www.livestrong.com September

Volume VIII Issue No. 6 November-December 2020

Sr. Rosann

WE ARE DIFFERENT YET ONE“The way of Jesus…to walk united with our differences.” -Pope Francis

Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Casa Santo Spirito, Via dei Bevilacqua 60, 00165, Rome Italy

Panel exhibit by Sr. Marie Johann Heo, OSBIN THIS ISSUE Christmas Cribs…….................... 2 Windhoek ................................5Gen. Calendar/Sr. Benedicta. ____ 3 Christmas Tradition ..................7AIM//South Africa...............................4 St. Joseph/Updates.............................8.

“The baby Jesus in the picture is shown wrapped in strap-tied swaddling cloths resembling burial sheets. It reminds me of our reality of lockdown, restrictions which make us adapt to inconvenience, to unpredictable realities. In spite of the limitations of our human conditions and our present situation, new life was born, and new life is growing hidden to us. We see death and new life together in the newborn baby. The mystery of Incarnation and the Paschal mystery meet in God’s Kenosis.” - From M.Maoro Sye's Christmas Message 2020

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS from all our Priories and

Generalate District Houses

Norfolk Rome Daegu

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Tutzing Nairobi Peramiho Windhoek

Manila Ndanda Torres Novas

Seoul Sorocaba Olinda

Jinja Haus St. Benedikt Bulgaria India

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SR. BENEDICTA YEO WINS ASAN AWARD

SR. CHRISTINA MOON, OSB

ELECTION CHAPTERS• January 9-10: Election Chapter of the

Olinda Priory Presider: M. Angela Strobel

• January 29-30: Election Chapter of the Manila Priory Presider: Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca

• March 6-7 : Election Chapter of Ndanda Priory Presider: Sr. Regina Tesch assisted by Sr. Katharina Mtitu

• March 20-21: Election Chapter of Nairobi Priory

Presider: Sr. Regina Tesch assisted by Sr. Katharina Mtitu

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

CLOSURES • The closure of the Guest House Ministry of

Casa Santo Spirito, Rome takes effect on December 31, 2020.

• The closure of the Santo Amaro School of Rio de Janiero, Sorocaba Priory, takes effect on December 31, 2020.

CANCELLATIONS• International Weeks of Encounter of 2021• Tanzania Renewal Program scheduled

From l-r: Chung Mong-Joon, Chairman of ASAN Foundation, Sr. Christina Moon, other awardees

SR. BENEDICTA, next page

Sr. Benedicta and her work in Uganda

INSTALLATIONS:

• November 16: M. Maoro Sye installed Sr. Illumina Lee as the seventh Prioress of Seoul Priory

M. Maoro Sr. IlluminaM. Maoro Sr. Illumina

• December 7: M. Maoro delegated Sr. Cecille Ido to install Sr. Rimolda

Flory as the second Indian Superior of the Punalur community

Sr. Cecille Sr. Rimolda

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her acceptance speech gave thanks to those responsible for this event and expressed Sr. Benedicta’s intention in using the award money to build houses for the local residents who are homeless and suffering from poverty.

ASAN Foundation under the Hyun Dai Group, one of the Korea’s leading corporations, annually awards those who devote themselves

in doing volunteer work for people in need in society. This year, Sr. Benedicta Yeo, OSB won

the 32nd Asan Award for her efforts to establish the hospital, the pre-school and the elementary school for the local residents and for her service to improve the quality of the lives in Uganda for the past 27 years. Since Sr. Benedicta, who is currently the superior of Jinja Community in Uganda, could not attend the awards ceremony held on November 25 at Asan Hall in Seoul because of her work in the treatment and quarantine of COVID-19 patients in local hospitals and regions, Sr. Christina Moon, the prioress of Daegu Priory, attended the ceremony and received the proxy award. Sr. Christina in

SR. BENEDICTA, from page 3

AIM president Fr.Jean- Pierre requested  M.Maoro     to allow one sister who resides in Rome in the generalate housebecome  a member of the International team of AIM. The Generalate appointed Sr. Regina Tesch asmember of the International Team of AllianceInter-Monastères (AIM) which is at the service of Benedictine family’s foundations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania and Eastern Europe. Sr. Adelaida Ygrubay continues to serve the AIM as a member of the Executive Commission.Both teams meet two or three times a year at AIMHeadquarters in Vanves-Paris or other places.

BEGINNINGS IN SOUTH AFRICA 100 YEARS AGO

SR. ATHANASIA SIMON, OSB

including the missionaries, would have to leave the country. These events decisively contributed to the coming of German Benedictines to Zululand. By 1918 the community in Dar es Salaam had grown to about forty sisters. Simbasi served now as internment camp for the German Benedictine Sisters from the various mission stations. The sisters still had some girls at school and in the boarding house. Sick people continued to come to the sisters for help. Products of Simbasi farm, especially milk and fresh vegetables, were supplied to the English hospitals and to the poor. There was still some hope of avoiding the dreaded expulsion. In 1920 a surprise visit brought an unexpected turn of events. The Dutch Fr. Eduard Schröder, SJ, together with the apostolic prefect of Northern Transvaal, Ildephons Lanslots OSB, had completed his task as apostolic visitator in Mariannhill, South Africa. On his return voyage to Rome he visited Bishop Spreiter in Dar es Salaam on June 24 and learned of the difficult situation of the German Benedictine missions. During a visit to Simbasi he met Sr. Amanda Rankl, the superior, and said to her: “Sister, you and your sisters ought to go to South Africa.” He advised to offer the sisters’ services to Apostolic Prefect Lanslots in Pietersburg. Now, this was a totally new situation, requiring immediate decisions. On January 2, 1920 the definite repatriation of the Germans had been decreed and in May the first transport had left. How could they quickly communicate with the Motherhouse? Could entry permits for South Africa be obtained so quickly? Sr. Amanda asked the sisters, the chaplain Fr. Gallus, the Bishop. All of them were in favour of accepting the offer. Letters were sent to Mother Birgitta, Tutzing, to Msgr. Lanslots in South Africa. July 12 M. Birgitta’s reply telegram arrives: “Yes, accept, if conditions favorable. Birgitta.” July 28 Msgr. Lanslots confirms that he has submitted the matter to the government. Anxious waiting. August 5, the miracle did happen! A telegram: “Permission granted. Kolbe.” This means the entry permit is given. Sr. Amanda writes: “Priests and brothers are rejoicing with us about the good chance for a new field of work and are helping us in every conceivable way. We may pack and take along BEGINNINGS, next page

The First World War 1914 – 1918 affected the German Colonies. As early as the end of 1916 the English had announced, all Germans,

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VOYAGE,, from page 4

anything we wish.” Of the twenty sisters still in Simbasi, twelve were selected. Msgr. Lanslots sent a money order to cover the fare. Sr. Amanda reports: “August 30, 1920, today comes the hour of parting... At ten o’clock our ship departs. Above the palm trees the cross on the cathedral tower can be seen for a long time.” The first disappointment happened to the sisters immediately on their arrival in Durban on September 7. The superior of Mariannhill told them, there was no hope for the time being of the continuation of their journey to Petersburg. On September 9 a telegram from Msgr. Lanslots announced: “Nothing ready for the sisters.” So the Benedictine Sisters were dependent on the assistance of Mariannhill, who generously offered their hospitality. Now the sisters themselves had to look for a suitable field of work. The Superior of Mariannhill, Fr. Hermann Arndt, advised Sr. Amanda to contact Fr. Gratl, Superior of the Austrian Servites in Swaziland. Two mission stations had already been founded, but after the war the entry permits for Austrian sisters had been denied. So the offer of the Benedictine sisters was welcome. Fr. Gratl immediately invited the sisters to Mbabane. Already on November 11 Sr. Amanda with five of her sisters travelled to Swaziland. There extreme poverty awaited them. They assisted in teaching the children, eagerly visited the kraals in the vicinity and were glad to have work and responsibility. During the following years some of the sisters stayed in Mariannhill, worked there or prepared for the teaching diploma. Only on December 14, 1922, after suitable accommodation had been prepared for them in the new station INKAMANA, the first Tutzing sisters could move in there.

Living Sisters who were assigned in Inkamana and their present stations From l-r: Haus St. Benedict: Sr. Monika Brandl, Athanasia Simon, Sr. Ma. George Nowottny, Tutzing: Gertrud Banz, Norfolk: Sr. Marita Schweiger, Sr. Frances Betz, Sr. Gabriella Urian,

Manila: Sr. Melanie Lumauig

WINDHOEK PRIORY CELEBRATES

CLOSING OF CENTENARY YEAR

SR. REMEDIOS DE LOS REYES,OSB AND SR. MAURICE MARY KAMARI, OSB

Sunday, December 20, which happened to be the fourth Sunday of Advent, was the day when we remembered and celebrated the centenary of the arrival in Namibia of the first eight German Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing. Since October, we have been preparing for our Centenary Mass Liturgy, even a Latin Sanctus and six different languages, drama and program numbers slated for the closing of the Centenary Year on December 19 and 20. Our invitations had been sent out, the Centenary Book has been printed, the jackets with the Centenary logo for the Sisters and the T-shirts for the Oblates with the same logo were all ready. The Accommodation Committee had prepared enough rooms for all our Sisters who were expected to come from the 13 Stations. Sisters and Formandees of the whole Windhoek Priory were looking forward to celebrating the closing days in the Priory House. In fact, the Sisters of Okongo Community in far north of the country had already been on their way to the Priory House on December 17, when the President of Namibia announced only fifty people may gather indoors and a hundred outdoors due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Namibia. We were still able to perform our closing-day program on December 20 with the following highlights: an intercultural Thanksgiving Mass WINDHOEK, next page

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WINDHOEK, from page 5

with the Fr. Abbot Godfrey Sieber, OSB, as presider, the Rite of Blessing of the Centenary Monument and putting underground the two Time Capsules, gathering in the refectory for a festive lunch with some of our Sisters from the Roman Catholic Hospital. We sang Vespers with the O Antiphon and Magnificat in Latin and we ended the day praying Rosary and Compline together for the repose of the souls of our Pioneer Sisters and all the Sisters whose names are inscribed on the Memorial Wall. Some of us stayed a little longer at the Memorial Wall, praying in gratitude for our deceased Sisters One of the unforgettable moments of the preparation for the centenary celebration was in the evening of December 19 when we witnessed how Mother Simon and Sr. Bonifacis put into the two time capsules these contents: historical documents, messages relating to the Centenary Year and items reflecting the |Missionary Benedictine “Ora et Labora”. The Capsules will be opened by the Sisters and Formandees of the next 100 years. We received a special blessing on the centenary jubilee day: after weeks of extremely hot day the sky was covered with clouds in the morning and the Lord sent us a little rain in the afternoon and after compline, it started pouring. Thanks be to God!!

Holy Mass

Sr. Simon, Prioress (r) and Sr. Bonifacis, Sub-prioress,unveiling the marker and getting ready to bury the two time capsules

Procession to the Memorial Wall

Praying the rosary at the memorial wall

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Tutzing: Sr. Margarete Sr. Liesolette, Sr. Corona Peramiho: Sr. Miriam, Sr. Gabriela

Manila: from l-r: Sr. Ma. Luisa, Sr. Benita, Sr. Ma. Lourdes, Sr. Zita, Sr. Hilda

Windhoek: Sr. Eveline, Sr. Mary Aloyise, Sr. Mary Rose

CHRISTMAS TRADITION

of baking LEBKUCHEN, STOLLEN BREAD and " b u i l d i n g " GINGERBREAD houses introduced by our German Sisters goes on.

Norfolk: Sr. Celine, Sr. Lumen, Sr. Letisia, Sr.Leah Ann, Sr.Kevin, Sr. Marie Andre

Daegu: Sr. Victroia nd Sr. Marie Vianney and Sr. Marie Amen

Ndanda: Sr. Otilia

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3

REST IN PEACE+Sr. Isaac Yang, 54, who died in Seoul on November 13. +Sr. Gottlinde Wyss, 99, who died in Haus St. Benedikt Tutzing on December 9.+Sr. Maria Stella Diniz, 95, who died in Recife on December 10.

THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED.

THE GENERALATE

POPE FRANCIS PROCLAIMS “YEAR OF ST JOSEPH”

By Vatican NewsDecember 8, 2020

With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021. In a new Apostolic Letter entitled  Patris corde   (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.The Letter marks the 150th   anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021. The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”

A beloved, tender, obedient fatherSaint Joseph, in fact, “concretely expressed his fatherhood” by making an offering of himself in writes Pope Francis, quoting his predecessor St Paul VI.

And because of his role at “the crossroads between the Old and New Testament,” St Joseph “has always been venerated as a father by the Christian people” (PC, 1). In him, “Jesus saw the tender writes Pope Francis, quoting his predecessor St Paul VI.

• Sr. Agnes Mulala from Angola/Sorocaba Priory back to Windhoek, her home priory.

• Sr. Lydia Jacob from Punalur, India/Generalate District to Ndanda

Sr. Agnes Sr. Lydia