www.livestrong.com September

Volume VIII Issue No. 2 March-April 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

The Generalate and the Casa Community, Rome

CASA SANTO SPIRITO IN RETROSPECT

Panel exhibit by Sr. Marie Johann Heo, OSB

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Cover Page. M. Gertrud Link (extreme right) and the other sisters during the groundbreaking for the building of the new Generalate House in via dei Bevilacqua 60, Rome in 1967. The picture shows also the presence of the sisters during the laying of the foundation stone which took place in 1968, plus the newly constructed house (left side) and the almost finished house (right side).

CASA MODIFIES GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION BY SR. ANTOINETTE ADELMAN, OSB

March 9, schools and universities are directed to close. Soon after, Italy is put into a 'lockdown' mode with people expected to stay at home. Needed permits and fines give support to this government directive. Suddenly the public places and streets of Rome are quiet and empty, as are the churches right up to St. Peter's Basilica and its piazza. Consequent, too, our Mariannhill Fathers no longer can come to the Casa for daily Eucharist. March 17, the community begins participating in Eucharist by live-streaming with Pope Francis' daily Holy Mass at Santa Marta. In the community, the Sisters practice social distance by using the conference hall for the Liturgy of the Hours and to participate in the daily Eucharist with Pope Francis. Likewise, in the refectory the Sisters move farther apart, and begin using the guesthouse dishes and dishwasher. The International Weeks of Encounter(IWE) needed to be cancelled as announced in the ninth common letter of M. Maoro Sye dated March 3. Our hope was to have the opening of the IWE, coincide with a fitting jubilee liturgy with the Abbot Primate Gregory Polan, OSB presiding at the Eucharist. Needless to say, our jubilee closing was modified. Attentions went to completing a Congregation display. As the weeks progressed, an exhibit under the creative genius of the display committee unfolded. Wednesday, April 22 became the focus day for celebrating the final event of the golden jubilee of Casa Santo Spirito. April 20 - The table reading on Monday evening, was Sr. Bernita Walter's description of the move from Grottaferrata to the new house, Casa Santo Spirito. April 22 - In the Liturgy of the Hours, we highlighted the day with the English office taken from Foundation Day, September 24. When the Sisters heard the 'jubilee bell', brought in late February from Tutzing by Sr. Maria Ignatius Glaser, they quickly assembled at the corridor for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Then followed: a blessing by M. Maoro, an explanation of the exhibit halls, and a especially prepared Midday prayer that expressed our sentiments: "Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever". The display committee members, Sr. Monika Groth, Sr. Marie Johann Heo, Sr. Philippa Kwak and their

many assistants, worked more than two months to prepare this exhibit of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. We thank them for their time, patience, creativity, zeal and perseverance to ready an expansive display in the hall and chapter room. The exhibit includes nine wall panels detailing the image of our Congregation tree from roots to fruits. At the world map are identified our locations with a string linking it to a "face"/photo of the priory/district house. In the nearby showcases are valued archival items, while in the chapter room one can view on ten tables, on the floor before the tables, on the window ledges, and on the walls, a full museum of objects/artifacts/cultural items which are usually in various places in the Casa, besides those kept in storage cabinets. It seems most appropriate that the current members of Casa Santo Spirito view this display after our formal ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hopefully, all could gain new appreciation and gratitude for the treasures hidden in the Casa, as well as appreciation and gratitude for our Missionary Benedictine identity and calling. A festive pranzo, and later a coffee colloquy with freshly baked cream puffs by M. Maoro, and other warm specialties and entertainment continued to fill the jubilee day. In her closing comments during our afternoon colloquy, M. Maoro stated that, yes, many of our month-by-month activities which we planned for the Casa Santo Spirito jubilee year were accomplished. Then life changed. Yes, the COVID-19 virus did shift our focus. Our vespers was taken from the September 24, Foundation Day Italian office with Latin antiphons. After supper was the evening adoration for the victims and circumstances of the COVID19 virus which helped us to reset our awareness of the circumstances of our todays. To end our special day, the compline prepared our minds and hearts for thankful praise to God for His wondrous ways. It gave us a snapshot review of the past fifty years in the Casa and the eventful activities of April 22, our Jubilee day, that were woven into a tapestry of blessings.

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Panel exhibit by Sr. Marie Johann Heo, OSB

MEMORIES OF CASA SANTO SPIRITOM. Irene Dabalus, OSB (1982 – 2006) My memories of the Casa are alive with the faces of sisters who had lived and worked with me during my terms of office from 1982-2006. First and foremost, the thoughts of M. Gertrud, M.

Maria Lucas, M. Edeltrud and M. Angela always bring heart warming and fond feelings. I had always looked up to them with respect and admiration. They were women of extraordinary qualities, mature, discreet, prayerful, wise in judgment and endowed with a “funny bone”. In the early days of my office and thereafter, I saw with awe how they led the congregation in a “condemnation free” ministry, truly noble and saintly, notwithstanding human weaknesses and limitations. Likewise do I esteem my international General Councillors, General Secretaries, General Procurators, Archivists and Casa Coordinators

whom I now remember with deep gratitude and appreciation. We all “stuck it out” together through thick and thin in the ever changing seasons of those 24 years. To my mind’s eye appears vividly our Casa community consisting of sisters of different nationalities – Germans, Americans (north and south), Koreans, Filipinos, and Africans, who ran the house with vibrant zeal and efficiency from the “mansarda” to the basement. The liturgy, the hub of the day, was rendered by the choir and the chantresses in Italian in near-perfect harmony. The kitchen sister saw to hot cooked meals 247 with the crispy-baked “rosette” ready for breakfast every morning. The “economy” and garden sister cared that the trees were pruned and trimmed to a scenic beauty on our acreage. The guests and pilgrims would come back to us every so often to find a friendly welcome and a taste of home away from home. The blessings of laughter and togetherness flowed freely at our community recreations and celebrations. Even the thieves were not missing in their seasonal prowls of our property. (next page)

Part of the Golden Jubilee Exhibit

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Memorable indeed were the yearly International Weeks of Encounter which brought together our sisters from Europe, Asia, Africa and America to discover their common roots in the Congregation in six weeks of renewal. There were also the regular General Chapters where superiors general and councils were born and the old ones bade goodbye, as well as prioresses and treasurers’ meetings which jelled the congregation together around common goals and a vision. The first CIB (Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum), as the meeting of Benedictine nuns and sisters was later called, was also born in the Casa, founded by M. Gertrud Link and Abbot Primate Viktor Dammertz, OSB. And the monastic renewal of American prioresses saw their meetings in the Casa over spring and summer every year for some 9 years. I would still like to mention the deaths of our Sr. Gonzaga Fuchs, M. Maria Lucas and Sr. Maria Gottfried Bonath. They belong to a poignant experience of loss of three pillars in the leadership and mission of our congregation. They of course were rare gifts to our community. As we celebrate the golden jubilee of foundation of the Casa we can say with the psalmist in Psalm 65:11: “You crown the year with your goodness. Abundance flows at your every step.”

M. Angela Strobel, OSB (2000 – 2019) During my stay in Rome, I had in mind the whole Congregation and I experienced the Casa Community as an authentic little image of w h a t M i s s i o n a r y Benedictine life means. I have especially good

memories of the International Weeks of Encounter (IWE), more precisely of the development of the spirit, the atmosphere during these encounters. About 500 Sisters have participated during those 19 years, which is more than one third of the membership of our Congregation. It is the internationality what I appreciated so much. At the beginning there was little interaction among the Sisters of different nationalities, the national group building was

very strong. We were together at the conferences, at table but communication among the Sisters was minimal. Of course, there was the language problem. I do not remember the year, but saw the need to call an expert in order to have sessions for interaction and skills of communication. So, at the beginning of the encounter we had one or two days with Sr. Beate Grupp and Karin. The sessions were interesting and joyful, proposals were made to learn some words of another language but soon all seemed to be forgotten. Sisters did not come to know each other’s name. Mostly they referred to another Sister as the African, the Brazilian, the Korean…. the tall, the small and so on. Finally thanks to an expert for communication and animation in the Generalate. The climate of the encounters changed from 2013 on. The Sisters now were encouraged to know the names of the other participants. I saw things which I have never seen before. Sisters were communicating with one another in whatever way. Once I was sitting at the parlor and I saw a Korean and a Brazilian Sister walking together. I was wondering how they would understand one another, knowing that neither knew another’s language. But they were talking, probably each one in her own language and they seemingly understood one another, they looked happy – a little Pentecost! Then the international encounter became more and more an intercultural encounter, even before this vision of intercultural living – last General Chapter theme - was a clear concept. This development caused me great joy. Now, the presence of the Junior Sisters from different Priories since 2011 is also a gift for the Casa Community not only because the community is younger and livelier but because the community is a real image of our whole international Congregation. For the Juniors, it is an important training of interculturality which they hopefully bring back to their Priories. Our Casa Santo Spirito is a treasure: a house in Rome, the centre of the Catholic, worldwide Church, with the international Generalate and the international community, with easy contacts to all what is important in our Church, in a beautiful surrounding and a meaningful mission receiving guests as Christ. To live for a time in this Casa Santo Spirito is simply a grace.

MEMORIES, from page 3

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From l-r: Sr. Mary Gabrielle, Sr. Suzana, Sr. Augustina, Sr. Gabriella, Sr. Paula, Sr. Katarina, Sr. Francine

at the graduation of Sr. Rosaria (holding a bouquet)

Receive, O Lord,our praise and thanksgivingfor our leaders and pioneers, planners and builders, coordinators and members -precious foundation stones upon whomour Casa Generalizia is built.

We thank you as we honor our Prioresses Generalfor the gift of transformative leadership,for their wisdom and insightsthat have blessed our past,strengthen our presentand enhance our future.

We praise youfor our coordinators -on whose nurturing care,lovingkindness and welcoming spiritour Casa has turned into a homewhere Sisters, guests, pilgrims and strangershave met Christ in love and hospitality.

We glorify you for Sisters you have called and inspired to create together with you a dwelling place for the gathering of Sisters from north, south, east and west -a Casa that makes possiblethe unfolding of historyand the birthing of bonds, ideas, and unity.

As we continue to live interculturallyamid the Covid19 pandemic, we lift up our hearts to you not only for the FIFTY YEARS of CASA SANTO SPIRITObut also for the years to come.May it always be a source and center,of all that is different and pulled together as one.

A GOLDEN PRAYERBY SR. MARY THOMAS PRADO, OSB

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Abt. Guillermo

SISTERS MAKE FACE MASKS AND FACE SHIELD

Sisters from different priories sew face masks for sisters’ use and for donating to medical staff in hospitals, health workers and people in need of them. Face shields are also produced by the

sisters. One can only admire sisters in their 90s who have been part of the working force. They are Sr. Paula Leick, 95, from Norfolk Priory and Sr. Alesia Beer, 94, from Haus St. Benedikt.

TUTZING PRIORY HAUS ST. BENEDIKT

Sr. Alesia

MANILA PRIORY

Sr. Sarah Gocela and Sr. Edita EsloporSr. Veronika Sube and employees of Benedictus Krankenhaus Feldafing who received masks from Tutzing

Standing l-r: Sr. Katharina Rohrmann, Sr. Benedicta Depuhl, Sr. Corona, seated l-r: Sr. Lucina Hoffmann, Sr. Lydia Eitner.

Sr. Corona Betz and Sr. Ruth Schönenberger

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MANILA PRIORY NORFOLK PRIORY

Sr. Antonia Santiago and Sr. Theodora Bilocura who also makes face shields.Sr. Paula Leick

Sr. Gabriella Urian

SISTERS REMAIN VIGILANT IN THE HOSPITALS

Sisters from Daegu and Manila priories remain vigilant in the hospitals as they continue to provide treatment to all kinds of patients amid the COVID19 pandemic.

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Sample masks made by Sr. Alesia

MANILA PRIORY

1. Pambujan Hospital Sr. Sarah Gocela

2. Tacloban Hospital Sr. Eloisa David Sr. Celeste Licas Sr. Amadea Donadilla

DAEGU PRIORY

3. Changwon-Fatima Hospital Sr. Isaiah Kim

4. Daegu-Fatima Hospital Sr. Maria Yang Eop

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Rest in Peace

On March 8 the council of the congregation of St. Ottilien visited the Casa community in Rome while having their yearly meeting in Rome / Assisi. The nine members headed by Abbot President Jeremias Schroeder, OSB met in the afternoon with the Generalate for a friendly exchange. During vespers monks’ and sisters’

voices blended beautifully. Supper with recreation gave the possibility for some exchange and getting to know each other. We are grateful for this encounter strengthening our relationship as brothers and sisters.

CONGREGATION COUNCIL OF ST. OTTILIEN VISITS THE CASA COMMUNITY

BY SR. REGINA TESCH, OSB

Meeting of the Council of St. Ottilien and the Generalate

Sr. Abraham Kang from Windhoek Priory back to Seoul, her home priory Sr. Domingas Candimba from Windhoek Priory back to Torres Novas/Angola, her home priory

Sr. Abraham Sr. Domingas

Sr. Winfrieda Bugayong of the Manila Priory celebrated her

100th birthday on April 11.

+Sr. Fromunda Knoll, 96, died in Peramiho on March 21.+Sr. Maria Gratia Balagot, 71, died in Madrid on March 28 due to COVID19. She was cremated on April 3 and her ashes can only be claimed after the lockdown in Madrid.+Sr. Pachomia Kim, 66. died in Daegu on April 5.+Sr. Ottilia Park, 96, died in Daegu on April 23.+Sr. Asuncion Bonafe, 94, died in Manila on April 24.+Sr. Miltraud Hermes, 98, who died in Haus St. Benedikt, Tutzing on April 28

Sr. Constance Tecson was the only one who was allowed to bid good-bye to Sr. Asuncion Bonafe at the cemetery.

THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED. THE GENERALATE