The Reverend Ilse Everlien Berardo Pastor | |
|---|---|
| Pastor of the German-Speaking Evangelical Parish ofMadeira | |
| Church | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover (Evangelical Church in Germany) |
| In office | 2011 to present |
| Predecessor | Post created |
| Other post | Preacher (1984-2011) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 24 July 2011 by Bishop Martin Hein |
| Rank | Pastor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ilse Everlien (1955-12-28)28 December 1955 (age 70) |
| Nationality | German |
| Denomination | Lutheranism |
| Residence | Funchal |
| Parents | Henny Everlien (mother) Karl Everlien (father) |
| Spouse | Jorge Sabino Rodrigues Berardo |
| Children | 3, includingRubina Berardo |
| Occupation | Theologian |
| Alma mater | University of Marburg |
Ilse Everlien Berardo (born 28 December 1955) is a GermanLutheran theologian, responsible[1] for the German-speaking Protestant Church onMadeira Island. She is the first woman to become pastor of the Lutheran Church in Madeira, in 500 years ofChristian presence on the island.
She was ordained in July 2011, by theBishop ofKassel, Martin Hein.[2]
Ilse Berardo was born inEinbeck,Lower Saxony to Henny Everlien and Karl Everlien, anengineer.
While in high school she volunteered as a Lutheran catechist in at the local parish, a role that she holds until she enrolls inUniversity of Marburg in order to studyTheology, in 1974.
Berardo graduates in 1981, having presented her bachelor's thesis to theEvangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick, in the city ofWolfenbüttel.[3]
Ilse Berardo started out as a preacher of Madeira's Lutheran church in 1987 when the German-Speaking Evangelical Parish was established. At the time she had a special license issued by the bishop to officiate celebrations.
While in Madeira Berardo has always been active at the local Lutheran church on a voluntary basis. The main dignitaries from the Lutheran Church in Portugal, as well as the Lutheran auxiliary bishop ofHannover, came to her ordination ceremony in recognition of her religious commitment to the local German community.
As a Pastor, Isle is also known for her extensive network of ecumenical contacts in Madeira Island. The intensity of these well-established relations was demonstrated when representatives of theRoman Catholic Church, theAnglican Church and thePresbyterian Church in Madeira attended her ordination.
Ilse has also celebrated several ecumenical masses along with the local Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches.[4][5]
As pastor of the German Evangelical Church in Madeira, Ilse Berardo participated in the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of theReformation, promoted through a partnership between the German Evangelical Church in Madeira and theUniversity of Madeira. These celebrations were attended by the Vicar-General of theDiocese of Funchal, who officially represented BishopAntónio Carrilho.[6][7][8]
During the event, Ilse Berardo highlighted that the Reformation brought a change of mentalities that permeated various fields, particularly in education and in social rights, while stressing that "theChristian Church as a whole needs even more unity" to respond to the challenges of modern life.[9]
Following the2019 Madeira bus crash, Pastor Everlien Berardo was one of the first leaders of the German expat community living on the island to assist the injured once they got to the Central Hospital of Funchal.[10] Ilse helped local authorities as interpreter and counselor.[11] She would later participate in an ecumenical mass, together withNuno I, Roman CatholicBishop of Funchal, in a joint prayer for the mortal victims of the accident, organized by theSanta Cruz Municipality.[12]
Ilse married Jorge Sabino Rodrigues Berardo on June 18, 1982, therefore becoming sister-in-law to one of Portugal's richest men:Joe Berardo.
She is a mother to two sons and one daughter,Rubina Berardo, the latter was a member of the PortugueseAssembly of the Republic.
Cross of theOrder or Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (11 February 2022) for more than 30 years of services in providing support to every German citizen who asks for its help on theisland.[13][14][15]{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)