Mein DANK gilt Gott, und mein Dank gilt Ihnen allen für das Vertrauen, das Sie mir während der vergangenen sechs Jahre geschenkt haben und mir mit der Wiederwahl weiterhin schenken. Im Sinn des Themas des Generalkapitels gehen wir gemeinsam unseren Weg weiter, um unseren Sendungsauftrag zu erfüllen: Lebendiges Gedächtnis des Lebens und Wirkens Jesu zu sein.

Gott segne jede Einzelne von Ihnen!

Mit frohem, herzlichem Gruß, Ihre Sr. Adalberta

Dear Sisters,

I THANK God and I thank all of you for the trust you have shown me during the past six years and which you again confirmed with the re-election today. In accord with the theme of the General Chapter we continue our journey together in order to fulfil our mission: To be a living memory of Jesus' way of living and acting.

God bless each one of you!

With joyful, hearty greetings, your Sr. Adalberta

Dear Sisters,

Another week has sped by and I must say we have been busy. Let me begin with Sunday. We spent the day in silence and prayer in preparation for the election of the Superior General and her Council. We had a Holy Hour that included prayers offered to the Holy Spirit for guidance and inspiration.

Monday was the day of election of the Superior General. In a very short time we re-elected Sr. Adalberta. It was a joyous celebration that lasted all day. In the afternoon all of the Sisters had a special Vesper Service at the Grave of Mother Pauline. The Motherhouse Sisters again joined us for supper and a lovely tribute was given to Sr. Adalberta from all of the provinces, the generalate and the Philippine unit.

Tuesday saw us back at work. We continued our work in groups and plenary sessions as needed. Wednesday was election day for the Councilors. You have that information so I won´t repeat it here. We all ask for your prayers for the next six years.

Thursday was a truly relaxing day of rest and celebration. We travelled to the Wartburg, a huge castle high up on a mountain. It was the home of St. Elisabeth. This year is a special year dedicated to St. Elizabeth. We spent several hours going through the extensive museum that now fills the castle. I learned much about the Saint. She was the first woman to combine activity for the poor along with her spiritual life. The kings court was not happy with her work with the poor so after her husband´s death she was banished from the court. She became a Franciscan of the Third order and continued her apostolic activity. Both the Franciscans and the Dominicans have a great devotion to St. Elizabeth. I knew her best by the legend of the roses. She was bringing bread to the poor and was stopped by a member of the Court who demanded to see what she was carrying. When she opened her cloak there were many roses instead of the bread. In this way the Lord saved her from the wrath of the nobleman.

We had a delicious lunch at a near by restaurant. We ate outside and could view the castle high on the mountain from where we sat. I must tell you that the scenery here and all along our journey was most beautiful. It was a reflection of the beauty of God. After lunch we traveled on to “Der Hülfensberg.”

We had Holy Mass in this Franciscan Church that has been on this mountain many years. One of the crucifixes in the Church is over 900 years old. When we stood in front of the cross Jesus was smiling down at us. Outside the Church, overlooking the entire area is a huge cross. This cross was here during the time of the East and West division after the last war. The Franciscans had a running argument with the local police when they lit up the Cross for all to see. However, the Franciscans prevailed and it is one of the few crosses in the area that still remains. This church was in the Eastern Zone.

It was a soul searching experience to cross the area where the boundaries had been. I remember years ago standing at this boundary and seeing the check points and personally experiencing the drastic division of Germany. It holds many sad memories for the German Sisters.

I am sure you will hear from your delegates about the climbing of both of these mountains. One of the advantages of old age is getting a ride to the top instead of walking up many steps and paths to reach the top. All got much exercises. Even though I rode up there were still many steps and paths to climb and once at the castle the rooms were on different levels. It was good exercise after the weeks of sitting and concentrating on the Constitutions.

Friday and Saturday we were back at work. Today, Saturday we voted on the first six Chapters of the Constitutions. So that part is happily and satisfactorily finished. Thank you for your prayers. We hope to finish the last chapters this afternoon.

That about brings you up to date on our activities. You are remembered at Mother Pauline´s grave in our many visits there. Our weather has improved and we now actually know what the sun looks like.

Greetings to all from all here.

Lovingly,

Sr. M. Judith

Queridas Hermanas:

la segunda semana del Capítulo ya terminó. Ha sido de intenso trabajo, pero también con días distintos intercalados, como los dos días de elecciones y la peregrinación que hicimos el jueves pasado al lugar donde vivió Santa Isabel de Hungría, en lo que fue la República Democrática Alemana. Eso fue en el el siglo 13. Fue contemporánea de Lutero.

Salimos a las 6.00 de la mañana y regresamos a la Casa Madre a las 21.00 horas, muy cansadas, con casi 8 y 1/2 horas de viaje, ida y vuelta, pero felices de la experiencia vivida. Se están celebrando aquí en Alemania los 800 años de su nacimiento, con diversos actos conmemorativos, que incluyen también a Hungría, y otros lugares por donde se extendió su dinastía. Es muy interesante e impresionante todo lo que pudimos ver y conocer de su historia. El castillo feudal donde vivió está en Wartburg; ha sido restaurado y es ahora un museo muy grande que contiene grandes recuerdos de su vida e historia, vinculada a reyes, condes, barones y duques. El castillo conserva los puentes levadizos que tienen detrás tres grandes portones. En las partes más altas aún hay cañones con que se defendían de los invasores, que a veces erean otros señores feudales. Hay que subir varios pisos dentro del castillo, en cada uno hay otra parte de la vida de la Santa:sala de las mujeres, de los varones, sala de los músicos, donde ella repartía premios después de una presentación. Comedores, capilla, salones de baile, etc. Cada uno tiene muchas pinturas de la Santa en diversas actividades de caridad. Hay estatuas, joyas, su manto de penitencia, etc. Estuvimos ahí unas dos horas. Todo muy bien organizado.

Luego fuimos a almorzar a un restaurante en las cercanías. El almuerzo tuvimos que decidirlo antes en una lista que nos ofreció la Hna. Agathe días antes: cerdo, salmón o pavo. De ahí nos llevó el bus a Hülfensberg, a una Iglesia franciscana donde nos recibió el Padre Heriberto Arens, famoso predicador de ejercicios, escritor, teólogo, etc. Muy conocido en Roma y otras partes del mundo. Allí el Padre Tony celebró la Misa. Antes el P. Arens nos explicó el sentido de la Iglesia que está hecha en declive de 65 cm bajando desde la puerta hasta el altar, el cual no está sobre una tarima sino a un nivel más bajo que los fieles, para indicar que el celebrante no es más que el resto de los fieles ante Dios. Que debe predicar el evangelio primero con su humildad. Hay un Cristo Crucificado, que tiene 900 años, que mira y sonríe. Se le invoca como Gran “Ayudador”. El Padre nos regaló imágenes de él. Fuera de la Iglesia hay una cruz muy grande que se ve de mucha diatancia. Es un recuerdo antiguo que ni los nazis ni los comunistas destruyeron. Se conserva como señal de la visible protección de Dios durante todo ese tiempo. Allí mismo hay una placa recordatoria del Obispo Conrado Martin que nació en un pueblo muy cercano. Fue el quien llamó a los franciscanos a hacerse cargo de esa Iglesia poco antes de la fundación de nuestra Congregacion. Después nos llevó a un comedor donde preparamos café antes de regresar a casa. La carretera tiene aún las señales de la separación, de la frontera entre ambas Alemanias, con sus puestos de control y torres de observación. Se han conservado como testimonio de un período ominoso que nunca más debe repetirse.

Atravesar toda esa región es muy impresionante porque aún hay recuerdos muy vivos del tiempo de la ocupación de los comunistas: casas vacías, y/o semi destruidas casi en cada cuadra de las ciudades por donde pasamos. Nos informaron que en las que aún están habitadas, hay sólo ancianos porque los jóvenes emigraron a Alemania del Oeste. Los terrenos cultivables son bastos porque eran comunes, muy diversos de los predios que hay en la otra parte de Alemania.

Queridas Hermanas, esta carta se convirtió casi toda en historia, pero creo que es interesante. Demos gracias a Dios de haber nacido en un país libre. Apreciemos la libertad de los hijos de Dios, y demos nuestro apoyo espiritual a todos aquellos que sufren discriminación, esclavitud, sometimiento, tortura, etc.

Que el Señor las bendiga Hasta la semana que viene. Cariñosos saludos de las Hermanas capitulares, y de la Hna. María Josefina, que cuida de nuestra ropa. Su agradecida Hna. Cecilia

It is hard to believe that we have come to the end of the second week of the Chapter. It has been a very full week. On Monday, as you know, we re-elected Sister Adalberta as Superior General. After the election each of the Chapter members congratulated Sister and then we all went to chapel where Sister Cecilia announced to all gathered that Sister Adalberta had been re-elected. Sister Adalberta spoke a few words to all gathered and then Sister Martinia intoned “Holy God.” We then went to St. Agnes, where all the Sisters of the Motherhouse and the helpers at the Chapter were able to offer their congratulations. Again we sang. The remainder of the day was a one of celebration. The cooks prepared a special feastday dinner and for supper, the Sisters of the motherhouse joined us in St. Elizabeth, our dining room in the retreat house, for another feastday meal. After supper each province, the Philippine Unit and the Generalate made a short creative presentation, with each using one of the special crafted dishes that Sr. Antonie’s brother had made. (See photo in 2nd week) Sister Mary Edward and Sister Angelika then entertained with keyboard and violin. I think you can imagine how good that was. We then concluded the evening with some songs.

On Tuesday we returned to work. In the morning we presented the final copies of the articles of the Chapters 1 – 6 of our Constitutions – making sure that all understood what they would be voting on. Since the English version is the official text that will presented to the Congregation for Religious, we needed to make sure that the Spanish and German translations said the same as the English. Voting would then take place at another session. We may not present and vote in the same session. That afternoon we began to look at the chapter on formation.

On Wednesday morning, we began with our daily period of Eucharistic adoration and then proceeded to the Chapter Hall. We opened with a prayer of blessing. Both the readings of the liturgy that morning and our opening prayer service were based on Holy Ground. It was very meaningful for the work that lay before us. The councilors are elected a province at a time, with each being asked if she would be willing to serve. After all are elected, one councilor is elected as the Vicaress. We each received a beautiful floral arrangement which we then placed at the grave of Mother Pauline. Then the remainder of the morning was free. I am willing and happy to be able to represent our province and the entire congregation for the next six years. Please continue to support all of us with your prayers. It will be a very important time. The General Treasurer and General Secretary are appointed, so that will be taken care of at a later date.

Wednesday afternoon and Friday were days to continue our work on the chapter on formation and also the few changes – really, reorganization for clarity – in the chapter on government, and also on the chapter on departure from the congregation. Translations had to be made into Spanish and German so that those Sisters would know what they were voting on. But by the end of the day on Friday, we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

On Thursday we had a special treat. The provincialate of the German Province planned a trip for us. We visited the castle in Wartburg where St. Elizabeth of Thüringen (also known as St. Elizabeth of Hungary) lived. This is the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Elizabeth, so there is a special exhibit in the castle. The trip itself was very beautiful and interesting. Wartburg is in what was the former East Germany. On the way the bus driver pointed out many points of interest. We saw some houses as they were before the unification. We stopped at a rest stop that was the former check-point. We could see the look-out towers. It gave all of us non-Germans a good idea of what the situation was while Germany was divided. At the castle itself, we received a deeper understanding of the love of St. Elizabeth for the poor and sick. She had to suffer much. At one point she placed a leper in her own bed. Her mother-in-law told her husband, but when he went in to see, on the bed was a crucifix. At that point, he knew that what Elizabeth was doing was good. She loved St. Francis and tried to live Franciscan spirituality while still in the world. After dinner which we had at a restaurant which had a beautiful view of the mountains, we traveled to Hülfensburg. From here we could see the birthplace of Bishop Konrad Martin. But there is also a church there that is the site of many pilgrimages. They have a 900-year-old crucifix before which many people come to pray. A Franciscan Father who had been in Paderborn is now stationed there and gave us some of the history of the area. (It is a small world. When he and Father Tony met each other, they both realized that they had met before at a meeting.) But there is also another very tall cross outside. On the back of this cross is a light, which was lit every night during the time of division. This was done despite the fact that the government in the East was against it. The story goes that the priests who lived there gradually began to die. The last one to remain was the most watched person. You could not trust your neighbor or even the members of your own family. Sister Adalberta has many pictures on this site, so please be sure to look.

On Saturday we voted on Chapters 1 – 7 of the Constitutions. Each article had to be read aloud and then voted upon. We are using a machine for the voting, so no one has to sit and count the votes. The machine tells us instantly. The marvels of technology!

On Sunday afternoon there will be a trip to see our senior and infirm Sisters in Thülen. I am eager to see the Sisters who I know from visiting the motherhouse who are now in Thülen. All of the Sisters enjoy the visit. I think Sister said that 27 of us will be going. We will leave Paderborn a little after dinner, have coffee and cake with the Sisters, visit the infirmary and return in time for supper. It is a short visit, but it will give the Sisters much pleasure – and us too. Thülen is about a 45 minute drive from Paderborn.

This week’s letter has become quite long, but I want you to be able to participate and understand as much as possible. That will help you to better live our new Constitutions. But don’t expect Sister Joan Daniel to bring them home with her. They first have to go to the Congregation for Religious and get their approval. Perhaps early next year you will receive them.

Lots of love from Sister Adalberta, Sister Joan Daniel and all the Sisters.

With love and prayer,

Sister DeSales

Liebe Schwestern der Deutschen Provinz!

Dieser zweite Gruß aus dem Generalkapitel erreicht Sie am Ende einer bewegten und bewegenden Woche und markiert bereits das „Halbzeitdatum“.

Von drei wichtigen Ereignissen möchte ich Ihnen berichten.

Da waren zunächst die Wahlen. Sie alle haben sicher deren Ergebnisse erfahren. Wir begannen den Montag als Wahltag der Generaloberin mit einer Messe zum Heiligen Geist. Diese Messe feierten wir gemeinsam mit der Mutterhausgemeinschaft. Dass Schwester Adalberta als Generaloberin wiedergewählt worden ist, hat uns alle mit großer Freude und Dankbarkeit erfüllt. „Habemus Papam!“, verkündete Schwester Cecilia mit einem verschmitzten Lächeln den Schwestern in der Kapelle, ehe sie dann den Namen nannte. Mit herzlichem Beifall und einem mehrstimmigen „Großer Gott, wir loben dich!“ bekundeten die Anwesenden ihre Freude über die neue „alte“ Generaloberin. –

Nicht nur zur Vesper am Grab Mutter Paulines waren die Mutterhausschwestern eingeladen, sondern auch zum festlichen Abendessen im Exerzitienhausspeisesaal. Von den Provinzen, von den Philippinen und vom Generalat empfing Schwester Adalberta in einer anschließenden Rekreation viele gute Wünsche, „verpackt“ jeweils in ovalen Tonschalen, die sehr unterschiedlich unter anderem als „Schiff“, als „Samengrund“ oder auch als „Auge“ gedeutet wurden. Geigen- und Klaviermusik umrahmte den Abend.

Die Wahlen der Generalassistentinnen und der Generalvikarin fanden am Mittwoch statt. Die Ergebnisse auch dieser Wahlen haben Sie gewiss auf der Website schon zur Kenntnis genommen.

Ein besonderes „Highlight“ war am Donnerstag die Fahrt zur Wartburg. Unser Busfahrer hatte eine Strecke ausgewählt, auf der er uns immer wieder aufmerksam machte auf die Besonderheiten der ehemaligen Grenzregion zwischen West- und Ostdeutschland.

Eindrucksvoll war die Wartburg bei Eisenach als geschichtsträchtiger Ort, aber noch mehr in der Verknüpfung mit dem Leben der heiligen Elisabeth, das dort in einer sehr informativen Ausstellung deutlich wurde.

Am Nachmittag feierten wir in der Wallfahrtskirche auf dem Hülfensberg die heilige Messe. Die Kirche samt einem kleinen Franziskanerkloster hatte jahrzehntelang im Grenzsperrbezirk gelegen, das ohne Genehmigung der DDR-Behörden niemand betreten durfte. Trotz aller Schwierigkeiten hat bis zur Grenzöffnung ein Pater auf dem Berg ausgehalten und die Wallfahrt zum so genannten Hülfenskreuz, einem eindrucksvollen Kruzifix aus dem 11. Jahrhundert, wurde nie aufgegeben. Inzwischen leben dort wieder drei Franziskaner, die unter anderem die Wallfahrten betreuen und Möglichkeiten zum Mitleben im Kloster anbieten. Viele der Besucher sind nicht einmal getauft.

Beschenkt mit vielen Eindrücken kehrten wir am Abend wohlbehalten wieder nach Paderborn zurück

Was in dieser Woche an Zeit noch verblieb, war ausgefüllt mit der Arbeit an den Konstitutionen. Wir rangen um Inhalte und Formulierungen und dann um Übersetzungen, die in den Sprachen der Kongregation Englisch. Deutsch und Spanisch das Gemeinte angemessen wiedergaben. Wir kamen soweit mit unseren Beratungen, dass wir am Samstag über die Kapitel I bis VII der revidierten Konstitutionen abstimmen konnten. Damit ist ein wesentlicher Teil unseres Kapitelauftrags fast zum Abschluss gekommen. Die noch fehlenden Artikel werden wohl in den nächsten Tagen zur Abstimmung gelangen.

Heute am Sonntag haben wir unsere Schwestern in Thülen besucht. Die Freude lag auf beiden Seiten. Als ein besonderes „Geschenk“ brachten wir den Schwestern auf der Pflegestation ein musikalisches Ständchen mit Keyboard und Geige, das ihnen sichtlich Freude machte.

Schließen möchte ich auch heute wieder mit einem Dank für Ihr begleitendes Gebet.

In der Hoffnung auf einen weiteren guten Verlauf des Kapitels grüße ich Sie, auch im Namen aller Kapitularinnen sehr herzlich.

Ihre S. Angelika