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From June 15 to July 8, 2022, Provincial Superior Sister M. Johncy and Provincial Councilors Sister M. Mercy and Sister M. Tessy from the new leadership team of the Indian Province were welcomed at the Generalate in Munster for a comprehensive orientation program. "Our aim was to give our Indian Sisters the opportunity to learn about the spiritual roots of our community and about the history of our congregation," explains Superior General Sister M. Margarete Ulager. "Moreover, personal encounters help to strengthen the connection between our international sisters as well as our communication." Sister M. Gerburg, who has lived in India for more than 48 years, travelled with the leadership team to visit her German hometown and her relatives in Ennigerloh near Münster.
The three-week orientation program began at the Generalate with comprehensive information about all the international provinces, followed by intensive exchange about the respective ministry and challenges. Further topics included the structure and responsibilities of the Generalate as well as the international formation. On June 18, 2022, the Indian Sisters were able to participate in the Information Day of the German Province and enjoyed getting to know many Sisters in the Motherhouse. During a trip to Telgte, the Indian Sisters visited the founding place of our congregation and used the opportunity to pray in the Chapel of Grace and at the grave of our founder, Father Christoph Bernsmeyer. Moreover, they received inspiring impulses by Father Michael Plattig O.Carm, who spoke about the topics of "leadership" and "obedience" and explained the meaning of the various church documents.
From June 22 to June 28, our Indian Sisters flew to Rome, accompanied by Sister M. Rita and Sister M. Lima, and travelled to Assisi to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare. They were also able to meet their fellow Sisters from India who are preparing to study in Rome, Sister M. Jincy, Sister M. Jeena and Sister M. Leena, who has returned to India in the meantime. Back in Germany, the Indian guests visited our Sisters in Telgte, Kroge and Nordwalde as well as in St. Heriburg Haus. They also travelled to St. Francis parish in Marl-Hamm, which has been supporting the tasks in our Indian Province for many years. Finally, there was a re-union with Sisters from the Indian Province at Haus Damiano in Kiel where Sister Arockia Mary and Sister M. Sunita started working since five years. Everybody found the visit of the younger sisters from India very energising, enriching and inspiring.
When it was time to say good-bye, the Indian leadership team expressed their heartfelt thanks for the comprehensive orientation program to Sister M. Margarete and to all the Sisters and staff in the Generalate, as well as to Sister M. Diethilde, Provincial Superior of the German Province, and Convent Superior Sister M. Hiltrud, as well as all the German Sisters. Sister M. Johncy, the Indian Provincial Superior told at her concluding remarks: “We had a wonderful, intensive time full of information, spiritual impulses and valuable personal exchange. Strengthened, we now return to our ministry in India."