Foundation

The Foundation of the Mountain of Mother of God, the so-called Muttergottesberg-Stiftung, was set up on October 18, 1993; its starting capital accounted for DM100,000. On May 1, 2005 the capital yielded €524,028. Mr Franz Jentschke, the countryman born in a village close to the Mountain of Mother of God, is the founder of the Foundation. After being miraculously healed on intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Králíky, as stated by him, he initiated the renovation of the place of pilgrimage in May 1987, i.e. still in the communist time. The preparation for the restoration of the chapels of the Stations of the Cross, which are situated along the alleyway leading from the town of Králíky to the place of pilgrimage, started in 1988. The renovation of the exterior of the first chapel, which is 1km far from the town centre and 200m far from the monastery, began a year later, on May 3, 1989. Despite difficulties, it was possible to carry out the restoration without any approval of the communist authorities due to the fact that no one was walking in the alley. The restoration of the first chapel was finished in a record time, in nine days only. As communism collapsed in former Czechoslovakia in November 1989, four chapels had been already renovated. The renovation of the interior of the chapels began in 1990. The gateway to the alley situated at the beginning of the Stations of the Cross in Králíky was restored, and all chapels were covered with galvanized roofing.

The reconstruction of the House of Pilgrimage in 1990-1993 was one of the most important activities of Mr Jentschke. Its major costs were covered by the Redemptorists, the rest of the amount was financed by countrymen from Germany.

Also thanks to the contributions provided by the Foundation every year, the Mountain of Mother of God is becoming an architectonic gem as it used to be in the past. The board of the Foundation also consists of Czech citizens; for instance, Mgr. Dušan Krabec, the former Mayor of the town of Králíky or Jiří Vencl, who permanently works for the Foundation, are members of the board.