On 5 August, Superior General Sr. Josephina D’Souza, accompanied by General Councillor Sr. Adelheid Scheloske, travelled to Germany for the canonical visitation of the German Province, where, over the next eight days, she had individual talks with each sister and with various groups and committees, both in the community of Marienborn/Limburg and at St Josef’s House in Refrath.
The visitors shared in communal prayer, mealtimes and recreation. All these encounters proved enriching for both sides.
Younger and older sisters alike gladly accepted the invitation from their Superior General to open their hearts and to see the visitation as a time of grace that strengthens the bond between the Province and the General Administration. Openly and freely, they spoke of their experiences and hopes, difficulties and concerns, joys and dreams for the future of the community. For her part, Sr. Josephina expressed empathy, respect and gratitude to the sisters of the mother province of our Congregation for their many years of faithful service.
She encouraged the older sisters to continue carrying out the small tasks that are possible for them, and to live a silent but powerful apostolate for the community through their presence, their prayer, their suffering, their wisdom and their fidelity. She encouraged the younger sisters to continue carrying out their service with compassion and humility, attentiveness and a listening heart. At the end of the visitation, she encouraged everyone to practise the three attitudes of gratitude, trust and hope.
Immediately following the visitation, on 15 August the German Province celebrated the profession day of most of the sisters. After 65 years, five of them could celebrate the iron jubilee of their commitment to God. Thus, the joyful atmosphere of togetherness continued in the communal celebrations. During the vigil vespers, the Provincial Superior Sr. Astrid Meinert recalled important milestones in the life of each individual jubilee sister, and afterwards Sr. Josephina congratulated them all in a short address. Recalling that their journeys had included times of joy and times of trial, she expressed her conviction that the greatest lesson taught by the sisters’ lives is that a vocation is sustained not by our own strength, but by God’s unfailing grace. “Each one of you is part of the living history of our Congregation. We have been blessed and enriched by your witness, your service, and your fidelity. Each of you is unique and precious in God’s eyes.”
In the morning of the Feast of the Assumption, all the sisters from Germany gathered to celebrate the solemn Mass in the chapel of the provincial house in Limburg. The celebrations continued with a festive lunch and a cheerful get-together over coffee and cake. To conclude the day, once again everyone joined in giving thanks to God during the communal vespers.
Text: Sr. Adelheid Scheloske, SAC
Photos: Sisters of the German Province