History

Gotthilf Haug and Jakob Schelker founded the Swiss Association of Deaconry in Zurich in 1906. The aim of this association was to counteract the social and spiritual unease in the lower working class neighbourhood in Zurich, District 4.

The desire of the young community of celibate brothers, sisters and deacons of the diaconal house of St. Stephen was to provide a holistic service to people and churches.For the members, the work of caring for the poor and sick was an expression of love for God and neighbor, a wordless evangelization and the building of the Kingdom of God on earth.

With the same thought, the Eden property in Ascona was purchased in 1918, where a children's home was established shortly afterwards. In the same year the association Diakonie acquired from Mr. Vester the uninhabited and only house in the Migiome district of Losone. The building was named "Villino Emmaus" by Hermann, the father of the house. The estate was initially run as a farm, with guest rooms. In 1920 a Sunday school was founded. Other properties and land in Ronco, Arcegno and Locarno-Monti were gradually acquired.

In 1931, the Rappenhaus in Locarno was converted into a house for deaconesses, in which up to 19 elderly people found accommodation. In 2002 this small nursing home, now called "Casa Canfora", had to close.

In 1941 the property in Via Locarno in Losone was acquired for the houses Pace and Ospizio, which also contained guest rooms. At that time, in addition to the families, several sisters also belonged to the community. It became a place of living together with God and the people. Around 1970 the last cow was sold and Casa Emmaus became definitely a boarding house. Diaconal services were always organized, as well as the annual Kingdom Festival of God, which became famous beyond the borders of the region. From 2019 Casa Emmaus will be run as Parkhotel Emmaus, managed by Marcel Krähenmann, also director of the boutique hotel La Rocca**** in Ronco sopra Ascona.