Count Strachwitz joined our Fraternity on 15 December 1992, just 17 days after its foundation. He is member No. 9. He is the Procurator / Regent of the Grand Priory of Bohemia of the Order of Malta. Fr. Gerhard met Count Strachwitz for the first time on 31 October 1984, when he was still Youth Officer of the Malteser Hilfsdienst in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart in Germany. Together they trained group leaders for the Malteser Youth and since then (almost 20 years) they have remained good friends. His wife Elisabeth, called "Sissy" Countess Strachwitz also joined our fraternity during her visit to us and was immediately involved in caring for our patients in the hospice. She showed her good heart especially in caring for our babies who are terminally ill with AIDS.
We warmly welcomed her to Blessed Gérard's Nursing, Social and Hospice Centre and Blessed Gérard's Children's Home!
Blessed Gérard's Nursing, Social and Hospice Centre is the hospice at the focal point of the AIDS pandemic in South Africa where 88% of people tested are HIV positive! Blessed Gérard's Care, Welfare and Hospice Centre is one of twelve charitable projects run here by the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard, the relief organisation of the Order of Malta in South Africa.