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DAEGU PRIORY NEWSLETTER

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DPN 365 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Daegu Priory, KOREA August 2013

LORD, May I trust, hope and love only you!

You are great, I am little. You are rich, I am poor.

You are powerful, I am weak.

Thursday, August 15:

August 15, 2013, Novice Maria Kim professed her lifetime commitment of seeking God as a

Missionary Benedictine Sister at Daegu Priory House during the Holy Mass presided over by Fr.

Dyonisius Park. From now on, she will be called Sister Yeonhee Maria which means “ongoing

happiness” in Korean.

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When I look back two years…

the time seems so short but I had such a hard time.

The most difficult thing for me was feeling afraid because of a lack of faith in God.

This kind of fear arrested me so that I couldn’t fly to God.

But the Lord has been with me and has given me many gracious gifts.

Because He wants to me to be His own.

He never let my spirit fall to the bottom of darkness; rather,

He picked me up and kept me near His side.

Again and again He caught me and gave me life, as if I were a precious treasure to Him.

With my first profession near, I felt even more anxiety and fear.

Because God showed me in detailed ways how weak of a person I was.

So I wondered, “Am I fit for pledged life?”

I am a person that is greedy, selfish, mistrustful, shady.

I stood up with these things and asked God,

“God, I am this kind of person. Could I still live a monastic life?”

With just a couple of days left to the first profession,

I continuously asked Him this question and the Lord kept silent.

His silence made me upset so I answered the question myself.

“Okay, there is no answer. I guess I’m not qualified to take a vow.”

But in the end, a merciful God suddenly hit me and woke me up.

Through His help, I realized how foolish I was.

I’ve always understood, interpreted and received everything that came my way without seeing

what belonged to Him. I’ve always lived for myself without wanting to die for Him.

In spite of this, He has taken my hands and has raised me up, he has walked with me, cared for me,

encouraged me, provided my every need, been with me,

and loved me in ways that allowed me to keep following this path.

I was really ashamed of myself and recognized this in thanksgiving.

I know very well now that I am not my own. But I forget this too easily.

For this reason, I absolutely need God’s help more than anyone else.

In every single moment until my death; only God can make me die.

I should move from behind Him so that He can help me.

So I had a first profession with the hope that whether I live or die in His glorious power,

I want to be His own.

I'll also do my best accordingly to transmit maternal love to Saint Yeonhee Maria Lee.

(She is a Korean Martyr, and her life was so impressive and the meaning of her name so

special. Yeon means “continue,” hee means “pleasure.” Her name meant “continued pleasure,” and I

also want to live before God with continued pleasure.)

I want to thank God, my parents who pray for me all the time, the benefactors

and all of the sisters in the community.

I want to deeply thank you all. I am extremely pleased and happy because I am the Lord's.

-Sr. Yeonhee Maria, OSB-

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Sunday, August 11:

The whole community of

Daegu Priory House gathered

on Sunday, August 11 in the

refectory after Vespers to

celebrate the 100th

birthday of

the only German Missionary

sister left, Sr. Betwina Caesar, OSB. She arrived in Wonsan

on June 21, 1937 as a novice, restarted her noviceship in

Korea and made her First Profession on June 29, 1938. (She

always proudly says that she is a Korean-Made Sister!)

In 1949, she and the rest of the German Priests, Brothers and Sisters were sent to the Oksadoc Hard

Labor Camp, where they suffered long and hard till January of 1954 when they were sent back to

West Germany. However, her missionary spirit never left her bringing her back to Korea and to

serve. She is the only witness and the last survivor of the Oksadoc Hard Labor Camp sufferers.

On her 100th

Birthday, all groups from postulants to elder sisters performed songs and dances with

traditional Korean bows to congratulate her. She was very happy to receive all the best wishes and

gifts. “Thank you very much for expressing such a great love for a simple sister like me. May God

reward you. I wish you would love and pray for each other to become a holy sister. I will also pray

for the monastic community as far as God allows me to do so.” said Sr. Bertwina in the end of the

celebration to the community.

In the afternoon of the same day, Sr. Betwina was also honored by the visit of Abbot Primate

Notker Wolf OSB, who brought a bouquet of 100 red roses to congratulate her. Nobody knew that

Abbot Wolf was also a great musician. He brought his own flute and performed several songs.

In the following day, to complete the enchanting occasion, all German brothers and priests from

Waegwan Abbey were invited for lunch with the centenarian in the parlor of Daegu Priory House.

They arrived with more gifts and best wishes.

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Happy 100th

Birthday, Sr. Bertwina! We love you, and thank you for your presence and good

example of monastic life. May God keep blessing you with His endless love!

Her 75th

Anniversary Profession is scheduled to be celebrated along with other Silver and Golden

Jubilees in October 2013.

Sunday, August 11:

Two postulants, Julia Lee and Agnes Ahn completed their 6 months of formative activity at Daegu

Fatima Hospital and Changwon Fatima Hospital, respectively. They returned to Priory House on

Sunday, August 11.

Tuesday - Thursday, August 6 - 15:

Fifty-nine Sisters attended the 4th

8-day retreat directed by Fr. Jonah Lee, a Benedictine Brother of

the Olivetan Order Monastery at Benedict Spirituality Center in Sasudong, Daegu from August 6 –

15. The theme of the retreat was “The Lord’s Prayer”. Among Sisters from local houses, there were

one novice in preparation for the first profession, one postulant in preparation for the Novitiate, 3

junior Sisters in preparation for the renewal of monastic vows.

Friday - Sunday, August 2 - 11:

Five Postulants were sent to home vacation on Aug. 2. It’s their first vacation since their monastic admission.

Wednesday, August 14:

“Mother Prioress, I beg for admission to the Novitiate, and to go

through the probationary period, so that with God’s grace and

with the help of the community, I may further discern the

presence of God’s call to me to enter religious life. I also wish

to experience your religious life further and be formed in mind

and heart according to the spirit of St. Benedict,” said postulant

Theresa Cho, on August 14 before Vespers in the Chapter room

where the whole community was assembled. She will start the

official period of monastic Canon Law.

Wednesday, August 14:

Three junior Sisters renewed their commitment to serve God under the Rule of St. Benedict in the

presence of Fr. Jonah Lee during Holy Mass on August 14. They were Sr. Macrina Oh, Sr.

Abraham Lee and Sr. Marie Eva Kim.

Sunday – Sunday, August 18 - 25:

Novice Martha Go completed her 8-day New Testament Reading Retreat on August 25 under

direction of her directress Sr. Virginia Lee. By doing so, she completes her canonical period and

will attend the Catholic Theological Institute of Daegu Archdiocese.

Sisters in Harmony

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Tuesday – Friday, August 20 - 23:

Representatives of Daegu and Seoul Priory gathered in Busan Holiday Apartment from August 20 –

23 to discuss and deal new methods of evangelization for North Korean.

Saturday, August 24:

The first Korean Benedictine Junior Meeting was held in Waegwan Abbey on August 24. The

purpose of the meeting was to provide interaction between junior Benedictine brothers and sisters in

Korea for a more integrated Benedictine way of life. Among thirty participants, there were Sr.

Marie Johann Heo and twelve junior Sisters from Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

Monday – Saturday, August 26 - 31:

Six junior Sisters along with their directress Sr. M. Johann Heo spent their common vacation in the

holiday apartment in Busan from August 26 to 31.

Monday – Wednesday, August 26 – September 4:

5 postulants of group B were submitted to their first 8-day retreat from August 26 to Sept. 4. The

retreat was based on reading the New Testament in 8 days. This is part of the postulancy program

and they will afterwards be sent to local houses for social and apostolic activities.

August

Twelve Sisters were installed as local superior in 12 different houses.

Sr. Dominica In was the first to be installed as superior of Daemyeong-dong on August 24.

On August 26, Sr. Marianne Park was installed in Jwa-dong and Sr. Silvia Kim in Morundae.

On the next day, Sr. Veritas Yun was installed in Bokhyeong-dong. Sr. Theodora Ku was installed

in Hamchang and Sr. Bonifacio Keum in Sangju on August 29. Hanggangjin and Hannam-dong

communities got the new superior on August 30, Sr. Consolata Cheong in Hanggangjin and Sr.

Petro Park in Hannam-dong. Sr. Lina Kim became superior of Keunggogae, on August 31. All

installations ceremonies were presided over by Mother Lumen Choi with the certificate of

appointment handed over. May our Lord bless all new superiors with his love and wisdom to

properly foster community spirit and promote the sisters’ well-being and missionary service.

Friday, August 16:

A thesis was written by Sr. Xaveria Jeong under the title “A Study on the Effects of the Strategic

Orientation and Innovation Capability of Business and Service Performance” for a Master’s degree

in management at the department of Business Administration of Changwon University. She

Apostolate news

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currently serves the Administration Office of Changwon Fatima Hospital as a coordinator and will

provide more advice and suggestions to a better strategic management of the Hospital with her

thesis.

A Study on the Effects of the Strategic Orientation and Innovation Capability of Business and Service Performance

< English Abstract>

Considering what is required to provide a high quality health-care management system in a country like

Korea, where Hospitals have developed very rapidly over the past decades, this analysis focuses on better

patient service in General Hospitals.

Among many issues regarding the Health Care Management of the Hospital, Human Resources seems to be

the most important matter which give direct impact on the patient. Therefore, the present study evaluates the

effects of Innovational Capabilities in Human Resources in General Hospitals based on two main aspects:

Business and Service Performance Management; and the Middle Managers’ role. Along with theoretical

research, 212 questionnaire sets were given to employees and patients.

Data demonstrated that high rate positive impact was noted when an efficient strategy was applied to

the middle managers’ sector and a progressive innovation capability for Human Resource was operated on

Business and Service Performances. While the middle managers contributed in a direct way, the Business

and Service Performances worked much more indirectly, playing as a mediator role. Besides that, the study

also revealed the importance of continuous research to find new strategic methods of shaping and conducting

Human Resource Capability which relies on the Middle Manager’s responsibility.

Human Resource is the root upon which Hospital managers should focus on to achieve a successful health

care management. Suggestions should be always gathered on this and encouragement for increasing the level

of competence of Middle Managers should be taken into consideration as well as for Business and Service

Performance.

(continued from DPN 364)

Sr. Friedhelma was always kind and helpful toward the employees also. One of the employees

working at the Santa Maria Free Clinic was Mr. MyungSoo Jeon. She encouraged him to be a good

Monk at the nearby Waegwan Benedictine Abbey. Finally he decided to enter the monastery. Then,

she brought out a bundle of entangled yarn from the relief goods for the poor and told him to

Comings & Goings Saturday, August 3: Arrival of the junior sisters Sr. Marie Enoch Kim, Sr. Marie Munmo Kim and Sr. Lois

Choi from the Philippines after 6 months of mission experience.

Friday, August 9: Arrival of Sr. Gertrud Kim from China for medical treatment. She was hospitalized at

Daegu Fatima Hospital until August 24 and will take rest at Daegu Priory House until mid-September.

Friday, August 16: Arrival of Sr. Tabitha Son for dental treatment at Daegu Fatima Hospital.

Monday, August 19: Arrival of Sr. Isaac Bae from Africa.

Tuesday, August 20: Arrival of Sr. Marie Petro Park from LA after her three-year term as superior.

Wednesday, August 21: Departure of Sr. Ambrosia Lee to China.

Sunday, August 25: Departure of Sr. Maria Benedict Lim to Rome for International Junior Program at Casa

Santo Spirito.

Tuesday, August 27: Departure of Sr. Franz Kim to Manila Priory for 6 months of mission experience.

A little bit of knowledge from one of our pioneers…

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untangle the whole thing and then to enter the monastery. Mr. Jeon literally untangled all that and

got permission from Sr. Friedhelma to enter the monastery. He became a very exemplary monk. His

religious name is Brother Andrea Jeon who even now gives high praise to Sr. Friedhelma who made

his faith upgraded and gave him a religious vocation of high spiritual quality.

◀ Sr. Friedhelma with other missionaries

after a spiritual retreat in Korea (1980)

In 1990, she went to Germany for her home leave and there she celebrated her Golden Jubilee of

Profession. After her return from Germany in February 1991, she fell on the floor and broke her

arm. After this incident, she became weaker and weaker. On March 16, 1991, she came to the

Priory House from Daegu Fatima Hospital Station.

From 1994, she moved to the Infirmary. She treated the nurses and every visiting Sister with utmost

gentle and mild words and exemplary behavior. She was a very humble and obedient patient. Even

on death bed, she was very quiet and gentle and showed to us an example of true humility.

On January 2, 1999, at 7:45 a.m., she left us listening to the community Sisters’ prayer. She laid

there on her death bed with hands folded together and with closed eyes. She went to Heaven

beautiful and quiet like an angel.

At her funeral there were three priests,

convent Chaplain Father Augustine

Rho (KewJae), Father Thomas T. from

the Waegwan Benedictine Abbey, and

Father Roger Hwang (JooChul). Father

Roger Hwang was from Daegu

Archdiocese. He was from a very poor

family and thanks to Sr. Friedhelma’s

help from the German benefactors he

could save his priestly vocation. Father

Roger Hwang was the one who gave

eulogy on Sr. Friedhelma. He said, “Sr. Friedhelma has been to me a person like our Blessed

Mother. I prayed that she could die on the first Saturday of the month. And God listened to my

prayer. Sr. Friedhelma came to Korea as a missionary and has lived for Koreans and served the poor

Koreans and the marginalized. And now she is going to be buried here in Korea. I, myself, am

going to Germany to serve the Korean Church there. I am going there to live and die there.”

-Sr. Veronica Lee-

Responsible for the Chronicles of Daegu Priory

(Translated by Sr. Maria Paul Sung)

“…that in all things God may be glorified” (Pt 4,11)

Newsletter: osb_news@hanmail.net

Homepage: www.benedictine.or.kr