Volume I Issue No.5 November-December 2013

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

St. Scholastica’s College before the typhoon St. Scholastica’s College after the typhoon

Christmas brought hope to the three stations of the Manila Priory that were battered by the super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on November 8. The typhoon of unparalleled power caused massive destruction to St. Scholastica’s College, Tacloban, the Divine Word Hospital, Tacloban and St. Peter’s College, Ormoc. The strong storm surge collapsed the Tacloban school buildings, flood-ed all major medical equipments of the hospital and ripped off the roofs of the convents.

Divine Word Hospital before the typhoon Divine Word Hospital during the tphoon as cars floated at the parking area.

On the eve of the typhoon the sis-ters of the Tacloban school decided to evacuate to the hos-pital community while the Sisters in Ormoc sought ref-uge at the parish. All the sisters were safe. The sisters of the Tacloban school could not save any-thing even their personal belongings. Despite this dismal scene, Christmas continues to bring hope to Tacloban and Ormoc as they start rebuilding from what was left after the typhoon.

St. Peter’s College, Ormoc before the typhoon Ormoc clausura after the typhoon

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INDIAN REGION

Seated: M. Angela (l) and Sr. Kunigundis with all Sisters and formandees

From l to r: M. Angela, Sr. Fidelis and Sr.

Kunigundis being welcomed by a formandee

INDIA. M. Angela Strobel and Sr. Kunigundis Amon visited the Sisters in India from November 20-

27. A meeting of M. Angela with Sr. Fidelis Kim, who flew all the way from Sri Lanka to India, also took place. Sr. Antoinette Adelman, the superior of India, is currently in Norfolk to renew her visa.

IBERIAN PRIORY. The Generalate met with Sr. Timotea Kronsnabl, the Prioress of the

Iberian Priory, Sr. Alice Ferreira, the regional superior of Angola and Sr. Ma. Gratia Balagot, the superior of Madrid. The meeting was held at the Casa Santo Spirito, Rome from December 10-13.

The purpose of the meeting was to assess the conditions of the communities and their aposto-lates plus to study the future of the Iberian Priory.

The Generalate and the Iberian Leaders

From l-r: Sr. Timotea, Sr. Lumen Gloria, M. Angela, Sr. Salete, Sr. Ma. Gratia , Sr. Alice and Sr. Caridad

From l-r: Sr. Agnella,Sr. Gaudia, M. Angela, Sr. Madalena and Sr. Marie Bruno

WEBSITE TASK FORCE. The Generalate appointed a congregation website task force as mandated by the XXII General Chapter 2012. The task force composed Sr. Marie Bruno Shin, Sr. Gaudia Koh, Sr. Agnella Capili and Sr. Madalena MendonÇa worked at the Casa Santo Spirito, Rome from December 2-6.

MEETINGS

Task Force

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The Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers held its 28th International Conference at the Vatican from November 21-23. The theme of the conference was “ Care for People with Degenerative and Neurodegenerative Pathologies: the Church at the Service of Sick Elderly People.” About 700 experts from more than 57 countries took part. Among our sisters present were Sr. Irene Iita and Sr. Fatima Alves dos Santos from the Casa community and Sr. Jean Marie Chang, the hospital directress of Daegu-Fatima Hospital .

HEALTH CARE

From l-r: Sr. Irene, Sr. Jean Marie and Sr. Fatima.

JPIC WORKSHOP Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca attended the Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Promoters’ Work-shop at the Retreat Center of the Passionists in Celio, Rome from December 7-10. The workshop which was conducted in English and Spanish had 36 participants of men and women religious from different congregations and countries.

Sr. Lumen ( Standing - 2nd from left) with JPIC Promoters

KOREAN MISSIONARIES IN AFRICA Sr. Columba Lee writes, “I am so pleased to share about the annual meeting of the Korean Missionaries in Africa which was held at the Good Shepherd Retreat Center in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 10- 17. I can say that the meeting was impres-sive and encouraging for us. The number of participants was 45, and the number of coun-tries was 15 such as South Sudan, Central Af-rica, Zambia, Morocco, and Namibia and so on. It didn’t take time to get along with each other even we are from different congrega-

tion.

The theme of the meeting was “Be hope for the world.” From our congregation there were eight sisters who came. Bishop Jeong, Sincheol from the Incheon Diocese, Korea who is in charge of mission abroad was also present. He showed his generosity, con-cern and kindness to us. I want express my hearty gratitude to Fr. Dominico Son who was the leader in this meeting which he

organized so well.

Thanks for everything. I have nice memories and remembrances in the meeting. Now we go back to the real world. We are going to struggle with some difficult situations and other conditions. That’s the reality. That’s another part of missionary life. However we can overcome, confront, and face our differences by God’s grace and help.”

KOREAN MISSIONARIES

From l-r: Sr. Maria Ko (Nairobi), Sr. Lioba Yang (Peramiho), Sr. Majola Lee (Windhoek), Sr. Seraphia Jeung (Peramiho) Sr. Simon Lee (Windhoek), Sr. Marie Johann Lee (Windhoek), Sr. Columba Lee (Ndanda), Sr. Serva Shin (Kenya)

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Christmas Candles

The candle work of Sister Barnaba Bae, a candle artist are on display for the public at the Spirituality Center of Sasudong and other places of the city .

DAEGU Sr. Adriana (l) and

Sr. Iracema (r)

Sr. Benilda

Sr. Hedwig

Sr. Veronica

S r . V e r o n i c a S u b e m a d e h e r final profession of vows during the Holy Mass at the chapel of the Mother House on December 15.

Sr. Mary John

Sr. Hedwig Willenbrink gave conferences to the sisters of Casa Santo Spirito, Rome during their eight-day retreat from November 24– De-cember 1.

Sr. Mary John Mananzan was the speaker at NIM - Nijmegen Institute for Mission Studies, Netherlands during a symposium on the occa-sion of its 20th anniversary on December 3. She presented a paper entitled “Celebrating Diver-sity on Religious Life and Leadership.”

Sr. Adriana Ribeiro who was installed as Prioress of Sorocaba on November 30.

Sr. Iracema Gomes da Silva who ended her eight-year term as Prioress of Sorocaba.

Sr. Benilda Maramba who returned to the Philippines on November 27 after her one year course on Gregorian chant at the Cantatibus Organis, Sta. Cecilia, Rome and who is now preparing for her new mission in Ndanda.

Sr. Elisabeth Busbach who arrived in Portu-gal from Tutzing on December 17, the effec-tivity date of her four-year assignment in Portugal.

Sr. Monica Nabirye who was transferred to Windhoek on December 18 after helping out in India then in Kenya.

Sr. Timotea (l) welcoming

Sr. Elisabeth (r) at the airport of Portugal.

Sr. Monica

TUTZING

UGANDA

Sr. Ruth Bartonico writes, “One of the priceless blessings of our Uganda mission is its beautiful location where nature is at its best. First and foremost, it overlooks Lake Victoria. The soil is fer-tile. And, a stream runs through the property. Variety of birds and other living creature abound. The land area caters for grazing a few cows. The neighborhood is sparse; no one can complain about the pigs’ squeak-ing and the smell of their poops. And there is much space for sugarcane, corn and rice.

Because of these the Sisters are able to grow fruit-bearing trees and vegetables that supply their table every day. Fresh milk is available, too, sharing the rest with the young calf. Meat is supplied by the farm’s herd of goats, sheep, cows and pigs. Harvest of rice and corn supply the needs of the community and the food for the farm workers, while the sugarcane earns money for the community’s other needs.

But not everything is well in paradise, as we all know. Challenges also abound such as the attacks of monkeys on the crops and the constant sight of snakes (big and small) that cause adrenalin rush on the sisters. The lack of needed rain for sowing and for the growing plants, carrying on the methods and pro-cesses of sustainable and organic farming, and marketing of products demanding strategic planning and management are the other big challenges that make our Uganda’s mission of care for the earth very chal-lenging.”

Sr. John Paul Marunga, who was in charge of the farm for one year, adds, “We plant cereal crops like corn and beans twice a year and the harvest is good. Vegetables grown are tomatoes, onions, cab-bages, cucumbers and spinach. We also plant sugarcane on a large scale of about 15 acres which we sell to the Kakira Sugar factory. This is the main source of income for our community and at one time we won the best outgrowers prize.

The pigs can go up to 50 when the sows have littered at the same time. All animal by-products are used for manure in crop production and generation of biogas.”

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All the sisters in Sasudong helped together to make kimchi from November 27-30 and continued to December 9-12.

DAEGU

Step 1. Harvesting the cabbage at the farm

Step 2. Rinsing the cabbages

Step 3. Slicing the cabbages and soaking them in salt water

Step 4.Mixing the ingredi-ents of green onions, gar-lic, ginger, chilli pepper with fish paste and put-ting them inside each leaf; storing in a kimchi pot

Sr. Ruth and Sr. Sylvia with the workers

Vegetable Garden Monkey enjoying the papayas Harvested Fruits

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The Generalate

Sr. Alypia Tomas, OSB died in Windhoek on November 8. Sr. Signifera Schwenke, OSB died in Olinda on November 10 Sr. Fidelis Happach, OSB died in Bernried on November 28 Sr. Constantia Schmitz, OSB died at Haus St. Benedikt on December 12.

WINDHOEK

Sr. Margareta Maria feeding the cows; being helped by Nov. Christine and Post. Hendelina

ARGENTINA NDANDA ANGOLA

WINDHOEK. Sr. Remedios de los Reyes gives the following information, “Sr. Margareta Maria, the Sub-prioress ofhas been taking care of the following: 7 cows, 26 pigs(5 sows, 1 hog and 20 piglets), 1 turkey and around 50 chickens. When the hens lay eggs, the eggs are hatched to increase the number of chicks. When Sr. Margareta Maria calls the cows in Afrikaans (Kom!), they all run very close to her. Sr. Margareta Maria and the formandees assisting her feel good caring for them. The animals recognize them and come closer to them and even smell them.Many of these have already been slaughtered for consumption and for the celebrations in the Priory House e.g. Professions and Jubilees.”

ARGENTINA. Sr. Rosanna Funes started with 3 lambs at the Los Toldos farm in 2009. Now there are 56 in number. Once a year at Christmas a sheep is given as a gift to the neighboring Benedictine monks. A sheep is also slaughtered for the consumption of the sisters and guests during a special occasion.

NDANDA. Sr. Francisca Kaesa takes care of two fishponds. A school of fish is harvested every four months and could feed the entire priory for one whole month.

Sr. Rosanna with a flock of sheep at the Los Toldos farm Sr. Francisca and a catfish Nov. Genitoria feeding a kid.