In the breakfast room
The team opens the door to the Franziskustreff in the morning. They serve the guests with dignity at their seats. In the breakfast room, they experience the worries and needs of homeless and poor people.
Brother Michael Wies OFMCap, director of the Franziskustreff:
The Liebfrauen Monastery in the heart of Frankfurt am Main is my home. I am a social pedagogue, social worker (BA) and Capuchin friar by profession and vocation. I run the Franziskustreff right next to the Liebfrauenkirche. The team there serves breakfast for homeless and poor people on weekdays. The full-time and volunteer staff serve up to 180 guests at the centre. The Franziskustreff also offers social counselling for those who want it.
In addition to my internal management role, I also directly support homeless people. These are people who have been given accommodation by the Franziskustreff Foundation. I am at their side on their way back to an independent life. I also work in partnership with the other homeless aid organisations in Frankfurt. Well-networked in urban society, politics and culture, I advocate for the interests of homeless people and make their difficult situation more visible.
Teachers are welcome to contact me with their school classes and student groups to find out more about the work of the Franziskustreff (and the life of the Capuchins in Liebfrauen) during a guided tour of the centre.
Together with Thomas Koch, I am also responsible for the management of the Franziskustreff Foundation. I specialise in the areas of strategy and social policy.
Katrin Renz, Head of Housekeeping:
My name is Katrin Renz. I have been coming to the breakfast room at the Liebfrauenkirche for many years. In the beginning, I served the guests as a volunteer. I filled the plates with sausage and cheese. I added a friendly smile to coffee or tea.
Today, as head of housekeeping, I make sure that the Treff can offer up to 180 guests a hearty breakfast every day, working hand in hand with the housekeeping team. I plan the services so that there are always enough volunteers and full-time staff to serve the guests. And it's important to keep an overview: What do we need to buy again? How do we decorate for Easter? What do we surprise our guests with at Christmas? The guest there needs a plaster. Please wipe up and check out!
My varied day starts at 6.00 am. It has many other tasks in store, in addition to welcoming and looking after the morning breakfast guests. Anyone who would like to support our breakfast programme with donations in kind should contact me and my colleague Dariush Rahimi. Find out more here.
I am also responsible for planning and organising seasonal holidays, parties for the guests and events with benefactors. But I also keep an eye on maintaining the Franziskustreff's own traditions. For example, the small flower arrangements that adorn his portrait in the breakfast room on important days commemorating our founder, Brother Wendelin.
Every application for a vacancy in housekeeping lands directly on my desk. From the job interview to recruitment and induction, I support everyone who starts in the breakfast room. And I'm always there for the volunteers, employees and those doing their voluntary social year and federal voluntary service who are committed to helping homeless and poor people in the Franziskustreff.
Dariush Rahimi, Deputy Head of Housekeeping:
I have been supporting the housekeeping management at the Franziskustreff since September 2023. I'm a familiar face to everyone here. For a long time, I was the first person to greet the homeless and poor guests at the door of the breakfast room. As a security officer, I mediated conflicts. And made sure that everyone was safe. Together with Katrin Renz, I now ensure that everything runs smoothly every day. So that the guests can enjoy the sumptuous breakfast.
I coordinate shopping, gratefully accept food donations and always have an open ear for our volunteers. I am also often involved in ReBeCa (Reden-Begegnen-Café) on Wednesday afternoons. Together with my colleague from social counselling, Andrea Knechtel, I give fitness classes here. I also support the hairdressing team, who visit us once a month on a voluntary basis.
Maria Kilchenstein, employee in housekeeping and at ReBeCa:
I have been a full-time employee since 2020. My work here has taught me a lot. Above all, how to deal with homeless and needy people. This has also developed my way of looking at, understanding and supporting people. My tasks include serving, making coffee, cutting bread and much more. I'm involved with the women as part of our Talk-Meet-Café (ReBeCa) format. And for the Advent coffee. With homemade angels to go with it. Because I like making things myself. And I love Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.
I like to have breakfast on the balcony. Eggs and bacon are a must. As well as yoghurt and fruit salad. I have a favourite quote: "If you can't be the top of the mountain, be the grass in the forest, but be yourself." My personal motto is: Always finish what you start.
„Our volunteers are also particularly close to my heart. I am thrilled by the loyalty with which they are here with us for our guests.“Regina Merckle
HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY
Katrin Renz
Head of Housekeeping
In social counselling
Forms, dealing with the authorities or simply listening. Our social counselling service right next to the breakfast room supports all guests who need it.
Svetlana Strojan, social worker:
My door, the social counselling service, is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 12:00. If you like, you can find me there during breakfast time. For advice and support. Whether with applications, copies for job applications or finding accommodation.
As a social worker, I and my team of volunteers always have an open ear if someone wants to talk about their worries and problems. Trust is very important for this. In the reliability of the breakfast programme. In being able to feel welcome. In the sincere attentiveness that everyone encounters at the Franziskustreff. Thanks to the gifts of many benefactors, it is possible for trust to develop and grow in such an environment. This gives our guests new courage. At their own pace: to be able to get back on their feet.
Andrea Knechtel, social worker and project coordinator for participatory programmes for poor people:
I have been working as a social worker in Frankfurt am Main for thirty years. Back then, I started as a street worker in Frankfurt's Ostend neighbourhood. Over the years, I started organising leisure activities for homeless people. That's when I met Brother Wendelin. At that time, he had just opened the Franziskustreff, which offered breakfast and social counselling for people in need. I found him to be very humble. People were close to his heart. No matter where they came from, what they were or what they believed.
In recent years, I have worked in assisted living for mentally ill, addicted and formerly homeless people. They all had their own flat and help to keep it.
Now I've come full circle. According to the motto "Back to the roots", I have returned to the homeless people. I bring cultural and leisure activities with me. These have been offered by the Caritas Association Frankfurt am Main for three decades. The association and the Franziskustreff Foundation are now deepening their long-standing cooperation. Many homeless and socially disadvantaged people are already familiar with the term "Join in" from Caritas. And it means a lot to them: cycling, climbing, hiking, games mornings, cultural activities and much more. It's about giving life meaning again. To feel yourself. Experiencing yourself differently. In the company of others. And not to think about the problems. The positive feedback we receive from participants shows: "Otherwise I would be even more depressed - the regular programmes give me structure". Or "When I'm alone, I just drink".
I am very pleased that this valuable programme is now also directly available to guests at the Franziskustreff.
In my free time, my favourite thing to do is sit in a dragon boat with my crew. Then I listen to the drum and hope that we win the race.
And for me, breakfast means above all: coffee, coffee, coffee - otherwise my eyes won't open ...
CONTACT
Svetlana Strojan
Social worker
Andrea Knechtel
Social worker and project coordinator
Our managing directors
As dual leadership, they are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Franziskustreff and the foundation of the same name.
Thomas Koch:
At the Franziskustreff Foundation, I am responsible for the executive areas of human resources and finance. I am a political scientist (M.A.), live in Frankfurt, am married and have three children. My core tasks include personnel development, digitalisation and managing the foundation's assets.
The Foundation's Executive Board has entrusted me with these tasks. The goal is to fulfil the foundation's purpose. This includes all organisational, commercial and personnel decisions that depend on this. I work closely with Brother Michael Wies OFMCap, Director of Strategy and Social Policy.
Brother Michael Wies OFMCap:
Together with Thomas Koch, I am responsible for the management of the Franziskustreff Foundation. I focus on the areas of strategy and social policy.
The Liebfrauen Monastery in the heart of Frankfurt am Main is my home. I am a social pedagogue, social worker (BA) and Capuchin friar by profession and vocation. I run the Franziskustreff right next to the Liebfrauenkirche. The team there serves breakfast for homeless and poor people on weekdays. The full-time and volunteer staff serve up to 180 guests at the centre. The Franziskustreff also offers social counselling for those who want it.
In addition to my internal management role, I also directly support homeless people. These are people who have been given accommodation by the Franziskustreff Foundation. I am at their side on their way back to an independent life. I also work in partnership with the other homeless aid organisations in Frankfurt. Well-networked in urban society, politics and culture, I advocate for the interests of homeless people and make their difficult situation more visible.
Teachers are welcome to contact me with their school classes and student groups to find out more about the work of the Franziskustreff (and the life of the Capuchins in Liebfrauen) during a guided tour of the centre.
Contact us
Thomas Koch
Managing Director Human Resources and Finance
thomas.koch@franziskustreff.de
Phone 069 133 890-64
Brother Michael Wies OFMCap
Head of the Franziskustreff / Managing Director Strategy and Social Affairs
michael.wies@franziskustreff.de
Phone 069 297296-37
In the foundation
We want to help homeless and poor people directly - and bring all our skills and talents to bear.
Rubén Zárate, charity counselling:
I joined the Franziskustreff Foundation team as a charity consultant in September 2020. My aim is to strengthen the foundation's communication. I maintain connections with the Franziskustreff's benefactors. I would also like to gain new supporters. I approach companies and private individuals to get them excited about the foundation's goals. My mission is: "I want to help homeless people directly and make companies and private individuals a little happier in the process."
Many people are already familiar with the foundation. Others are just getting to know it. I am deeply impressed by the positive response and openness of these benefactors. They quickly recognise the direct value of their donations. And how they enable homeless people to receive direct help through their gift, while at the same time fulfilling their social responsibility.
Why are donors at the Franziskustreff called benefactors? The term was coined by the founder Capuchin Brother Wendelin: those who donate voluntarily lend a hand and contribute to the common good along with many others. That's why we call you a benefactor when you join us in giving homeless and poor fellow citizens a perspective.
The Franziskustreff is the work of many benefactors. They are the ones who offer our guests breakfast and social counselling. Every donation is a sincere act of charity. It actively contributes to special help for fellow human beings, regardless of whether it is a small amount or a larger donation. Anyone who helps the homeless and poor guests with their gift joins the community of our volunteers and full-time staff at the Franziskustreff and contributes to the common good.
Would you like to find out more about how you can support the Franziskustreff?
Whether donation, endowment, social day or bequest - I will be happy to advise you:
Phone 069 133 890-61
Mobile 0151 67504829
ruben.zarate@franziskustreff.de
Franziskustreff-Stiftung
Liebfrauenstr. 4
60313 Frankfurt am Main
Regina Merckle, Administration:
I got to know Brother Wendelin and worked with him. On my first day at work, he gave me a warm welcome with a bouquet of flowers. The founder of the Franziskustreff was thoroughly positive and grateful. That left its mark on me. I have been experiencing this warm welcome from guests, volunteers and benefactors for almost twenty years now. Contributing to this is what drives me: first for many years in housekeeping. Now I work in service management and culture.
I like to help where I'm needed. I organise and accompany events for the homeless and poor guests, for benefactors or our volunteers. I can draw on almost two decades of experience. Our volunteers are also particularly close to my heart: I am amazed at the loyalty with which they are here with us for our guests.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for me. That's why it's nice for me to make a small contribution to making it easier for guests to start the day with a hearty breakfast. I love sewing in my spare time, and if my trouser pocket has a hole in it or a seam rips out, I'm happy to help guests with this talent.
Dagmar Reichle, Administration:
For me, it is above all a good feeling at work to put my own energy into a meaningful activity. From the very first morning encounters in the courtyard of Liebfrauen, you can see how important organisations like the Franziskustreff are: to help those who are not doing so well in their lives.
I have already gained a lot of experience in my career to date: as a communications manager for a large transport company, as a product manager specialising in international roaming for a Swiss telecommunications company and as a marketing consultant for a family business in Hamburg. I was a volunteer in a school library for ten years. I am married, my two children are at university and our dog Lucy is also part of the family.
My work for the foundation is very varied: I look after both the information hotline and the information mailbox. This makes me the first point of contact for all questions relating to the Franziskustreff. I also take care of print management and the production of our print products. I also organise the office and back office. I also coordinate external service providers, am their direct contact and act as an interface between internal and external parties.
In all of this, two things motivate me in particular every day: the opportunity to do something meaningful and to take on social responsibility.
My motto for the year is: "Complaining is useless." And this is often quoted among colleagues ;-) . My favourite quote comes from Confucius, who said: "It is better to light a single small light than to curse the darkness."
In my free time, I live out my creative side. That could be goldsmithing or sewing. Or when I revive my old hobby: playing the guitar. Sport is also a must. When it comes to breakfast, the main thing is coffee, preferably strong. And chocolate is always a good choice - even for breakfast. At the weekend, I like to have muesli with granola and fresh fruit.
Simone Hanzlik, Fundraising and Project Management:
As Fundraising Officer (FA), I am responsible for coordinating fundraising activities for the benefit of homeless and poor people. I attach particular importance to our benefactors. I make sure that we treat them with respect and attract new ones. I am also the contact person for the foundation's projects, including the school kit project. We are currently developing this. With this multimedia learning programme, we want to enable teachers to sensitise pupils to the issues of poverty and homelessness. The aim is to break down prejudices and show ways out of homelessness.
I previously worked for several years as a project manager in international business organisations. As a certified project management specialist, I completed an additional degree in International Competence at the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences.
My hobbies include challenging sports that are fun. And generally trying out new things. For me, breakfast means a sweet breakfast, preferably muesli. With coffee and milk.
Alexander Krallmann, Donations Accounting:
I am a tax clerk. At the Franziskustreff Foundation, I take care of several aspects relating to donations for our work: These include donation accounting and administration, as well as monitoring and booking incoming donations. I also issue donation receipts if they are required. Another part of my day-to-day work is maintaining the donor database as well as cash accounting.
Ivonne Schulz, Press and Public Relations:
I joined Franziskustreff at the end of 2021 as a freelance graphic designer and social media manager. At the time, the foundation was looking for someone to maintain and develop its social media channels. After all, online presences have become very important, especially during the pandemic, to reach supporters and find new ones.
I am now responsible for press and public relations work for the Franziskustreff Foundation. We keep homeless and poor guests, benefactors, interested parties and the team of full-time and volunteer employees up to date with a varied media mix of thank-you letters, information brochures, the website and publications in the press as well as events.
We also use our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to provide small insights into the direct help provided to the homeless at the Franziskustreff. Tell the touching little and big stories of everyday life here. So that everyone can see: What volunteers, benefactors and the full-time team do together for the homeless and poor people in Frankfurt is effective.
CONTACT
Franziskustreff-Stiftung
Liebfrauenstraße 4
60313 Frankfurt
Phone 0800 9886017,
Monday to Friday
9:00 to 15:00,
free of charge from German landlines and mobiles
info@franziskustreff.de
