Brunnenhof" still keeps the memory of the former "Gasthof Haw" alive. His mother was born Hoff from Schweich. Johannes, the second of eight children, was not made to be a farmer and winemaker like his parents and many of the Schweicher, but chose to study theology because he felt called by God to priestly from an early age. On March 30, 1895, he was ordained a priest in Trier Cathedral by Bishop Michael Felix Korum.
After a short activity as chaplain in the parish of Liebfrauen in Koblenz, Father Johannes Maria Haw was active as parish vicar in Holz / Saar and then as pastor in Wintersdorf an der Sauer. In Wintersdorf, the parish church he built and now renovated provides visible evidence of his commitment to the parish. Among the miners in Holz, Pastor Haw learned about the misery of families that the dependence on alcohol brought with it. These impressions and experiences determined his further life.
He now used all his strength and talent to advertise moderation and abstention from alcoholic beverages, especially schnapps. So Johannes Haw and many fellow campaigners became one of the leading figures in the anti-alcohol and temperance movement in Germany. The bishop appointed him diocese commissioner of the temperance union with the office in Trier. Shortly afterwards Johannes Haw became the leader of this movement for all of Germany. His particular concern was that the people affected by alcohol addiction not only received professional advice, support and education,
In order to be free for this concern of a real pastor, he gradually released himself from the various responsibilities in the associations of the anti-alcohol movement and realized his concept in the establishment of the "Johannesbund", a new "spiritual association". On October 15, 1919, the first members of the Temperance Movement and the "Cross Alliance" came together in Leutesdorf to form this new association. Johannes Haw had already settled in Leutesdorf in 1912 and bought a house there for groups of alcohol addicts and those at risk. He gave these groups retreats ("spiritual exercises") for the first time.
From this first association two religious communities grew out of which today still form the core communities of the Johannesbund: the religious community of the sisters of St. John of Mary Queen and the community of the missionaries of St. John the Baptist. Both have their headquarters in Leutesdorf and work in the care of the homeless (homeless and released prisoners), in old people's homes, in social services, in the proclamation of the faith, especially with magazines and with small letters, which through the "Catholic Scripture Mission" in Leutesdorf throughout Germany found widespread use (until 2015).
A particular concern of Father Haws was to find many committed Christians to help spread the good news of Jesus. On October 28, 1949, Father Johannes Maria Haw died in Leutesdorf and is buried there in a crypt in the Mount of Olives Chapel opposite the Heiligkreuz pilgrimage church. In the meantime, the religious orders and the Johannesbund have expanded their activities beyond Germany. You live and work in Portugal, Mozambique (East Africa) and above all in India. This is how this priest and person, carried by God's love, moves many people to this day, To take over a service in his sense in the church and to be there for the poor, the searching and endangered people of our day. His particular role model was John the Baptist, whose whole life was focused on preparing the ways for Christ. That is why he gave his communities the Lord's forerunner as a special patron. What distinguished Father Haw most of all was a great trust in God. There are many examples of this in his life. That is why everyone who knew him well adored him. He has become a shining example for them. The world and the Church today need such examples of faith in God and love for people.
