The Polish Provincial Chapter began its deliberations on March 22. The first day, was a day for recollection and prayer. During the day of recollection, we were accompanied by Bishop Jacek Kicinski. On the following days, the sisters will discuss important issues in the province. The Chapter will end on March 25.
March 19, 2023 was an important day in the history of our Congregation. The previous German Province was restructured into the German Region, because the number of Sisters continues to decrease and the Sisters are more and more in need of help.
In the previous Provincial House, in the Convent of St. Augustine in Berlin, Archbishop Heiner Koch celebrated a festive Mass together with Prelate Stefan Dybowski on this occasion. At the end of the Mass, Superior General Sr. M. Sybilla Kołtan read the decree establishing the German Region. She then presented the new Regional Superior, Sr. M. Cordula Klafki, with the Decree of Appointment and an icon of St. Joseph. St. Joseph is a religious patron of our Congregation and the Superior General entrusted the German Region to the protection and assistance of St. Joseph.
The new Regional Superior, Sr. Cordula, had already held the office of Provincial Superior since 2006 and the Superior General thanked her for her many years of faithful service and her willingness to continue to help shape the destiny of the Congregation in these difficult times now also as Regional Superior.
After the service, the Sisters sat with the Archbishop and Prelate Dybowski over coffee, cake and a joyful exchange of ideas. Sisters from the other branches of our Congregation also came and there was a lively sharing.
This memorable day ended with vespers together.
May St. Joseph be a good and faithful companion of the new Region of our Congregation.
Our missionary sisters from the Philippines are currently on a visit to Indonesia. The purpose of this visit is an information campaign in parishes and schools about our congregation and charism. The sisters went there at the invitation of Fr. Tadeusz Gruca, a Polish missionary who has been working in Indonesia for nearly 60 years. Thanks to his hospitality and great kindness, the sisters have more than two weeks of very intensive work visiting many parishes and meeting extremely kind people who help the sisters in this mission in various ways. Today (March 19) the sisters hosted a parish in Roe on the island of Flores. The church was packed and people were very interested in the sisters’ message. After Mass, many people approached the sisters asking and inviting the sisters to stay in their parish. It was a profound experience for our missionaries. Tomorrow they move on to the next diocese for more meetings. Please pray for their mission and for the people they meet with.
We are at St. Joseph’s in Kalisz, every year we make a pilgrimage here. We remember before Him about the affairs of the Church, the congregation about the affairs of each of us.
Sisters “give your spiritual life to St. Joseph, He is an unfailing guide.” encourages us the Custos of the National Shrine in Kalisz.
He has great favor in heaven, He is the Father who protects those who flee to Him.
Greetings from Kalisz.
s. M. Małgorzata Cur
Every year – during Lent – I hold a contemplative hour for our residents in our senior center.
This time I took the opportunity to welcome our new facility manager Mr. Felix Angsten,
who starts on February 1, 2023
and our new nursing service manager Mrs. Maureen Nuppeney
who took over her duties on March 1, 2023, as the person responsible for our facility – under God’s blessing in prayer.
Many residents came to the chapel and so we prayed and sang for them and for each other – so that we can strengthen each other on our way.
Because together we are strong.
At a subsequent meeting in our refectory, we sisters greeted them once again and welcomed them.
Prayer
God, You have given us different gifts.
To no one did You give everything and to no one did You give nothing.
To each one you give a part.
Help us that we on our common way,
serve one another with that
with what You give to each one for the benefit of all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We look forward to the common way
into the future.
Sister M. Felicitas
with all the Sisters
from the Klosterberg in Cochem
On the anniversary of the war in Ukraine, February 24, a great prayer for peace and for Ukraine was held at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. The basilica was filled with people who wanted to pray together with Ukrainian representatives for the cessation of this war, as well as so many wars currently being waged in the world. Our community from the Generalate also took part in this joint prayer.
The choir from Ukraine poignantly sang a prayer for peace, the words of which read:
O, great, inimitable God, save our Ukraine!
Spread freedom and light for her with your rays.
With the light of science and knowledge enlighten us, Your children,
In pure love make us grow more and more.
We ask Thee, O One God,
Save our Ukraine, all Thy grace and generosity be to our nation.
Give freedom, give wisdom, give happiness to a good world,
Give serenity to Your people with hope for long life.
