On February 16th, the General Government held a meeting via Zoom with the Provincial Government of the German Province: Sr. Astrid Meinert, Provincial Superior, Sr. Maria Landsberger, Vicar, and Councillors: Sr. Adelheid Scheloske, Sr. Ursula Schmitz and Sr. Simone Hachen. The meeting took place on the liturgical feast of Blessed Elisabetta Sanna; because of Ash Wednesday, it had been moved to the previous day. The meeting began with a report presenting the current situation of the communities, each of them marked by old age.
In Munich, the apostolate since long has had its focus on supporting our missions. During many years, the sisters have been involved in missionary activities in the parish, together with lay volunteers. The presence of the Sisters in Refrath is a testimony to the continuity of the Pallottine charism in the St. Joseph’s Home for the elderly and in the adjacent kindergarten, as well as in St. Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Bensberg, where the Sisters had been active for many years.
In Limburg, renovation work is taking place in the ancient Mother House: in the chapel, the refectory, the archives, the adjoining rooms and the older part of the Felizitas Nursing Home. In the near future, 26 sisters will live in the Felizitas Home. The whole house, including the new wing, is designed for 91 residents, sisters and lay residents. The Provincial Government and the other sisters live in the new ‘Camaldoli House’ and in St. Vincent Pallotti House, forming a community. All three houses are located on the same property in close proximity to each other. Of course, all communities are struggling with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the joys of the Province is the close collaboration with the Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate. At present two Sisters are working as nurses in St. Joseph’s House in Refrath and two others are studying at the Pallottine University in Vallendar.
The discussion continued to deal with the immediate future, namely how to make the permanent (on-going) formation fruitful, how to preserve the missionary character of the communities, how to strengthen the mission in Brazil, how to develop the collaboration with the other Provinces and with the Roman Pallottine Sisters. Despite many challenges, the German Province remains a stronghold of Pallottine history and tradition. The Sisters continue to be full of hope and apostolic joy in serving those in need.
