This year’s Hospice Days were officially opened with the musical prelude ‘Morning has broken’, movingly performed by Franz Vogelgesang and Frank Berger. The song, which describes the new dawn as a symbol of hope and a constantly recurring new beginning, also set the thematic tone for the matinee: even when life is marked by illness, farewells or uncertainty, there remains hope for quality of life, self-determination and the preservation of dignity.
The opening event brought together people who are involved in hospice work, either professionally or on a voluntary basis, as well as numerous interested guests. The Hospice Days are organised by the Saarpfalz Ecumenical Hospice and Palliative Care Advisory Service and the Saarpfalz District Hospice and Palliative Care Network, together with its partners.
Gabriele John-Neumann, coordinator of the hospice service, welcomed the guests and referred to the selected pieces of music in her remarks. Among other things, she highlighted the well-known Beatles song ‘Help’. She said that, despite its rousing sound, its message was simple: everyone needs help, closeness and support at some point in their lives. A simple ‘I’m here for you’ can sometimes work wonders.
District Administrator Frank John, patron of the Hospice Days, emphasised in his welcoming address the great importance of hospice work for the region and beyond. Supporting people at the end of their lives is an important social responsibility and, above all, an expression of humanity in action. Where medical options reach their limits, this by no means implies that nothing more can be done. Rather, the focus shifts even more strongly to the individual, with their needs, fears and wishes.
Another guest speaker, Barbara Aßmann, Chair of the Ecumenical Hospice Care Organisation for the Palatinate and Saarpfalz and Diocesan Caritas Director, summed up this central idea of hospice care: “Even when there is nothing more that can be done, there is still a great deal that can be achieved.” Hospice care does not simply mean giving life more time. Rather, it is about supporting people in experiencing the time they have left as consciously as possible, with as few symptoms as possible, with dignity and on their own terms. This includes medical and nursing support as well as human contact, conversation, comfort and the certainty that they are not alone.
In Samuel Koch, the event welcomed a guest speaker who combines profound experiences with major challenges and changes. His talk made a deep impression through its authenticity, personal insights and a clear yet encouraging message: a person is not made perfect by their achievements, but by the fact that they are loved. Through thought-provoking reflections, moving insights and a varied programme of talks, Koch demonstrated that even difficult life situations need not be defined solely by loss and farewells. It is precisely by coming to terms with one’s own mortality that one can sharpen one’s focus on what really matters: relationships, shared moments, hope and life itself.
A recurring theme in his talk was the different stages of crisis management. Alongside the intense emotions that can accompany a tragic event, acceptance and taking action are, in particular, crucial steps on the path to a new and thoroughly fulfilling life. It is important, he said, to recognise one’s own scope for action and to make the most of the opportunities that remain, despite all the limitations. Human beings are valuable in their own right. They are ‘human beings’ rather than ‘human doings’. One’s worth is not measured by achievement, success or the benefit one brings to others. The experience of being loved and accepted – regardless of one’s achievements or role – can become a vital source of stability and confidence.
The speaker’s words left a lasting impression on the audience. At the end of his talk, the audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation – a striking sign of just how deeply his message had resonated with those present. During the subsequent question-and-answer session, there was an opportunity to reflect on the ideas raised in the talk and to engage in discussion with one another. It became clear once again just how wide-ranging the issues surrounding hospice care, dying, death and bereavement are, and how important it is to have spaces for exchange, interaction and mutual support. The musical finale was ‘You Raise Me Up’ by Westlife. The song aptly summed up the message of the morning: people can offer each other support, give one another strength and accompany one another through difficult times.
Following the event, visitors were able to find out more about the work and the wide range of services offered in the field of hospice care at information stands. A book table invited visitors to explore the topics of dying, saying goodbye, bereavement, end-of-life support and hope in greater depth. Samuel Koch also remained on hand for a long time afterwards to engage in personal conversations.
The opening event made it impressively clear that hospice care does not focus solely on the end of life. It focuses on the person – on what remains, what is possible, and what makes a life worth living right to the very end.
As summed up by the motto of this year’s Hospice Days: ‘Life goes on further than you might think’.
Further events:
Wednesday, 9 September, 6.00–8.00 pm
Biographical work
Talk with Isabell Funk.
Venue: Caritas Centre Community Centre, Kaiserstraße 63, St. Ingbert
Registration required: [email protected], Tel. 06841-9728613.
Tuesday 15 September, 5 pm to 8 pm, and Wednesday 16 September, 10 am to 1 pm
WALA – wraps, compresses and rubs
Support in caring for the seriously ill at home.
Venue: Caritas Centre community centre, Kaiserstraße 63, St. Ingbert. Registration required: [email protected], Tel. 06841-9728615.
Friday, 18 September, 7.00 pm
Film screening: ‘Toni and Helene’
Venue: Kinowerkstatt St. Ingbert, Pfarrgasse 49
Friday, 25 September, 5.00 pm
Ecumenical service with choir
Venue: St Engelbert’s Catholic Church, St Ingbert
Saturday, 26 September, 9.30 am to 3 pm
“So take my hands … and walk (a little way) with me”
Workshop: “Gestures the heart understands” with Tanja Haupenthal.
Venue: Caritas Centre Community Centre, Kaiserstraße 63, St. Ingbert
Registration required: [email protected], Tel. 06841-9728613.
Friday, 2 October, 4 pm to 8 pm
End-of-life care course
Information and guidance on supporting people with serious illnesses at the end of their lives.
Venue: Pro Seniore Residenz Hohenburg, Gerberstraße 18, 66424 Homburg. Registration required: [email protected], Tel. 06841-9728615.
Tuesday, 17 November, 6.00 pm
Homburg Women’s Cabaret – “The Full Programme, Please”
Venue: Stadthalle St. Ingbert
Advance ticket sales at the Weltladen St. Ingbert
Further information on the Saarpfalz Hospice and Palliative Care Network and on the Hospice Days in the Saarpfalz district in 2026 can be found here.