Volume III Issue No.5 September 2015

Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Casa Santo Spirito, 00163 Via dei Bevilacqua 60, Rome Italy

“Wherever the stream flows, it will bring life.” (Ez. 47:9c)

P a g e 2

SISTERS CELEBRATE FOUNDATION DAY

The Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing celebrated their 130th Jubilee of foun-dation on September 24. The highlight of the celebration was the recitation of the synchro-nized prayer throughout the congregation.

ROME. To highlight the 130th year since our founding, the Casa Santo Spirito community adorned the sanctuary before the altar with

representative vigil lights by the pictures of Fr. Andreas Am-hrein, and Mother Bir-gitta Korff . Other re-minders of this graced date included decora-tions on the refectory tables, on the bulletin board and at the en-larged congregation

seal in the corridor. The synchronized Holy Hour with all the congregation members oc-curred at our midday. It was embellished with Psalm 135 as our regular Midday prayer. By: Sr. Antoinette Adelman, OSB

TUTZING. After the recitation of the synchronized prayer we had coffee and cake and met in the chapter room. Sr. Ruth and Sr.

Katharina gave a presentation on the apostolic

topic“Mission: Our Task? or Mission:No topic! ” With texts from the decree Ad Gentes, the apos-tolic exhortations Evangelii Nuntiandi and Evangelii Gaudium, the understanding of mis-sion was unfolded for our days and in our envi-ronment. At the end, Sr. Ruth called each sister by her name beginning with our General

Prioress, M. Angela Strobel, and bid her with these words “You shall be a blessing.” Each sister

then got a card with a picture of the window of our chapel and her name. At the back was writ-ten a text of Evangelii Gaudium (273)

My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off; it is not an “extra” or just another moment in life. Instead, it is something I cannot uproot from my being without destroying my very self. I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world. We have to regard ourselves as sealed,even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing and freeing. All around us we begin to see nurses with soul, teachers with soul, politicians with soul, people who have chosen deep down to be with oth-ers and for others. By: Sr. Ruth Schönenberger, OSB HAUS ST. BENEDICT.We celebrated the Jubilee with deep gratitude and joy. The day started with sung Lauds and a solemn Eucharistic Cele-bration presided by Rev. Fr. Philipp, OSB who started with good and warm words. In a common hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and with the official syn-chronized prayer at midday, we were united with all our fellow sisters over the whole world and with those already in eternity, and espe-cially with the many sisters, with whom we

Sr. Ruth (l) & M. Angela (r)

Picture of the chapel window—>

Chapel decoration

P a g e 3 V o l u m e I I I , I s s u e 5

It was followed by a program where sisters from the different countries presented a number from their cultural heritage. We saw a video of Korea's drum dance by two women clad in co-lorful costumes. We learned about the tradi-tional house in the Philippines called "bahay-kubo" (nipa hut) and sang a Filipino folk song about it. Our sister from Kenya explained to us the meaning of the Kenyan flag and from Tanza-nia, the members of the Novitiate presented a medley of traditional Tanzanian dances and a skit about the similarity between the RB and the African family. Our German sisters brought us back to earlier times to introduce to us our Ger-man missionaries by a creative number game. The day was capped with an interpretative dance by our sister from Brazil wearing the country's national color - green - depicting the beginning of our congregation from Fr. Am-rhein and M. Birgitta and its spread throughout the whole world. It was indeed a fitting closure of celebrating our internationality and God's faithfulness on our 130th foundation day. By: Sr. Ruth Bartonico, OSB NDANDA. On 24 September we were all spiritu-ally united in a very special way as members of the congregation. In the Mass and in the syn-chronized prayer of thanksgiving for our con-gregation and in the other activities in the com-munities and in priories / regions, we had simi-lar thoughts in our mind and similar sentiments in our heart, “remembering the grace and mer-cy of God” that inspired and enabled the begin-ning of the congregation and how his faithful-ness has sustained us throughout the changing

have walked some time on our journey through life. In the afternoon, we viewed a film about the Priory of Nairobi, which showed us the fruits of our missionary work: the local sisters who every-where over the world continue with the aposto-late begun by our pioneers and even by us. In our midst, we have a living testimonial of this by the sisters who today live with us and assist us: a Korean, a Filipina, a Tanzanian and an Indian! During evening recreation, we remem-bered with pride, that all of us during many years, and some of us even for half of the 130 Ju-bilee years, were present and have taken part in shaping the history of our Congregation in sever-al continents of our world with all their heart and with all their strength! THANKS BE TO GOD! By: Sr. Chantal Gerster, OSB

PERAMIHO. By God's providence September 24 was a national holi-day in Tanzania so that all sisters in the Priory could be present during the synchronized prayer which was

followed by an hour adoration. For the evening recreation the sisters enjoyed answering trivia questions about our congregation prepared by Sr. Monica.

Haus St. Benedict: Sisters living and dead who have shaped the history of our congregation

Sisters in Adoration

P a g e 4

of history to this day. May he continue to empower us so that we can be his instruments in service of his people. The Abbot-Presidents of the Benedic-tine Confed-eration had their annual meeting this

week in Ndanda at Zakeo Spiritual Centre. Abbot Primate Notker Wolf OSB came to visit us at lunch hour. After midday prayer we met briefly with him as community in the chapter room where we welcomed him with a song. Most of us did not know what Abbot Presidents talk about in their meetings and so he shared with us a little about the Abbot Presidents’ meeting. After lunch with him he went back to his meeting and we went to the chapel for our appointment with the Lord and with our Congregation for synchro-nized prayer. In the evening we saw a powerpoint presentation of our Congregation which I adapted from one that had been made by Sr. An-gelica Leviste for the 125 Year Jubilee of the Con-gregation. It was really a day of blessings. By: Sr Terese J Zemale OSB

OLINDA. Each year, our Priory cele-brates with much jubilation the

"Week of the Congregation" with nine days of Holy Mass for the intention of Priories / Regions and an exhibition re-membering the life and mis-sion of the Missionary Bene-dictine Sisters scattered in dif-ferent continents. In celebra-tion of the 130th Jubilee, stu-dents of our schools, officers and employees of our institu-tions both in the educational

and hospital apostolates. Patients, children and youth from Social Centers and pastoral employ-ees of small communities prayed and celebrated this day with us marked by the synchronized prayer in the whole Congregation. There was party the day before, and homage to the Sisters, anticipating the celebration of this great day. Children of Immaculate school offered large posters of congratulations on the life and mission of the Sisters. These were made by them. The children of two to four years offered large bouquets of roses. School children sang for the Sisters in the morning with flags from different continents as they themselves could see on the big map of the world that is in the school grounds where each Priory / Region of the Con-gregation is located . They looked zealously at the map trying to find the priories which were represented. At the time of the synchronized prayer the various activities were discontinued and all prayed in the churches and chapels of the communities, in the workplace through the sound system and with the help of a powerpoint projected on giant screens. Our praise and thanksgiving resounded

everywhere! We could hear very positive echoes from this experi-ence that inspired lives and aroused feelings of jubila-tion! The celebra-

tion continued with cutting of the cake, raffle, giving away of Congregation history souvenirs, animated recre-ation and festivity. There was also festive lunch. Fr. Andreas M. and Birgitta were well remem-bered and lauded for their strength and great-ness of soul! We are happy and grateful to them! We continue our life Missionary Benedictine with much love and dedication that God may be glorified in everything! By: Sr. Vania Toscano, OSB SOROCABA. The main event of September was the congregation-wide adoration. In our school communities the Sisters, students, teachers, and co-workers participated. Oblates prayed with us

Abbot Notker as lunch guest

Sisters in Adoration

Chapel

Cutting of the Cake

V o l u m e I I I , I s s u e 5 P a g e 5

and in Itapetininga even the Bishop joined us. The stories of our martyrs and the concentration camp touched our hearts. In Cunha a Sister spoke about this event during the mass in the parish. In Presidente Prudente a festive lunch was offered to the Sisters from other congregations. The students had a theater about our history and prepared a concert with flutes and songs and a beautiful exposition about our school. From the Korean community in São Paulo children came and presented us with dances. Sr. Hilde Martin, OSB

ARGENTINA. Our feast started many days before the date which filled our hearts with joy in the preparation of the liturgy, the give-away gifts of

Saint Benedict made by us, the decoration of the house and the homemade traditional German bread. We four sisters belonging to different countries celebrated the 130th Jubilee with al-most 40 friends and oblates who joined in the thanksgiving mass presided by Fr. José María Ruiz Diaz, our parish priest, and the Confedera-tion of the ConoSur Benedictines represented by Abbot Carlos Oberti OSB and Abbot Fernando Rivas OSB. The synchronized prayer moment was very touching for everyone especially at the sharing of the martyrs’ presentation. Many of our friends were interested afterwards

Adoration Buenos Aires Community

Chapel Student Theater

of knowing more about our Congregation and martyrs’ history. To our surprise Bishop Martin Elizalde honored us with his presence and congratulated us for our 20 years presence in Argentina since the integration of the Benedictine sisters of the Epiphany in our Congregation. By: Sr. Ursula Fuchs, OSB

MANILA. The Priory House in Tagay-tay celebrated the 130th Jubilee with Holy Mass . The community sang ves-pers and then had adoration for an

hour capped by the synchronized prayer of the whole congregation at 7:00 pm (Manila time). After supper, they watched a video on the histo-ry of the congregation till its 125th jubilee. More than sixty Sisters were on retreat at the Spirituality Center in Tagaytay that day. And their prayer during the synchronized time must have been doubly powerful with the Holy Spirit especially present to and in each of the Sisters. As part of the Jubilee celebration, the whole pri-ory of about 118 Sisters gathered on September 26 at St. Scholastica’s Center of Spirituality Ta-gaytay for the talks on The Conjunctural Analysis of the Bangsamoro Peace Process and The Challenge Today to the Mystical-Prophetic Vocation of the Con-secrated Life. In Leyte, the hospital and school commu-nities in Tacloban and a representative from the Ormoc community came together as Sr. Ana Ma-ria Raca reports: “After Holy Mass the hospital chaplain blessed the photo exhibit of the different priories at the St. Hildegard Building lobby. There was free tooth extraction for indigent patients by three resident dentists of Divine Word Hospital. There was free porridge and crackers for all the peo-ple in the hospital compound – patients and their families, employees, doctors, and even passersby. We had the synchronized prayer at 7:00 p.m. and on to supper.” By: Sr. Lucila Sardido, OSB

JUBILARIANS with their Prioress. From L-R: Sr. Mary Thomas, Sr. Margareta Maria, Sr. Anatolia, Sr. Angela, Sr. Theresia, Sr. Monica and Sr. Juliana

WINDHOEK. With the theme of thanksgiving expressed in the lines - We thank you Lord for your faithfulness and love and The Lord has done marvels

for us – Windhoek Priory celebrated our Congrega-tion’s 130th Foundation in simple but truly mean-ingful way. All the members of the Priory Govern-ment, all the Superiors from the 11 stations, some Sisters from the communities, a few family mem-bers and friends of the Jubilarianswere present. The Benedictine Fathers of St. Ottilien were repre-sented by Fr. Maximillian Jacobs OSB and Bro. Ga-briel OSB.

Celebrated likewise on this day was the 50th Jubilee of Religious Profession of Sr. Angela Bock OSB, Sr. Theresia Kasiona OSB and Sr. Anatolia Arugodhi OSB; the 40th Jubilee of Sr. Juliana Munkwetele OSB; and the 25th Jubilee of Sr. Mon-ica Nabirye OSB. They were guided in their recol-lection by M. Mary Thomas Prado OSB with the theme of Mission and Becoming More.

The international and multi-cultural char-acter of our Congregation was seen, felt and cele-brated in our decorations, reception, program during the evening’s recreation and most especial-ly in the liturgy. Flags of the 18 countries where we are serving were lined up in the steps leading to the chapel. After the reception all the Sisters pro-ceeded to the chapel for the synchronized prayer.

The delightful evening recreation was a unique celebration of our internationality and our missionary vocation. The challenge to the per-formers was to dance or sing in a culture not their own.

Our day ended with prayer and with

Sisters of the Manila Priory

hearts overflowing with joy knowing, believing

and being assured of the love of God, our one-ness for God’s blessings in mission, and our care and support for one another. The stream has flowed … and we have found life! By: Sr. Remedios de los Reyes, OSB

NORFOLK. We Sisters of the Norfolk Priory want to first of all, say “Thank

You” to whoever took the time to synchronize our special prayer on this day. The prayer we ALL said together was so wonderfully written, as well. Here in the Norfolk Priory, our time for this prayer was 6:00 AM, followed by a very festive Holy Mass at 7:00 AM. Following Mass, we had common breakfast, which began a day

of private prayer and celebration. Our Postu-lant Sarah was initiated with an From L-R: Nov. Sarah, Sr. Pia and

Sr. Gabrielle Marie

P a g e 6

P a g e 7

inspiring ceremony into the community as a Nov-ice in the afternoon before vespers. She was given a white skirt (to replace the black skirt of the Pos-tulant), Scripture, Our Constitution, and our Handbook. In the evening recreation we all came to-gether for “Congregation Bingo”, snacks and drinks. Small prizes were given to winners. Fr. Amrhein, we thank you for our Mis-sionary Benedictine beginnings. By Sr. Carole Ann Clark, OSB

DAEGU. The 130th Jubilee Celebration of our Congregation was a time of great

gratitude. We remembered our congregation history as we set aside a special time for prayer. For three days before the jubi-lee celebration we sang the “Te Deum” after Vespers. On September 24 the Priory House invited the sisters of the Benedictine Spirituality Center and the Scholastica House for lauds and mass to

express together our gratitude for God’s bless-ings and guid-ance. In the afternoon the s i s t e r s h a d sports in the in-

ner court of the Priory House divided into two teams – Blessing Team and Consecration Team. They made boats with boxes for relay in doing mission trip to foreign lands. They enjoyed leap-ing and dancing with joy. To add to the joy of the day the elderly sis-

ters from Scholastica House appeared as guest

stars performing the “Silver Aerobic Dance”

which touched the hearts of the sisters. The last event was to pass the important sentences of Holy Rule and Constitutions from one sister to next one without having any mistake. This game made the sisters to think once more our com-munity and consecrated life. Sisters had the vespers in the inner court followed by delicious dinner. The celebration was closed by eight in the evening after the syn-chronized night prayer during which the histo-ry of the congregation was shown to the sisters by power point presentation. The event was simple but meaningful to the sisters. We thanked God for His love and blessing to our congregation and asked His continued blessing upon us! By: Sr. Daniela Park, OSB

SEOUL. We celebrated our 130th Jubilee of foundation with prayers and activities. We of-fered a thanksgiving mass for our 130th anniver-sary. After midday prayer we had lunch and field activities in the garden. Synchronized prayer was at eight in the

evening with eu-charistic exposi-tion until nine. After the con-cluding prayer we sang the “Te De-um” in Korean.

We were grateful for having a joyful day and gave en-couragement to each other. We hope that the fu-ture of our congre-gation will bring

the fulfillment of our dreams. By: Sr. Christina Jeon, OSB

NAIROBI. Almost all across Kenya on September 24th Missionary Benedic-

tine sisters could be found at 2:00 p.m. Kenya time gathering together was to remember with gratitude our sisters who have gone before us, praying with love for our sisters whom we were standing with in this moment of prayer and Silver Aerobic Dance

Chapel

Field Activity

lunch

V o l u m e I I I , I s s u e 5

asking in hope blessings on all our sisters throughout the world. The two communities of Chesongoch and Endo joined to-gether in Endo to

lift up their hearts in prayer for our congregation. Kimumu even had the little students joining them in prayer while the Eldoret community wearing the Jubilee Kanga went to the Cathedral adoration chapel for their time of prayer.

In Nairobi some sisters were found under a shade of a tree during the noon break of the symposium being held on Consecrated Life at-tended by no less than His Eminence Joäo Cardi-nal Braz de Aviz from Rome, Prefect of the Con-gregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The other Sisters, Novices and Postulants in Karen left off work to gather together in chapel in a spirit of eagerness to pray together on this very special occasion.

Our community of Sisters in Ruaraka gath-ered together in the convent chapel and there in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament they parcelled out the reading of the history with each sister making a petition related to what was read, the time remaining was spent in adoration to complete the hour closing with a song. It was a graced and wonderfully unifying experience.

By: Sr. Michael Marie Rottinghaus, OSB

TORRES NOVAS. Every community came together for the synchronized prayer. We felt united with all sisters. Some communities invited friends, oblates and students and shared the prayer with them. In the chapel of Torres Novas we represented the wa-ter which comes from the heart of Jesus and gives life where it passes.

By: Sr. Timotea Kronschnabl, OSB

MADRID. With much gratitude we celebrated the 130th Jubilee of the congregation with a Holy Mass in

Jubilee Kanga

our chapel. The synchronized prayer was a wonderful idea. Thanks for that preparation. We started at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. Our oblate Myrna and a good group of Filipinos came to join us in the feast. We had a good din-ner and the evening ended with singing. We ask God to bless us always and also in the future.

By: Sr. Margarete Wegscheid, OSB

ANGOLA. We joined the school children and the teachers at 11:45 a.m. in our Jango and animated

them for a while. At 12 noon we started our synchronized prayer. After the prayer candies were distributed to the children. It was a very interesting mo-ment. All of us were amazed with the

very good behavior of the children. How they interiorized that prayer so well.

By: Sr. Alice Ferreira, OSB

BULGARIA. On September 24 at two in the afternoon our small in-

ternational com-munity of four sis-ters with the new-ly installed superi-or, Sr. Elisabeth Busbach, gathered together for pray-er in the small chapel of Za-

revbrod which had been beautifully decorated with Bulgarian roses from our garden and the pictures of Fr. Andreas Amrhein and Mother Birgitta Korf. There was the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the whole hour of prayer and reflection. It was indeed a simple yet very solemn and meaningful celebration for all of us knowing the fact that the whole congregation is united in prayer at this specific time of the day.

In Sekirovo we had the regular Mass in the parish followed by a common breakfast. A

Sisters with Kikolo children

P a g e 8

Chapel

Zarevbrod Chapel

delicious lunch lovingly prepared by Sr. Mary Clemens gave us strength and nourishment, enough to carry us until the day’s end. At two o’clock in the afternoon, we gathered in the chapel for the synchronized prayer. A 40- minute

adoration preceded the prayer. Two hours after the prayer, we received as guests our Parish Priest, Fr. Rumen and the cook of the parish, Ivanka. Together we shared the delicious jubilee cake over a hearty conversation.

By: Sr. Elisabeth Busbach & Sr. Leticia Saraza

JINJA. “I thank you for your faithful-ness and love…” marked the thanks-giving spirit of the Jinja community’s

celebration of the Founda-tion Day. It was inscribed deep in the heart of each sister. Its let-terings in bold print at

the center altar where the Holy Mass at 10:00 am was said beckoned us to celebrate. Its chain mel-ody reverberated, especially in the synchronized adoration at 2:00 pm as the sisters sang the refrain after praying and reading about the congrega-tional mission in each continent of the world.

The presence of the St. Ottilien monks of Tororo Monastery was something to remember. They came packed-full in a big van headed by Fr. Prior Edward, OSB. For the first time in history, St. Otillien monks stayed behind when the other guests have left not only for the snacks and fun time but also for sharing about our Missionary Benedictine challenges today. How good it is when Sisters and Brothers of the same founder gather in unity.

By: Sr. Hilda Buhay, OSB

INDIA. It was a day of praise and thanksgiving. Shanti Nivas vibrated

Jinja Community

with joy, ex-citement and togetherness as each one tried to drop their “grain of sand” to the different activities. A sol-emn praying of Lauds opened

the day. The community gathered at the chapel long before the appointed time for the much awaited synchronized prayer. We ended the

day as it started with praise and thanksgiving. Prior to this was a simple but joyful program with games and presentations, made even

more meaningful with the zealous and creative portrayal of three important events in the history of our Congre-gation, namely: The Entrance of the First Candi-dates, the Sending of the First Missionaries and the Destruction of Pugu Mission. May the Lord continue to guide and bless our Congregation.

By: Sr. Ma. Gratia Balagot OSB

The Holy Spirit inspired Fr. Andreas Am-rhein with the vision of a Missionary Benedic-tine vocation and placed in his heart the passion to bring Christ to the world. On 24 September 1885 four young, courageous and Spirit-filled women entered as Missionary Benedictine can-didates in Reichenbach, Germany. Within a few years the young community moved to St. Ot-tilien and later to Tutzing. (next page)

Historical events dramatized

Jubilee Cake

P a g e 9

Sisters in Adoration

V o l u m e I I I , I s s u e 5

Mother Birgitta Korff was elected our first superior general. With insightful vision, sustained perse-verance and a motherly heart she guided the congregation for 25 years. AFRICA The first four sisters were missioned to East Africa, in 1887. The beginnings were marked by hard labor, sickness, early death and martyrdom. The sisters have served in Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Kenya and Uganda. NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA The sisters were instrumental in developing the faith and the faithful in both North and South America, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare and so-cial-pastoral work. Our sisters serve in Brazil, Argentina and the United States. ASIA The Filipina people warmly welcomed our sisters. Catholic education and social ministry be-came the keystones of their ministry in the Philippines. Many of the Korean faithful were eager to receive the message of Christ. However, during the years of the Soviet Union, Japanese and Communist occupation, the Christians and our sisters faced inhu-mane treatment, imprisonment and martyrdom. Today there are two priories in South Korea. Our mission to the East continues to expand as the sisters have made inroads into China and India. For some years our sisters also served in Australia and Japan. Developments in EUROPE For over 40 years the Bulgarian Church was oppressed under Communist regime. Our sisters suffered from severe deprivations and unjust conditions. Yet, they remained as a sign to the people of God’s faithful love. Today the sisters are active in the rebuilding of the Church of Bulgaria. The sisters also expanded their mission in Europe going to Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Eastern Germany. In some countries they worked among the unchurched and the immigrants. In other areas they participate in re-evangelization. The Deceased and Martyrs In these 130 years over 1,500 of our sisters have completed their surren-der to God in death. Dedication, self-sacrifice and perseverance for the sake of the Gospel marked their lives. The blood of our martyrs inspire our own readiness to give our lives to bring Christ to the people: Sr. Martha Wansing killed in Pugu on January 13, 1889 Sr.Felicitas Hiltner killed in Mikukuyumbu on August 14, 1905 Sr. Cordula Ebert killed in Mikukuyumbu on August 14, 1905 Sr. Walburga Diepolder killed in Ng’awa on August 29, 1905 Sr. Eva Schütz died of sickness in Oksadok, North Korea on August 10, 1950 Sr. Lucia Bak Bin-Suk killed in Sun-an, North Korea, Oct. 14, 1950 Oblate Agneta Chang tortured and killed in Hamhung, North Korea on October 14, 1950. Sr. Maria Fructuosa Gerstmayer died of sickness in Oksadok, North Korea on September 16, 1952.

P a g e 1 0