THEY HAD LIVED ON NAMIBIAN SOIL - osbtutzing.org · Adula Stiegler ..... 28 12. Sr. Alypia...

THEY HAD LIVED ON NAMIBIAN SOIL

Windhoek Priory - Namibia


By: Sr. Scholastica Kaliki, OSB and Sr. Mary Clemens Hamukoto, OSB

Windhoek Priory - Namibia


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CONTENTS

Preface ............................................................................................... vIntroduction .........................................................................................vii

1. Sr. Anselma Schnitzbauer ............................................................... 12. Sr. Beatrix Biefel ............................................................................. 33. Sr. Constantia Mayr ........................................................................ 84. Sr. Franziska Mövenkamp............................................................. 105. Sr. Gabriela Reiter......................................................................... 136. Sr. Ingridis Meiller.......................................................................... 167. Sr. Relindis Bessinger ................................................................... 208. Sr. Sophia Ohnmacht ................................................................... 229. Sr. Adelinde Rohrmoser ................................................................ 2510. Sr. Adeline Vogel ........................................................................ 2711. Sr. Adula Stiegler ........................................................................ 2812. Sr. Alypia Schröttke ..................................................................... 3013. Sr. Amarina Ballweg .................................................................... 3314. Sr. Anthusa Kindl ........................................................................ 3415. Sr. Aurelia Haag ........................................................................... 3616. Sr. Baptista Lyambayi ................................................................. 3717. Sr. Bartholomäa Preiss ............................................................... 4118. Sr. Berlindis Bittl ......................................................................... 4419. Sr. Bernolda Riedl ....................................................................... 4620. Sr. Berthild Leser ......................................................................... 5221. Sr. Bonita Wohlmannstetter ........................................................ 5522. Sr. Chrysantha Jakob .................................................................. 5723. Sr. Dosithea Lechner .................................................................. 5924. Sr. Eckharda Grammer ............................................................... 6125. Sr. Edmunda Kienle .................................................................... 6226. Sr. Ehrengardis Wehrmeister ...................................................... 6427. Sr. Emidia Lohr ........................................................................... 6928. Sr. Eremberta Schneider ............................................................ 7129. Sr. Erwina Diet ............................................................................. 7330. Sr. Ethelreda Lutz ........................................................................ 7631. Sr. Florentine Wirthmann ............................................................. 7732. Sr. Frankhilde Hilpert .................................................................. 8033. Sr. Friederike Lohmüller ............................................................. 8134. Sr. Gabriele Drees ...................................................................... 8335. Sr. Genovefa Meyer .................................................................... 8636. Sr. Germana Fisch ...................................................................... 8737. Sr. Gerolda Leimgruber ............................................................... 8838. Sr. Gerwina Herrmann ................................................................. 90


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39. Sr. Gisberta Gröbl ....................................................................... 9240. Sr. Hadelina Mittermeier ............................................................. 9441. Sr. Harwarda Fischer ................................................................... 9742. Sr. Herifrieda Schwerd ................................................................ 9943. Sr. Herigar Baudenbacher ........................................................ 10044. Sr. Herluka Rohrmoser ............................................................. 10245. Sr. Hermana Hebesberger ........................................................ 10646. Sr. Hermine Gerhard ................................................................ 11047. Sr. Herta Fischer ....................................................................... 11348. Sr. Hertlinde Hüttmann ............................................................. 11649. Sr. Hiltrudis Kindl ...................................................................... 11950. Sr. Honorata Stocker ................................................................ 12151. Sr. Ignatia Buggle ..................................................................... 12352. Sr. Imma Löber ......................................................................... 12653. Sr. Ingrid Schmitt ...................................................................... 12954. Sr. Irene Tshavuka Nakale ........................................................ 13155. Sr. Irmina Pauly ........................................................................ 13356. Sr. Isberga Gruber .................................................................... 13657. Sr. Jutta Hafner ......................................................................... 13858. Sr. Katharina Lummel ............................................................... 13959. Sr. Leopoldine Mühlbauer ......................................................... 14260. Sr. Lintrud Kiermeier ................................................................. 14661. Sr. Mansueta Mayer ................................................................. 15262. Sr. Mildburg Merk ..................................................................... 15563. Sr. Novata Bohner .................................................................... 15764. Sr. Oswalda Clement ................................................................ 16065. Sr. Peregrina Strein .................................................................. 16266. Sr. Philippine Steinhauser ........................................................ 16367. Sr. Pirmina Fleck ...................................................................... 16568. Sr. Priska Fichtl ......................................................................... 16769. Sr. Reginalda Weis ................................................................... 17170. Sr. Regula Fuchs ...................................................................... 17471. Sr. Reinharda Schwer ............................................................... 17672. Sr. Rhabana Hausiku ................................................................ 17973. Sr. Rhabana Stehle .................................................................. 18274. Sr. Richmundis Kösel ............................................................... 18475. Sr. Sigibalda Kraus ................................................................... 18676. Sr. Solana Huber ...................................................................... 19077. Sr. Suitberta Aberle ................................................................... 19278. Sr. Sylvia Wagner ..................................................................... 19579. Sr. Thaddäa Popp ..................................................................... 19680. Sr. Theodula Mühlbauer ........................................................... 19981. Sr. Udalrike Wiedemann ........................................................... 202


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82. Sr. Urbana Rauch ..................................................................... 20783. Sr. Ursula Lülsdorff ................................................................... 20884. Sr. Veremunda Fürst ................................................................. 21185. Sr. Viatrix Weber ....................................................................... 21286. Sr. Walburga Sauer .................................................................. 21487. Sr. Wiborada Funk .................................................................... 21788. Sr. Wighardis Weiss .................................................................. 21889. Sr. Wilhelmine Josef ................................................................. 22190. Sr. Zita Lutz .............................................................................. 223

Foundation Play .............................................................................. 226Epilogue .......................................................................................... 235List of Sisters according to Family Name ........................................ 237List of Sisters according to Year of Death ....................................... 240


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PREFACE

As we memorialize our 90 years of humble beginning and development of the Windhoek Priory, it is our joy and gratitude to backtrack to the roots of those who paved the way for Benedictines in Namibia and for the Namibians; those who went before us, both in life and in death. Their footprints are left behind for young generations to follow, and this made them worthy of being called Namibians.

The 90 Sisters in this anthology are meant to once again call us to look at what the Benedictine Sisters in the Windhoek Priory went through in the past 90 years since the first Eight Sisters set foot on Namibian soil, and at what might need to be done as we look forward with zealous hearts to our Centennial in 2020.

First, our sincere gratitude goes to Sister Marita HAARMANN, OSB, who gave us a go signal in this endeavour. Our thanks go to Sister Maria Ignatius GLASER, OSB, who permitted us to continue this simple but cherished project. Thanks to Sister Hildetrud KNOTH, OSB, and to Sister Patricia ALCAREZ, OSB: the archivists of Windhoek and Manila Priories respectively for providing us with the materials we needed for this try-out project. Thanks to Sister Theresia SHILONGO, OSB for interviewing some of the sisters in order to give us factual information. We likewise thank Sister Augusta KUNZ, OSB, for vigorously translating some of the obituaries from German to English, for proofreading and for writing the epilogue; apart from her busy work in the theatre of the Roman Catholic Hospital she found time for all these. We equally thank all the Sisters for their supports through prayers and comments and suggestions here and there in order to bring this work into fruition.

The Priory of Windhoek from its cradle until the 90+ years of its existence has 114 deceased Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing who served with devotedness and/or are buried in the Namibian soil or died while belonging to Windhoek Priory. We selected only 90 Deceased Sisters, symbolizing the 90 Years Jubilee of our foundation in Namibia celebrated on 20 December 2010. The selection was based on whoever of whom we had the biography, autobiography or death notice during the writing period. Thus, it does not mean, that those selected are more important than those left out. Nevertheless, Book II of the remaining Sisters is coming, in which all those who had been missioned to Namibia for a longer period of time and had returned to their home countries or to other lands will be reminisced.

Among these 90 selected Sisters, there are three sisters who belonged to other priories at the time of their death yet are included here because they are among the first eight trailblazers of Windhoek Priory and could not be left unmentioned.


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The authors’ dream was to come up with something significant about the Priory of Windhoek for the occasion of its 90 years of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing’s presence, witness and service in this land of Namibia. They wish to put something into black and white for reminding, informing and teaching, especially the coming generations. This work, though little, we firmly believe and are hopeful that after delving into the lives of each of these 90 Sisters, the readers are able to come into close contact with what it was all about in the beginning and development to what it is today.

The eight pioneers are arranged alphabetically at the beginning followed by the 82 also alphabetically arranged. For those Sisters whose photos are not available we used the Congregation Jubilee logo.

It is our hope that the lives of these 90 Sisters will bring about love for our Congregation and true identity of our Missionary Benedictine Charism. We hope too that this volume will broaden the horizons of us young missionaries, especially those living in Namibia, to render our services to other lands too as did the majority of those whose lives are told in these pages. To our Senior Sisters, we anticipate that they will be encouraged to try-out writing something about their life experience of living and serving before they leave us for HEAVEN, so that in all things, God may be gloried!

Sister Scholastica Kaliki, OSB andSister Mary Clemens Hamukoto, OSB

Windhoek - NamibiaSolemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist24 June 2012


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INTRODUCTION

“We have the light and yet we let millions of people stumble in the darkness…” said Father Andreas AMRHEIN, OSB; whose vision was to found a missionary congregation in order to educate not only boys and men, but also girls and women. According to Fr. Amrhein, such service to the women will only be realised if there is a congregation branch of women. He felt with St. Paul in his letter to the Romans “But how could they call upon the Lord without having believed in Him? And how could they believe in Him without having first heard about Him? And how will they hear about Him if no one preaches about Him? And how will they preach Him if no one sends them?” (Rom. 10: 14 – 15). It is with this same spirit that the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing responded to the call to foreign mission services in Namibia through healing and teaching ministry.

The effect of the First World War led the Benedictines to Namibia after Tanzania was taken over by the British Authority and all the Germans regardless of religion were expelled from the country. Mission Houses were closed down or handed over to other congregations. Some Sisters were interned in Nankhunda camp in Malawi and later they were transferred to Tempe camp near Bloemfontein in South Africa. While in Nankhunda camp, the sisters “were able to live somewhat a normal monastic life of prayer and work”1 but when they came to South Africa, life changed. In a letter written by Sister Maura ZILKER OSB2 to Father Damian ARNOLD OMI, Sister Maura revealed what the sisters went through during their imprisonment. It read: “We are fourteen sisters here, coming from two stations in the Vicariate of Dar es Salam... For almost a year since 11 August, 1916 we have been moving from one place to another. From September 1916 to 22 January 1917, we were at a French mission station of the Marist Congregation near Zomba in British Nyasaland. Afterwards we spent three months in Pretoria and for the last three months we have been here in the camp together with forty German women and their eighty children. We are all-right as far as our material welfare is concerned, but our spiritual life is experiencing a real period of Lent. Things were better in Pretoria because Father de HOVRE used to come several times a week to celebrate Mass. He was also able to talk German. But there is only one priest here, Father O’Leary. He just cannot come to us all that often, as much as he wants to. We receive

1 From the Benedictines of Inkamana by Godfrey SIEBER, OSB, page 310.

2 Sister Maura ZILKER, OSB was the superior of the sisters while they were prisoners of war and Father Damian Arnold, OMI was the Administrator of the Prefecture Apostolic of Windhoek at that time.


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Holy Communion two or three times a week and we have Mass only once a month. The last confession was – seven weeks ago! We are not allowed to leave the camp, not even to go to church.” Coincidentally, the young church in Namibia was desperately in need of more personnel. Thus, the administrator of the prefecture went to the English authorities in Namibia to request the release of the sisters from Tempe camp. He, likewise, sent the sisters his first invitation dated 23 July 1917 inviting them to come and do missionary work in his Prefecture Apostolic of Windhoek. Unfortunately, his request was rejected and the sisters had to remain in the camp.

On 15 October 1918, another attempt to get the Tutzing Sisters from the Tempe camp was made by Dr. KOHLER, the Mayor of Windhoek due to the spreading of the Spanish Influenza and the demands of nursing staff in the country. The Mayor, likewise, promised that the Catholic mission in Namibia will provide accommodation for the requested sisters. This attempt was also turned down and the sisters remained in the camp until 1919.

Father Eugenius KLAEYLÉ, OMI the Prefect Apostolic of Lower Cimbebasia3 and Father Damian ARNOLD, OMI - his representative, did not give up their search for Sisters’ congregation who could take over and continue the care for the sick and the education of the young. At that time there was only one female Congregation in Namibia, the Franciscan Sisters of Heythuisen4 who originated from Nonnenwerth, Germany. These sisters were being recalled by their Superior to return to their homeland. As a consequence, Father Damian wrote a letter to Bishop Maximilian von LINGG of Augsburg, Germany, on 08 January 1920 to request the missionary sisters.

On 24 February, 1920, Bishop Maximilian von LINGG replied Father Damian from Germany telling him that the Prioress, Mother Birgitta KORFF, OSB, of the Benedictine Sisters of in Tutzing, who work for the Missions, was willing to send some Sisters. The bishop concluded his letter invoking God’s blessing upon this enterprise.

On 07 November, 1920, the first Sisters able to travel to Africa after the First World War and the last ones to be sent out by Mother Birgitta

3 The Archdiocese of Windhoek was known as Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore after it was erected on 01 August 1892. Father Charles Eugenius KLAEYLÉ, OMI was appointed its first Prefect Apostolic in 1892 to 1921. He died on 29 March 1941. R.I.P.

4 The Franciscan Sisters had to leave the hospital because they were posted in the country only to fulfil a contract in the Private Military Hospital that was begun in 1907, later called ‘Maria Stern Hospital’ by the Franciscan Sisters, then ‘Hospital of Our Lady of Perpetual Help’ by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing or ‘Maria-Hilf’ Krankenhaus, then finally The Roman Catholic Hospital as is it known today or simply RCH.


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KORFF, OSB5 as Prioress General were announced. On 11 November 1920, the journey of the first eight sisters to South West Africa6 began. They embarked in Hamburg on the “Baltika”, the first German steamer that would cast anchor in Namibia. They docked at Walvis Bay7 in the Atlantic Ocean on 20 December 1920 and began their “Service that Saves and Heals”8 and that of touching lives through teaching and instructing. Taking in mind the vision-mission of the founder, the sisters wanted to be among the blacks who were not yet Christians rather than among the whites who already had a background of Christian traditions.

The Eight Sisters were met at the harbour in Walvis Bay by Father Damian ARNOLD, OMI and Father ZIEGENFUSS, OMI and they proceeded to Swakopmund immediately. The Franciscan Sisters offered them a place to stay and showed them around. Two days before Christmas they left for Windhoek. With the exception of Sister Ingridis MEILLER, OSB, to seven of them, this was not their first African experience, since they had already been in Tanzania, East Africa until the First World War broke out and they were ordered to leave Tanzania.

The chronicler of the prefecture of Windhoek recorded thus: “A rare Christmas gift which meant great joy for us came to us this year from Christ Child – the long desired missionary Sisters…”

Since many mission stations awaited their service, already in January of 1921, four by four they went to their respective mission stations. Sister Anselma SCHNITZBAUER, OSB, Sister Beatrix BIEFEL, OSB, Sister Franziska MÖVENKAMP, OSB, and Sister Sophia OHNMACHT, OSB went to Gobabis - the heart of the cattle farming land in eastern Namibia, while Sister Constantia MAYR, OSB, Sister Relindis BESSINGER, OSB, Sister Ingridis MEILLER, OSB and Sister Gabriela REITER, OSB went to Epukiro. In Windhoek, some friendly Europeans lent them a car for the 200 kilometres journey to Gobabis on gravel road, which was a luxury compared to the jungle and the ox-wagon trip they would use for travelling to the North of the country. Each group of sisters was introduced to their new Stations by Father Damian ARNOLD, OMI. However, their

5 She was the First Prioress General of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing for 25 years, from 1895 to 1920. From 24 September 1885, foundation day and year, the founder Father Andreas Amrhein, OSB lead the congregation together with that of the Missionary Benedictines of St. Ottilien that was founded a year before on 29 June 1884. Father Amrhein was superior General until his resignation in 1895.

6 Until 21 March 1990 Independence Day of Namibia from South Africa, Namibia was called South West Africa, the name was taken from the geographical location.

7 Walvis Bay or Walvisbaai in Afrikaans is a harbour town in Namibia. The name means a ‘Whales Bay’. The bay has been a haven for sea vessels because of its natural deep-water.

8 Sister Doctor Bernita WALTER, OSB, Service that Saves and Heals, p58.


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service at Epukiro community was short-lived because the Sisters had to withdraw their activities on 05 April 1923.

In 1921 another group of four sisters arrived from the Motherhouse in Tutzing for Swakopmund community. Among them, there was Sister Agatha ROSS, OSB who became the first Prioress of Windhoek in 1926. From then on, more sisters were being sent almost every year and they began to establish communities one after another. In 1922 the community of Windhoek Werft9 was founded where the sisters devoted their services among the black citizens. They served through healing, teaching and giving domestic training to the girls. On 23 June 1923, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing took over the administration of the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek until the present.

Today the Priory of Windhoek has 10 communities where the legacy of the founding mothers is being carried out, so that in all things God may be glorified.

9 Windhoek Werft was later rebuilt into better houses and today it is known as Pionierspark where the Formation house of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate is. The classrooms have been renovated into bedrooms.


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1. GOD’S WAY IS NOT OUR WAYSister Anselma Schnitzbauer, OSB

(1883 – 1963)

Maria was born in Reichsdorf, Bavaria on 02 December 1883. Being the youngest in the family it is not surprising to hear that Maria was

often times a little spoiled. She often spoke of her short and chubby stature when she was young. She grew up with her elder brothers and sisters until at the age 16, when the Mission Paper of St. Ottilien became instrumental in her Religious Vocation to the Benedictine way of life. Though the paper landed in her hand by chance, she considered it God’s voice speaking to her and she acted quickly and energetically like the wise virgins getting ready for the wedding feast, saying yes to His voice. Young as she was, she had to stay in the Mission School because she needed to grow a bit older before she could heed this call.

As a teen of 18, she entered Tutzing. Two years of Postulancy passed and on 02 March 1903 Maria was clothed a novice and received the name Sr. Anselma, OSB. She pronounced her First Profession in the new motherhouse Tutzing, on 25 March 1905. The following year she was sent to the mission in East-Africa, Tanzania where she first helped Sr. Maura ZILKER, OSB in the boarding school; then she helped in the house and garden, in different stations. During the First World War she was interned in the concentration camp of Bloemfontein, South Africa, together with Sr. Relindis BESSINGER, OSB and Sr. Gabriela REITER, OSB and white women. In spite of all the disgusting circumstances in the concentration camp she pronounced her final yes to God through Perpetual Profession.

It seems that the sisters in the camp did not experience too much and very difficult work, because once an English Officer asked one of the Sisters what the sisters’ work was, to which she replied; ‘nothing’. Thereupon, the Officer said, “The Sisters must pray.” Little did this seemingly good man know how many times they stormed heaven with their prayers! In 1920 the Sisters returned to the Motherhouse in Tutzing.


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In the same year, on 20 December 1920, the eight of them arrived in Swakopmund. After celebrating Christmas in Swakopmund and New Year in Windhoek, together with Sr. Beatrix BIEFEL, OSB, Sr. Franziska MÖVENKAMP, OSB and Sr. Sophia OHNMACHT, OSB, they proceeded to Gobabis. Sr. Anselma had a special gift of availing herself wherever she was needed and could adapt herself to different and difficult circumstances. When a teacher was lacking in her mission field, Sr. Anselma became an option to teach in the Government School for the Whites.

In 1922 a new mission was opened in Klein Windhoek and she was put in charge of the school for the coloured people and of the interns. In 1925 she became a superior. With the aim of introducing the German values, she trained girls to keep order and to be diligent in their work. After graduation these girls were in demand by the ladies of the town because they were responsible and reliable. Sr. Anselma must have been a sister who taught by example so much so that one of the girls she trained became a Sister in South Africa. When Sr. Anselma’s term of office as superior in Klein-Windhoek came to an end, she returned to her ‘first love’ – her first mission field in Gobabis and was appointed superior there. God wanted His many children to benefit from Sr. Anselma, thus her mission direction turned northwards, to Kavango in Nyangana, from Nyangana she moved on to Shambyu. Her cheerful character helped her to patiently bear difficulties, grief and troubles. She offered all for the cause of God’s mission which helped her to become mature and steadfast in her vocation. She was ready for whatever changes came her way. When the time was up for her to move on, she packed the little she had and moved on, keeping in mind that nothing is permanent. Grateful for what God had done through her, Sr. Anselma with a joyful heart left her beloved Kavango for Swakopmund in 1939, to help in the school; she accepted the assignment with a happy and obedient heart. After 10 years in Swakopmund, the need came for Sr. Anselma to go and help in Windhoek; readily she said yes and went.

In 1949 Sr. Anselma went back again to Swakopmund where she offered the last episode of her life in caring for her fellow sisters with great love and motherly solicitude in the refectory and sewing room. When it happened that no one knew anything to share in recreation, she told a little story which she was never short of.

The inconveniences of age, rheumatism and diabetes were borne by Sr. Anselma without complaint. She was zealous in prayer and was often in the chapel. When her feet could no more carry her she would be


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brought to the chapel in a wheelchair. With great energy she tried again and again to reach the chapel on her own by leaning and holding on to the wall along the passage. With a cheerful smile she greeted all the Sisters who visited her. At all times, she uttered no complaint; even in her last days of sickness she gave an example of peace and cheerfulness.

Two weeks before her death she got a stroke that paralyzed her right side, and she became unconscious. She received the last Sacrament; surprisingly she recovered and told the sisters with excitement that she could read again. This lasted only for a while. Finally she lost her vision completely and could not even see the dear Wuerdige Mutter – Reverend Mother, who was at that time in Ovamboland for visitation; two days after the death of Sr. Anselma, she arrived in Windhoek. On 21 October 1963, the nurse assisted Sr. Anselma as she took her supper. She made the remark that her healthy leg was so painful. When the nurse tried to look at the leg, Sr. Anselma’s soul escaped from her body, she quietly and calmly gave her soul in the arms of the Heavenly Father. With a victorious smile she was laying still! She died on 21 October 1963 in Swakopmund.

The following day her body was brought to Döbra where she was laid to rest in the mission cemetery and awaits with all the dear departed missionaries the resurrection day. May she now obtain the blessing for the mission fields where she gave the best part of her life and skills and remain a powerful intercessor for all.

May she rest in eternal peace!~~~~~~~~~~ • ~~~~~~~~~~

2. YOU CANNOT ERR, WHEN YOU DO THE WILL OF GODSister Beatrix Biefel, OSB

(1867 – 1925)

Sister Beatrix is the 85th Deceased Sister of our Congregation. She died on the 04 September 1925 in the new foundation and very

young Priory of Windhoek. She has so many ‘firsts’ in her life: she was


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the ‘first’ annalist of our congregation, ‘first’ superior of Windhoek, she was among the ‘first’ eight Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing who first arrived to Namibia, and the ‘first’ to die in the Windhoek Priory. After her death, the community received so many praises about her from everywhere. One Sister, who was in Peramiho Priory at the time of Sister Beatrix’s death, wrote: ‘The death of this good sister hurts me very much, I loved her like my mother; on the other side I am glad, because her life was one long way of the cross. I lived with her for 9 years and I could only look up to her with admiration and respect. She was not an ordinary human being.’

The Superior of the priests at Gobabis mission Father Johannes DOHREN, OMI, where Sister Beatrix gave her last breath to God also wrote a long letter about Sister Beatrix. The letter read: ‘O, why did we have to lose this example of humility and modesty? Why did God take away from us this example of patience and real charity? We do not know the intention of God, but we know she was ripe for heaven.’

‘She felt her death in advance, because some weeks before she said to me already: ‘I am going to die soon’ and I gave her a joking answer. When I was leaving for few days later on a trip, she asked for a blessing saying: ‘May be we won’t see each other again.’ If I would not have come back earlier for a peculiar reason, she might have been right. O, these holy souls! They know more than we poor sinners! My heart is heavy, and yet I found much consolation and joy at her deathbed. During the last few days, I was almost all the time on her side, I prayed for her and told her about the sufferings of Jesus; which was a consolation and a joy for her.’

‘She often told me: ‘you have a great power from God’; this radiated a smile with her last sighs! All saints die like that presumably. I congratulate this type of religious souls. We received much consolation from the people around here who came with genuine mourning to kneel around the bed of their deceased mother and prayed so earnestly. Small groups of people came every day at her grave to pray. The whole community was present and took part at the Requiem Mass and the funeral: Catholics, Protestants and Jews alike. Nobody here ever saw such a burial.’

Who was Sister Beatrix Biefel, OSB? Anna, as her parents called her, was born on 29 August 1867 in Salzbrunn, diocese of Breslau, Germany. It was exactly in the year in which Father Andreas AMRHEIN, OSB, received his call to: “Leave everything!” and follow Jesus in religious life. The two would later meet


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in St. Ottilien. She was one of the intelligent and multi-talented spiritual daughters of St. Benedict, who would add flavour to the liturgy in the community. She received a very strong Christian education in the house of her pious parents and developed many talents in a convent school of the Ursulinen.

As child, Anna already had a great devotion to the Most Holy Heart of Jesus; little did she know that she would belong to the Congregation that is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus10 for life and in death. She loved old, big shoes and knitted garments of rough wool. Shortly before her entrance in St. Ottilien, on 01 August 1890, her mother made a journey to Rome with her daughter. During a private audience with Pope Leo XIII, Anna talked about her devotion to the Most Holy Heart of Jesus and the Pope confirmed her in that.

Anna made her First Profession on the Feast of the Epiphany on 06 January 1894 in St. Ottilien and received the name Sister Beatrix, OSB. The celebration of the Rite of Profession brought a great joy to her excellent mother who was very proud, that she could give one of her children to God’s service through religious life. It was her mother’s greatest joy during the following years, to keep visiting her most beloved daughter Sister Beatrix in St. Ottilien monastery and spent some time near to her.

From her parents’ house Sister Beatrix was used to a comfortable life, but upon entering the convent, she adjusted well and practiced poverty like no other sisters in the community; especially as she entered in the first decade after the Congregation was founded with all the privations of the beginnings. Nonetheless, she cherished her life of prayer in a very special way. She was filled with desire to go to the foreign missions, and it must have been a big sacrifice for her to see so many other younger fellow Sisters of her time being sent and she had to stay behind, optimistically waiting for her turn. She practiced asceticism and she always took what was last and the cheapest things for herself; a sign of a true Benedictine. Besides, the young congregation needed a gifted and well educated sister like her to serve in the Motherhouse first; she was assigned in different areas such as secretary, chronicler, organist and as Sub-prioress. Much of what is known about the congregation today was penned by her as the annalist of the young congregation. She experienced the crisis the congregation went through in the early days

10 Since its beginning the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.


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of its foundation, and she likewise saw it triumphant as it bloomed and expanded to other lands.

Versatile as she was, she also embroidered vestments and church linen as well as teaching the secrets of playing the organ to many young sisters. One time it happened that she came with stiff and cyanosed (blue) fingers to the lecture and she said to the surprised postulants who were waiting for her in class: ‘I like dirty work for that has to alternate with other works’. Sister Beatrix could sit for hours on the piano to practise a particularly difficult piece for singing with the choir. In the beginning the choir was weak and much untrained, but at the end of her hard and persistent effort all were marvellous and could sing gracefully.

In July 1902, Sister Beatrix heart’s desire was fulfilled when she was sent for foreign mission to Dar-es-Salaam to take over a school there. Upon her arrival she studied Swahili, the language that was required of all missionaries to Tanzania. The year 1908 saw her as a Superior of Kwiro in Tanzania, where her work was exceptionally successful. She taught hundreds of children with dedication. No endeavour was too big for this efficient missionary to bring Jesus to the people; she even sacrificed her Sunday’s rest for this. She was a playwright and wrote Christmas plays and practiced them with the children. She translated German hymns into Kiswahili11 and during Christmas, she taught carols to children. She was very gifted for languages and had a talent for writing poems.

As far her zeal for souls is concerned, she was an exemplary missionary. She was everything for the mission in Tanzania: an excellent teacher, expert organist, superior and playwright as well as giving instructions to prepare girls for baptism. Although she was delicate and weak in Germany, her strength improved greatly while in the foreign mission, to which one sister commented that Sister Beatrix ‘needed only Africa for her to be well’.

Sister Beatrix taught her pupils Gregorian chant to sing on Sundays and Feast-days; even the Holy Week could be celebrated according to the Benedictine liturgy. On Good Fridays, she instructed her pupils to take the part of the people during the Passion reading, which they did with understanding and respect. She was also talented with painting and she used to decorate the mission chapel. She was a teacher and

11 The song and prayer book Tumsifu Mungu, Peramiho Publication 1978, contains 24 songs translated by Sister Beatrix BIEFEL, OSB.


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untiringly visited very sick patients even at night; her spiritual life style influenced some heathens who could not resist Christianity but and were converted. Regarding her service one of her fellow sisters remarked that what Sister Beatrix achieved in school, nursing and pastoral work while in the mission would fill interesting pages.

The First World War completely interrupted Sister Beatrix’s flourishing services in Tanzania, but as long as possible she stayed on missionary terrain while other sisters were told to leave. When Sister Beatrix and Sister Felicitas MAYER, OSB were allowed to stay in Mahenge, Tanzania, to care for the lepers they were hoping silently that their political enemies would leave this risky work to them, but as the situation grew fearful, they were advised to leave along with a commendatory letter stating that the two Sisters were leaving Mahenge for political reasons. The missions were shut down and all German missionaries were told to return to their country. Sister Beatrix and some other fellow Sisters had to go back to Tutzing. God had his plans fixed to open another door for Sister Beatrix after closing the one of Tanzania.

The Motherhouse had been receiving invitations to start a new foundation in Southern Africa; on 07 November 1920 her desire for foreign mission was once more fulfilled and together with other seven Missionaries12 she embarked for a new foundation in South West Africa, today Namibia. She was to be Sister Superior of her group, six of them had served with her in Tanzania and one was going for the first time to foreign missions; they proceeded to their new mission stations of Epukiro and Gobabis four by four.

As Superior, she was always there for her Sisters, not to be served but to serve them. Wherever there was dirt or an unpleasant job to be done, one could be sure that Sister Superior Beatrix would clean up the mess quietly and without complaint. One of her characteristic traits was, always to do the will of God. The sisters in her community often heard her saying ‘you cannot err, when you do the will of God’. Above all her other virtues she showed humility and love to all. She loved to call herself Sister Peccatrix; and her favourite saint was Mary Magdalene. She was very scrupulous to the extent of blaming herself for anything unpleasant which would happen by saying: ‘that happened on account of my sins’.

One day she was sick and was lying in a stupor for three days. After

12 Sister Constantia MAYR, OSB, Sister Gabriela REITER, OSB, Sister Franziska MÖVENKAMP, OSB, Sister Relindis BESSINGER, OSB, Sister Sophia OHNMACHT, OSB, Sister Anselma SCHNITZBAUER, OSB and Sister Ingridis MEILLER, OSB.


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she had revived, her view and perspective of things had changed. She said to one of the sisters: ‘People thought I was unconscious, but I saw many things during that time. I saw the unlimited mercy of God and how tiny my sins are compared to this’; referring to that period when she was supposedly unconscious. When she was asked by that sister whether she was now happy, Sister Beatrix replied that she was greatly happy.

Sister Beatrix’s mission works in Namibia was not that flourishing compared to what she did at Kwiro in Tanzania; this was due to the small population of Namibia that was much less compared to that of Tanzania. She was often homesick for the mission in Kwiro, but it did not interfere much with her zeal; for, she knew the value of one single immortal soul, and she reminded herself that where two or three are gathered in His Name, there He is among them. She started with her usual enthusiasm and to make it a success, she tried to introduce the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After her death, her community in Gobabis felt that they lost a selfless, straight, sacrificing and open sister. She was only 58 years old when the Lord relieved her from earthly life and took her to Himself on that day of 04 September 1925.

Requiescat In Pace!

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3. GOD MAKES A WAY WHERE IT SEEMS TO BE NO WAYSister Constantia Mayr, OSB

(1864 – 1946)

Maria was born on 08 October 1864 in Navis a small village in the diocese of Brixen and was baptized on the same day. After finishing

school she took over the house chores. She discovered about the Missionary Benedictines in the St. Ottilien newspaper about the Pugu destruction. Ironically this became a point of inspiration, enough to convince her of her vocation. Together with her friend who later became


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Sr. Theodosia BISELLI, she decided to knock at the convent door of Tutzing for admission. Maria longed to go to Africa to educate the young, to heal the sick, and bring them closer to God. So she asked permission from her father who gave her his blessing and she entered in St. Ottilien in 1889. On 26 May 1890 she was clothed a novice and received the name Sr. Constantia. She made her First Profession on 29 June 1892. She first worked in Tutzing as an econome before her desire to go to Africa could be realized. She left for East Africa on 30 December 1900.

She worked in East Africa in different Stations and experienced the joys of serving her fellow sisters and especially the natives; and also experienced the ups and downs of the situation that began with the Majimaji uprising which broke out in 1905. When the situation finally got worse, they were forced to leave and return to the Motherhouse in Tutzing. It was while there were in Tutzing that the call came from South West Africa requesting for Sisters to work in the Hospitals and clinics of different stations. So on 20 December 1920 the eight of them came ashore in Walvis Bay and stayed in Swakopmund with the Franciscan Sisters until after Christmas when they had to proceed to Windhoek. She was then assigned to Ovamboland.

The nostalgia for East Africa never left her. Presumably the situation in Namibia at that time – the apartheid system that was just being introduced by the South African regime and the small population compared to East Africa, might have been the cause of discouragement. After only five years, Sr. Constantia together with Sr. Relindis, the latter being also one of the 8 founding sisters, returned to Tanganyika now Tanzania and resumed their missionary work in East Africa.

As she was aging, she was not spared from sickness. In March 1946 she began to experience an intense pain while she was in the station of Mpitimbi. A car was sent from Peramiho to pick her up but she passed on to her Creator while on the way to Peramiho on 15 May 1946. Just as they entered together in St. Ottilien so did at her death Sr. Constantia die on the lap of her sister friend Sr. Theodosia BISELLI, OSB. May God reward her for all that she had done for the people of Africa and for God’s kingdom!

May she rest in eternal peace!

~~~~~~~~~~ • ~~~~~~~~~~


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4. WALKING AND WORKING WITH JESUSSister Franziska Mövenkamp, OSB

(1867 – 1954)

Sr. Franziska MÖVENKAMP, OSB13 was known by her fellow sisters as always walking and working while talking to Jesus. It was fitting

for her to give her life to God in the Octave of the feast of Corpus Christi, on 21 June 1954, at the age of 87 after celebrating her Diamond Jubilee of Profession in the same year.

Anna was born on 21 April 1867 in Borup, diocese of Muenster. She was a child of a second marriage. Her parents managed a Redemptorist’s convent restaurant. Already at home Anna practiced something of Benedict’s Rule: the mother taught her children to do small services for the older children, and they in return loved the smaller ones and tried to make them happy. St. Benedict says; the younger monks are to respect the elder monks, and the elder monks are to love the younger monks. There was happiness and love in the family. One of her sisters became a religious sister too and a nurse in Holland, she died in 1944 and one her brothers became a Redemptorist priest in Argentina and died there in 1946.

Anna entered in St. Ottilien on 01 June 1890. There were many difficulties to be overcome, especially the scarcity and lack of food which was very hard for her. She would later say; “I often went to bed hungry”. But what can separate us from the love of Christ? The scripture says… no hunger or nakedness. The hunger she experienced did not indeed separate her from the love of her vocation; she persevered until she breathed her last.

Anna became Sr. Franziska on her clothing day on 10 February 1891 and made First Profession on the day of the Epiphany in 1894. Soon after, the kitchen responsibility was handed over to her, which often

13 Sr. Dr. Bernita Walter ‘Sustained God’s Faithfulness’, Vol. II, page 219, Mövenkamp is spelled as Möwenkamp.


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times lacked the most basic food. She readily commended all her needs to the Lord with a childlike trust.

On 25 September 1898, she received the mission cross for East Africa, then Tanganyika. She was first in Dar es Salam, then in Tosamaganga. She was a blessing for both places. While in Tosamaganga, her fellow sisters: Sr. Xaveria KÖNIG, OSB and Sr. Pia KRETZ, OSB contracted a disease and died of pestilence of the lungs within a few days and Sr. Franziska was all alone for some time. It took a long period of time for the news to reach the neighbouring station, since there were no cars or telephones available yet. She had to wait until a Sister from Madibira came to help her. In 1914 Sr. Franziska travelled to Dar es Salam, from there she went with two sick sisters by ship to Germany to recuperate in Tutzing. Shortly afterwards the First World War broke out and her return to Tanzania became impossible. She was sent with 19 other Sisters to Tourkoing in France to help in a hospital with typhoid patients; after Tourkoing they went to Froyennes in Belgium where she worked as a cook until almost the end of the war. She distributed the food wisely, so much so that the soldiers were well fed and still had some food to spare for the population outside the hospital who had been deprived of food throughout the war period. One night 1, 000 more soldiers were added to the 1, 460 in the hospital. In the morning when the medical superintendant inquired how the kitchen staff could cope with the influx and whether Sr. Franziska could still manage to work, she replied that that figure was nothing for great spirits. Soon big pots were put up in the yard and a fire burned under them and Sr. Franziska managed it all with great calm. Everybody loved the good sister. She requested the organist to always play happy songs, hymns and melodies because they cheered up the soldiers and gave them hope and joy. In the evening she prayed the daily devotion with her patients.

After the war, it was very sad for the missionaries to learn that it was impossible for them to return to East Africa. She accepted the situation and made herself available to wherever her help was needed mostly in the kitchen which she managed with mastery.

Little did she know that somewhere in a land that will later be tagged “The Land of the Braves” a brave and daring sister like Sr. Franziska was needed! This was the time when Fr. Eugenius KLAEYLÉ, OMI, the Apostolic Prefect of South West Africa and Fr. Damian ARNOLD, OMI, his representative was in search for Sisters who could take over the Hospitals: Roman Catholic, Windhoek and St. Antonius, Swakopmund and other Mission Stations. An opportunity came for Sr. Franziska to


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return to her African Continent, though not anymore to East Africa. Sr. Franziska together with seven other companions, set out for South West Africa, arriving in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund on 20 December 1920. Later, they came to Windhoek and Sr. Franziska with her fellow Sisters: Sr. Anselma, Sr. Beatrix and Sr. Sophia were assigned to Gobabis. Upon their arrival in Gobabis on 11 January 1921, they began their healing and teaching ministry. From 1925 to 1931 she was assigned superior of Gobabis community, later she was transferred to Klein Windhoek. In Klein Windhoek she also served the community as superior for 6 years and wished to remain there for retirement. She celebrated her Golden Jubilee of Profession in 1944 feeling well and looking strong. During her Jubilee she declined the Staff which was customarily given at this occasion as a support for the old age. She could only accept it 10 years later on her Diamond Jubilee day. God still granted Sr. Franziska some more years to live; in her last years of life, when she could not work anymore, she prayed more. She talked and was seen to be walking in the presence of God, an expected disposition for her. She told her fellow sisters that she always discussed matters with Jesus first before talking to them respectively. Once when a big problem worried the Congregation, she assured Mother Sigillinde WEBER, OSB, Prioress General (1947 – 1957) at that time, that she had prayed day and night. She always tried to become more spiritual and to live in union with Jesus. Every hour she contemplated on one of the Sorrowful Mysteries and offered Holy Masses for the souls in purgatory. The triumphant, the fighting and the suffering Church should get a share, she would say. She could sit for hours mending socks for the school boys while talking to Jesus. In 1953 she fell in front of the house and had a big wound on her forehead. She thanked Jesus for the crown of thorns. She often thanked God for difficulties.

On 28 May 1954 all of a sudden she felt a severe pain. She prayed: “Dear Jesus, I just cannot take it anymore. Help me, please. Thank you for the pain, but please a bit less, you can see that I cannot bear it.” The Prioress sent transport and two Sister Nurses to fetch the patient without delay. She had an incarcerated hernia and needed an operation immediately. Sr. Franziska received the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The operation was a success. After the operation she lost her appetite completely and nothing could be done about this. She could only receive Holy Communion daily to her last day. She was totally resigned. The last years of her life were marked by an unfailing faithfulness: faithfulness to God, faithfulness in Prayer and Work, and faithfulness


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towards the Congregation, for whose interests she sacrificed herself without reserve and for which she was a strong supporter.

On 20 June 1954, the sister who sat with her noticed that her end was near. She called the Priest and the Sisters, and after having received the absolution and the prayers of the Church, she went to her eternal home where there is no pain but complete union with Jesus, with whom she had been conversing during her earthly life. She is surely enjoying the prayer prayed on the day of her death: “Lord, may we be satisfied by the eternal presence of your Godhead…” Indeed there will never again be moments of her going to bed hungry! She died in Windhoek on 21 June 1954. To the Mission in Namibia she gave 51 years of life and service. During her whole life time she tried to do good works and bring joy to others. We trust that she is our intercessor in heaven as we, too, continue interceding for her.

May the eternal peace and the resting abode of God be hers!

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5. A CARING MOTHERSister Gabriela14 Reiter, OSB

(1882 – 1941)

Theresia Reiter was born on 27 August 1882 in Reimbach, in the diocese of Münich-Freising. Her father was a watch maker. She

entered in St. Ottilien on 01 August 1900 and became a novice on 31 August 1901. She pronounced the First Profession on 04 October 1903.

She was sent with Sr. Sophia OHNMACHT, OSD and Sr. Berchmana BERNHARD, OSD to Peramiho, East Africa on 15 October 1908. They

14 In some documents, Sr. Gabriela Reiter is written as Gabriele, not to be confused with Sr. Gabriele Drees.


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boarded a steamer – ‘Reichstag’ from Bagamoyo to Kilwa in Lindi, then had to continue on foot with the help of the porters from Nyangao, to Ndanda from Ndanda to Songea and then finally to Peramiho. Sr. Gabriela was in charge of piggery. From time to time she would go in the villages to give comfort to the needy; there were lepers whom she loved to visit always: she changed their dressings and helped them in any way she could.

Due to the effect of the First World War, she was interned in the concentration camp in Bloemfontein, South Africa with Sr. Anselma and Sr. Relindis, by the British forces in September 1916 to 1919. After the internment they went to the Mother House Tutzing for recuperation.

In November 1920 Sr. Gabriela was sent to South West Africa as one of the First Eight Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing who came to Namibia. Fr. Damian ARNOLD, OMI introduced Sr. Gabriela to the Epukiro station together with Constantia, Sr. Ingridis and Sr. Relindis. Epukiro community lasted only for a year and some months, from January 1921 to 1923; on 04 April 1923 the sisters withdrew and were assigned to different mission stations.

In 1922-1928, Sr. Franziska became superior of Nyangana. Nyangana is the first of the 5 Mission Stations in Kavango, which was founded in 1910 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) under Fr. Joseph GOTTHARDT, OMI, later Bishop and then Archbishop of Windhoek and also founder of Oshikuku Mission in 1924. At the age of 80 he retired and died in Swakopmund. By 1936 Nyangana had the most advanced educational institution in the Kavango District at that time and had highly qualified nursing staff spearheaded by Doctor Maria FISCH, a German lay missionary. It was within this development that Sr. Gabriela found herself and contributed the best of her gifts as a leader and as a fellow sister to the last day of her life on 12 January 1941 at the age of 59; too young for our world today.

We can observe in the life of the sisters and their work that without doubt - sisters were not only trained for a specific profession but in everything that they could, so that their service became flexible. When a school or hospital had to be closed or given up a sister would be assigned at any other work. The same applied to Sr. Gabriela; she was trained as a primary school teacher but her work was not limited to the classroom walls only, for she was a trained nurse as well. She treated the sick, did apostolate work and did the house chores; she was also a good organist. She taught children how to sew by providing some materials for them. Take note: some sisters were not even trained for what they did yet they


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worked excellently.God alone knows how many times she visited people through sand

and sun, on foot or by oxen and much later by car, often with little food or nothing at all. During Lenten Season, she ate nothing on the way. Sisters who lived with her speak of her as an excellent missionary; zealous for any work she could manage or learn and did it well. Her death was a heavy loss to Nyangana Mission because to them she was a caring mother. For her untiring service her reward will be great in heaven.

An excerpt from the homily of Fr. Ludwig SCHULTZ, OMI on Sr. Gabriela’s funeral day reads:

“…I think I am not wrong when I presume that the whole community cried on the open grave, and rightly so. God only knows how many ways the dear deceased made through sand and sun to visit the sick and help them. Without doubt she received a special charisma from the Lord to be pleasant and merciful, and she used this charisma to the full- certainly with the grace of God which she joined with her own will which to us made her holy, pleasant and dear to her environment. I thank God that I came to know this sister well over the last 2 years. For me she was the type of dedicated soul which we have to emulate with the grace of God.

Will she need our prayers? I do not think so. We received the message of her death in Swakopmund on 16 January, and I spoke about the fact that we also have saints today, and I used the dedicated life of Sr. Gabriela as an example. Yes, her life was a life of sacrifice, quiet, drawing no attention to herself, merciful she was, and therefore God was merciful to her. There were enough sacrifices, and for that God took her to himself in heaven. The whole Kavango, and especially Nyangana, has now an intercessor at the throne of God...”

Sr. Gabriela, like many of our sisters, lived by example; she ‘walked the talk’.



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6. SERVING TO THE LAST MINUTESister Ingridis Meiller, OSB

(1892 – 1981)

“I will lead my sheep to the Pastures; there I will grant them rest.” Sr. Ingridis literally responded to this antiphon, thereupon to God. Anastasia Meiller was the ninth of twelve children of Meiller’s family.

She was born on 14 June 1892 in Heilbrunn diocese of Augsburg. Her parents were Mr. Smith George MEILLER and Mrs. Anastasia SUSSBAUER in Bad Heilbrunn. She was baptized the next day after birth. The family agreed for the baby to share a name with her mother. In the large family circle – 7 boys and 5 girls – she grew up a happy child. Her brother Josef, a year older than herself became a victim of the First World War. In 1916, at the age of 60, her father died of cancer of the stomach. Four years later her mother followed him due to heart failure after having recovered from pleurisy. Two of her brothers entered in St. Ottilien: Lorenz became Fr. Magnus and Kilian became Bro. Paulus. Her blood sister Krescensia, 9 years older than her, entered the Dominican order and became Sr. Ursula and worked in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and then South Africa, from 1912 to her death. The other brothers and sisters were married; all of them preceded her into eternity.

Sr. Ingridis traced her call back to her childhood. She once wrote: “My thoughts regarding my vocation go far back into my childhood days. When I was eight years old I was for the first time permitted to go to the town of Tölz to look at the large and famous crib in the church of the Franciscans. On this occasion I saw for the first time Religious Sisters. They appeared to me almost as heavenly beings, who made a deep impression on my childish heart. From that time on I was determined to become a Sister. In the years following I considered where I should enter. On the one hand, I was attracted to the nursing Sisters; on the other, I wanted to become a Missionary. Finally I came to the conclusion


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that as Missionary I could also nurse the sick.”At the age of 16, Anastasia expressed her wish to become a missionary

and asked for admission in Tutzing. On 25 September 1909, she entered the preparatory course to become a teacher. After her studies she was admitted to the Postulancy on 1st October 1914. She became Sr. Ingridis on her clothing day on 3rd August 1916. She made her First Profession on 15 August 1917. Sr. Ingridis was the so-called new missionary who was among the first eight from Germany to Namibia without having been in East Africa. At the time of her First Profession, the missionaries in East Africa were interned in South Africa and were waiting for their release. After they were finally released they went to the Mother House to recuperate from the effect of what they had gone through from East Africa to South Africa. When the request came for sisters in South West Africa, the seven expatriates were ready and Sr. Ingridis too, her wish for missionary service granted. On 11 November 1920, they boarded a ship that docked in Walvis Bay on 20 December 1920 and then proceeded to Swakopmund, 30 kilometres from the harbour. Two days before Christmas they came to Windhoek. On 11 January 1921 Sr. Ingridis together with Sr. Relindis BESSINGER, OSB, Sr. Gabriela REITER, OB and Sr. Constantia MAYR, OSB founded the community in Epukiro.

Sr. Ingridis made her Final Profession in Epukiro on 5th May 1921. She readily put her skills into use; she taught in the school of the natives. In those days, whites had their own schools and blacks their own. They gave up Epukiro station and the sisters were sent to other stations. Sr. Ingridis was assigned to Klein- Windhoek and to then Windhoek Werft, the settlement for the natives; then for a short while to Swakopmund. On account of the different languages spoken, work in schools was difficult for Sr. Ingridis; she recounted: “In Epukiro we spoke Setswana, in Klein-Windhoek15, Herero and in Gross16-Windhoek Werft17 we had to teach in two languages: Herero and Hottentotten – Khoisan dialect. In addition, visual instruction and arithmetic had to be taught in English according to the newly prescribed curriculum. Work in the school, church, with the sick, at home, in the garden filled the daily routine”.

When she would go out in the morning, she came home often at dusk, tired and soaked in perspiration. When at last the closing prayer had been said, sick people were already waiting before the door to ask for

15 Klein means Small (Small Windhoek).

16 Gross - Big (Big Windhoek).

17 Werft – Location or Village


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medicine or a request to go and visit a very ill person. Sometimes day and night were not long enough to manage everything that was going on.

In February 1928 she had an appendix operation and later in the same year, she was permitted to accompany a sick Sister on her journey to the Motherhouse and she took the opportunity herself to recuperate. In November 1929 she was sent to the Philippines with three sisters and arrived on 5th January 1930. There, too, a rich field of labour opened before her in school and in the service of the sick. She worked in San Fernando, Legaspi, Maasin, Bacolod and then permanently in Baguio for health reasons. From the obituary written by Mother Irene DABALUS, OSB, Prioress and Sisters of Manila Priory where Sr. Ingridis died in 1981; it read:

Sr. Ingridis was not spared the via crucis of physical sufferings. Already in Africa they made themselves felt. In Tutzing her goitre had to be removed. In Manila she had twice to undergo an operation on the left eye which considerably affected her eyesight. At times high blood pressure troubled her. The wounds in her feet made walking very difficult so that during the last few months of her life she had to use a wheelchair. But in spite of all these she was never heard to complain. She was very unassuming and helped herself as much as possible to spare others work. Even in her old age and sick days, she was not idle. Whenever her condition permitted it, she still pasted holy pictures for the poor to give them joy on Christmas. She bore her cross in silence and with complete resignation. She did not make any fuss about her illness.

The last two days of her life were spent in the solitude of her room alone with God. On Thursday 19th November 1981, she felt very tired, as she had been waiting an hour that morning for her turn for confession. The rest of the day she rested, but came still for the community exercises to the chapel and refectory. On Friday, 20th November 1981, she complained of severe chest pain and pain in her right arm. Sister infirmarian advised her to stay in bed. Holy Communion was brought to her. In the afternoon she felt better and when late in the evening Sister Superior brought her the night’s blessing, she found her fast asleep. On Saturday, 21st November, Sr.


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Ingridis felt strong enough to be taken to the chapel in the wheelchair to attend Holy Mass. Afterwards she even went to the refectory for common breakfast. After that a Sister wheeled her to her cell where she still gave her completed ballot for the Priory-Councillor’s nomination to be collected and then intended to rest as usual. After about half an hour, at 8:10, Sister Infirmarian with her assistant went to her cell to look after her, and found her lying beside her bed, dead. The priest and the doctor were called. The former administered conditional Anointing and referred to the Feast of the Presentation of our Lady, on which she made the sacrifice of her life through the hands of Mary. The doctor pronounced the death sentence: heart failure.

In the coffin Sr. Ingridis looked rejuvenated; all traces of suffering had disappeared, smiling like a Bride of Christ, the King. She, who in life had been so silent and unassuming, had many visitors, especially priests. To the joy of the community, Mother Prioress Irene Dabalus, OSB arrived hardly more than an hour after Sr. Ingridis’ death. For funeral, the Benedictine Fr. Prior LACSON, OSB came with two novices as if to represent her two Benedictine Brothers. At 10: 00AM the mortal remains were buried in the City cemetery, at which occasion Fr. Prior delivered a consoling homily.

Our Sr. Ingridis died on 21 November 1981 in Baguio.

May she now rejoice over the well-deserved reward and be our intercessor at the throne of God!


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7. GOD’S WAY IS NOT OUR WAYSister Relindis Bessinger, OSB

(1885 – 1972)

Anna Bessinger was born in the year our Congregation was founded. She was born on 11 December 1885 in Tutzing diocese of Augsburg,

Germany. When Anna was two years old, through the efforts of the benefactors of the Congregation, the Ringseis Sisters, the Sisters came from St. Ottilien into the fishing village of Anna’s family. They founded a convent with kindergarten and ambulant nursing care. At that time Mother Melania VOLLMER, OSB, was superior of the community. The Bessinger family, especially Mrs. Bessinger, Anna’s mother, was the guardian angel of the Sisters in all their material needs. When some Sisters left Tutzing, Mrs. Bessinger was very concerned thinking that it was because of lack of food. Therefore, Mrs. Bessinger, wife of a shoemaker and butcher, made herself responsible for the meat of the Sisters and organized some people to care for the milk, bread and vegetables so that the Sisters could stay in Tutzing.

From the meadow which bordered the kindergarten, Anna observed the construction of the Motherhouse as a teen. The move from St. Ottilien to Tutzing in 1904 must have interested the lively girl. Probably all these awakened the hidden call to religious life in her. First she learned all the jobs needed for housework; cooking, laundry and ironing. Then when she was ready, she travelled to the Convent through some well known streets, a journey which she hardly ever repeated. When clothed a novice, she became Sr. Relindis.

On 03 July 1910 she made her First Profession and on 22 May 1911 was missioned to Peramiho in East Africa. Sr. Relindis served there until when the situation was no longer conducive to living due to the effects of the war. In Peramiho she diligently worked in different areas devoting herself to spreading the Gospel. With efficiency and devotion, she instructed the children in the elementary school. As she was also skilled in domestic work, she could pitch in wherever help was needed. She played a great role in starting the new foundations of Litembo and Mango. She was barely 5


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years in East Africa when the First World War broke out. She experienced the “painful” evacuation from Tanganyika. All hope for a missionary service had subsided, it was time to return to the Motherhouse after the detour of internment and suffering from sickness and other circumstances they were exposed to. The suffering must have been more of a mental experience; thinking about where they were coming from and where they were going to. God’s way is not our way, the scriptures tell us; Sr. Relindis must have been overjoyed when they were finally told to get ready for South West Africa, now Namibia.

On 20 December 1920 she was sent to establish a foundation in Windhoek together with 7 other pioneers. In 1922, Sr. Relindis was already transferred to Swakopmund where they had to take over St. Antonius Hospital, because the Franciscan Sisters were in a great haste to return to Germany.

The situation in Namibia must have demotivated her to be effective in her service: The political situation, the many dialects people spoke, the segregation of whites from blacks and coloureds and the very small population of the country. She always wished to return to East Africa; and when the English government was willing again to admit Germans to Tanganyika, Sr. Relindis was one of those who to returned to East Africa via Marianhill, South Africa back into the land of her first love.

Back in East Africa, she was superior of several small stations, the last of which was Madibira. In her obituary from Peramiho Priory where she died, it is written: “As the infirmities of old age increased, she was finally transferred to the infirmary of Peramiho, where she spent the last seven years of her life. Sr. Relindis was a true woman of prayer and work. Whenever possible, she would occupy herself with preparing bandages for the hospital”.

During her 60th Jubilee of Profession in 1970, she received the wonderful gift of the presence of her younger blood sister Ms. Bertha, who came all the way from Tutzing to visit her. They had not seen each other for a ‘lifetime’ and never hoped that they would ever see each other again in this life. At the ripe age of 87, on 27th December 1972, the feast of the Lord’s beloved disciple, the Lord called her to Himself, the dear mission-veteran for 63 years, years of faithfulness and prayer in Monastic Profession and 62 of labouring for the Lord in the soil of Africa; she was laid to rest in Peramiho cemetery among the man and women whose lives and legacy we remember today.

May she now find rest in God’s presence forever!


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8. A SERVICE THAT SAVES AND HEALSSister Sophia Ohnmacht, OSB

(1881 – 1952)

On 24 April 1881 Klara OHNMACHT was born in Ephendorf diocese Rottenburg. Before entering the convent she worked in the hospital

with religious sisters, where she learned a lot of things that would be indispensable in her later years in the mission. Who knows maybe the sisters with whom she worked with brought to surface the call initiated by God in her.

In the hospital she was also responsible for fetching Fr. Rupert MAYER, the hospital chaplain at that time, to attend to the sick and the dying. Later on, Sr. Sophia would often share this experience.

On 25 March 1905, Sr. Sophia made her First Profession in Tutzing. After that she went to Munich to learn nursing. On 14 July 1909 together with Sr. Berchmana BERNARD, OSB, she was missioned to Peramiho. The journey started already the next day, thanks to the accompaniment of the already returning missionaries: Sr. Constantia MAYR, OSB and Sr. Magdalena HESSING, OSB. This was the first group to go for mission after the Majimaji uprising in Tanzania.

The group arrived in Peramiho on 10 September 1909 and Sr. Sophia stayed there for three years after which she was then transferred to Ndanda. The Sisters had to look after the sick, the injured soldiers and the dying. Here Sr. Sophia could use her skill to the best of her abilities. They also extended their help to the 300 people who were interned in a nearby camp. She gave religious instruction, a kind word, a smile and also material help with the assistance of the native catechists and their wives. To the people Sr. Sophia as well as other Sisters, were their mama. A cry for help by the native is reported in which a woman in need of help called out; “Mama Sophia, please fill the basket again with flour”; and another; “and for me a bit of tobacco”. Whatever task they felt needed their help, the Sisters put their heart and soul in it.

At the beginning of 1918, due to the Second World War, Ndanda


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was occupied by British soldiers and all the Germans had to leave. Sr. Sophia and her fellow sisters together with the mission helpers went to Dar-es-Salam; in the middle of the year the Sisters boarded a French ship which brought them back to Europe; leaving their people behind whom they wanted to help in the best way they could by sharing the little they had. They could not stay; they were forced to leave and they had to relent. The scripture came alive here wherein Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 10:23 “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.”

Though under sad circumstances, Sr. Sophia was happy to see and be in the motherhouse again and replenish her somewhat dampened spirit at the thought of leaving the mission. She had to accept and wait for God’s call to where he would need her.

Somewhere and elsewhere in The Land of the Braves a need for the sisters arose. The mission was desperately searching for Sisters to take over the Hospitals and Mission Stations.

Sr. Sophia with seven other pioneers of Windhoek foundation left Germany and arrived in South West Africa, now Namibia, via Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Windhoek and then Gobabis, together with Sr. Beatrix, Sr. Franziska and Sr. Anselma. Arriving in Gobabis the Sisters had to do all the manual work by themselves with their own hands to help build the station. Sr. Sophia worked with perseverance, and the further development of Gobabis was of great concern of her. Even before the hospital could be completed for occupancy, Sr. Sophia had already started the outpatient treatment. Barely a month after arriving in Gobabis patients were already flocking, seeking Sr. Sophia’s help, and a farmer’s wife delivered her beautiful and healthy baby. Soon one wing of the planned hospital was completed and Sr. Sophia found a rich field of work. For Blacks and Whites, poor and rich she showed care and understanding to them all, she responded to all with compassion and patience and soon she was well known in the whole district of Gobabis. She did her stint of night duty, when it was her turn. She answered the bells conscientiously, so much so that even when she was very sick lying in bed she had a hallucination of hearing a patient ringing the bell. No sacrifice was too great for her when it had to do with the sick, the needy and the dying. She had a special gift of accompanying the dying: she prepared many souls in the last hours of their death and often succeeded in bringing the wayward sinners back to Christ. Once she was instrumental in performing the sacrament of baptism even to a Jew. And how many children did she baptize before their death! For 30 years Sr. Sophia worked for the people of Gobabis with ‘Ora et Labora’ at heart.


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In November 1951 Sr. Sophia came to Windhoek to see a doctor. She had signs of a cancer that gave her problems. With a heavy heart she agreed to an operation hoping she would be helped to recover and return to her mission Gobabis for some more years. She recuperated surprisingly quicker than expected and wanted to go back to Gobabis already after three weeks of her operation. Off she went and resumed her healing service and night duties for a whole year. Then she got diarrhoea that sapped her strength; in the meantime the cancer had recurred and spread. She realised that even when the spirit is willing, the body is indeed weak and there was no hope any more of getting better and work. She surrendered to her fate and received the Anointing of the Sick.

On 23 March 1952, Mother Ehrengardis WEHRMEISTER, OSB, the then Prioress of Windhoek went to Gobabis to be with the dying Sister. She spent two days with her to comfort and to pray with her. This was a great consolation for Sr. Sophia. She suffered without complaints and was undemanding to the last moment of her death. From time to time she would say: “As you will, dear Lord.” It was only the sickness and eventually death that could stop Sr. Sophia from serving and healing; but not from the love of Christ.

On the feast of the Annunciation, 25 March 1952 the sisters could sense that the end for Sr. Sophia was close at hand. She received the Viaticum and the General absolution from the priest who then prayed the prayers for the dying. In the presence of the community, she gave her soul back into the hands of her Maker at 22h00. Her body was brought to Windhoek and was buried in Döbra Mission cemetery.

May the rest she deserves be eternally hers in God!


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9. A DEFINITE ‘NO’ TO HOME-LEAVE WITH A SMILE Sister Adelinde Rohrmoser, OSB

(1900 - 1988)

Sister Adelinde was born in Wessobrunn, diocese of Augsburg, Germany on the feast of the Holy Rosary, 07 October 1901. In

baptism she received the name Amalie. She always showed a special love for her younger brothers and sisters and considered herself their guardian. She finished her elementary education in Wessobrunn; she was a diligent student, and her report cards were always marked ‘Excellent’. She then took up a 3year course in tailoring. After having passed the examinations successfully, Amalie started her own business. She was known and appreciated by her clients for her meticulous and neat work.

After her younger sister, Olga, had entered in Tutzing in 1922 and was given the name Sr. Herluca, Amalie surprised her parents one day with her decision to follow her sister to religious life. She entered in 1923 and was clothed on 13 August 1924 when she received the name Sister Adelinde OSB. Two months after her First Profession, which was on the Solemnity of the Assumption, 15 August 1925, Sister Adelinde received her Mission Cross and on the feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist, on 18 October 1925 she left Germany and she arrived in Namibia in November 1925. In 1927 her younger sister Olga, now Sister Herluca, also arrived as a new missionary to Oshikuku; their joy of seeing each other on Namibian soil was great. Sister Adelinde was assigned to take care of the needs of her sisters in the sewing room, she also instructed many young girls and women to become skilled in sewing. On 15 August 1928 Sister Adelinde pronounced her perpetual commitment to the Lord in Windhoek Priory.

Right after her Final Profession, Sister Adelinde was transferred to Swakopmund in 1928 where she stayed for 5 years. She spent her weekends in Walvis Bay to teach the students sewing and handicraft.


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The year 1953 found her as superior of Windhoek Werft community; today the place is called Pionierspark. As Sister Superior, she took special care of the church, frequently visited the poor in the area and helped them. The poor had always a special place in her heart. In 1973, Sister Adelinde was transferred permanently to the Priory House and she was assigned in the sewing room. There was always plenty of work to do for her, taking care of the needs of the community as well as that of the hospital.

The days were moving ahead and the Congregation had to respond to the signs of the time. The Constitutions of the Congregation was revised and according to that time Sisters in foreign missions were permitted to go on Home-leaves; the first trial was that every 10 years a sister may go for home-leave, then it was changed to eight years and then later after six years. Another revision was made that sisters in foreign missions may go for home-leave every five years18. In all those changes to the Constitutions regarding home-leaves, some Sisters readily accepted the offer and went to their homeland from time to time. This was not the same with Sister Adelinde; when she was offered a “home-leave” she answered with a definite “no” to homeleave with a smile. In her way of thinking, she thought it was not in harmony with her vow of poverty and her being in solidarity with the poor. Yet, she always felt very close to her family and kept in close contact with them through correspondence.

On 25 July 1984 her blood sister, Sister Herluca, OSB passed away in Oshikuku at the age of 81, she went ahead of Sister Adelinde in entering the convent as well as in entering heaven. Although Sister Adelinde was not a strong person physically and her frail health kept her weak, she reached the age of 88. All through her life, she was known for her readiness to help others, and to make them happy. In the night of 19th August 1988, she quietly surrendered her soul into the hands of her Lord; who promised reward for all those who did whatsoever to the least of His brethrens, for they did it to Him! Sister Adelinde did many acts of love and services which she rendered to her co-sisters and the poor.

Requiescat In Pace!

~~~~~~~~~~ • ~~~~~~~~~~

18 As of the year 2000, Sisters in foreign missions may go on home-leave every 4 years.


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10. AND WE FLY AWAYSister Adeline Vogel, OSB

(1887 – 1970)

Some Sisters rendered their services in silence and only God knows how much they did; while some others did theirs that attracted

everyone’s notice. What Sister Adeline did is known better by the All-powerful God.

Sister Adeline VOGEL, OSB was born on 28 April 1887 in Höll in the Diocese of Rottenburg, Germany and was baptized Berta. She made her First Profession on 22 January 1922. Already on 16 March 1922, she received her Mission Cross to South West Africa, today Namibia. She made her Perpetual Vows in the Priory of Windhoek.

During her first years in Windhoek Priory, Sister Adeline was assigned to first work in Swakopmund and then in Gobabis. She experienced the hard decisions of the Priory when it gave up one Station after another. She was in Gobabis community when the station was turned over to another Congregation in 1962; then she was transferred to Windhoek Werft which was also given up while she was still there. Her services in those communities, only God knows how much and how she performed them. Her perseverance to monastic profession is shown in her many years she lived out her commitment.

After she had reached 80 years old, her health began to fade and her eyesight began to fail. This caused her to be in need of more help from others; for that reason she was transferred to Swakopmund in 1968. In December 1969, she developed kidney and liver failure which signalled that her end was approaching. The priest was called and gave her the sacred rites; from there on she was never left alone, her fellow sisters kept watching on her sickbed.

In the morning of 07 January 1970 at 9:30 Sister Adeline quietly and peacefully breathed her last in Swakopmund. She was 83 years old which made Psalm 90 real as the Psalmist prayed, ‘The days of our


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years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away’19 (Ps. 90:10). She had spent and served in Namibia for 48 years of her sacred commitment to the Lord’s service.

The Windhoek Priory thanked Sister Adeline for being one of its histories and recommends her soul to the intercessory prayer of all.

Requiescat In Pace!

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11. THE GOOD ALWAYS WINS!Sister Adula Stiegler, OSB

(1911 – 1964)

Kavango missions have been blessed with the abundance of water, lush trees and wild fruits. It drove the founders of the Missions, among

them Fr. Joseph GOTTHARDT, OSB, later Bishop and Archbishop of Windhoek, to display all the missions along this perennial river. It was somehow easy for the missionaries to produce and provide fresh vegetable and fruits daily at the table. This gave double joy to Sr. Adula: One was that after waiting for 10 long years it became possible for her mission journey and the second being that of arriving in the land where water flows uninterruptedly.

If one had been awed by hearing a big family of 10 or 12, Sr. Adula belonged to that of 18 siblings and she was the first born. One can imagine how hard working she was to help the mother in taking care and disciplining her siblings.

Margaretha was born on 29 March in 1911 in Gruen, Regensburg, Germany. After leaving this family of 20 she went on to join another big family in Tutzing, even bigger than that at home.

19 The Holy Bible - King James Version


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She entered in Tutzing in October 1933 and was clothed as a Novice in January 1935. On 11 January 1936 Sr. Adula made her First Profession. In 1937 she was missioned to South West Africa, now Namibia; unfortunately the outbreak of the Second World War made her mission trip impossible because of the political situation. Soon after, the convent was closed. Seemingly convent life had come to an end.

As the saying goes: The good always wins! True to that, after 10 long years of waiting Sr. Adula’s mission assignment became possible in 1948. One could imagine the joy she had in her heart! She arrived in Windhoek and as soon as possible proceeded to her first station in Kavango Region. She was first assigned in Bunya and in 1959 in Shambyu Mission Station as a cook and gardener.

The weakness of the body slowly crept in Sr. Adula’s life. In 1963 she was noticeably sick and frail. She went to Windhoek for treatment and a tumour was discovered in her intestines. This did not deter Sr. Adula from returning to her beloved Kavango, and she was permitted to return. Her return was however short-lived, her health was deteriorating just within a year and she suffered from a severe Malaria at the beginning of 1964. On 9 January, Sr. Adula was airlifted from Kavango to Windhoek. She received the Sacrament of the Sick on 01 February and died on 02 February 1964. She could still receive the Holy Communion as a viaticum to the eternal home in God.



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12. A GOOD LEADER IS ALSO A GOOD FOLLOWERSister Alypia Schröttke, OSB

(1908 – 2003)

Sister Alypia came into this world on the Solemnity of Mary Immaculate Conception, 08 December 1908, in the diocese of Oliva Glettkau,

in Free State of Danzig20 , today Poland. That same year on the feast of St. Lucia, 13 December she was baptized and was given the name Katharina Maria. Her father, Emil SCHRÖTTKE was a fisherman and boat-maker and married to Wilhelmine KANEFKE SCHRÖTTKE, the mother of Katharina. The family was blessed with eleven children, four of them died as infants. Nevertheless, six girls and one boy grew up healthy and strong. Katharina Maria was the third eldest daughter.

As stated in her obituary, Katharina Maria’s wish to become a mission sister was inspired by the mission work of the Steyler Missionaries. There was one Benedictine priest from Beuron, Germany who used to go to Katharina Maria’s village on holidays. She observed the priest and it was from him that she learned about the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing in the neighbouring country, Germany.

As she grew up, she decided to become a missionary and at the age of 23, she entered in Tutzing on the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, 29 September 1931. The following years, 1932, she was sent to Berlin, the Capital City of Germany to study Nursing in the Hildegard Hospital. She stayed there until 1934. Her becoming a novice was delayed due to a minor heart problem; but the following year she became a Novice on 24 May 1935 and received the name Sister

20 The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that was created on 15 November 1920. As the League of Nations decreed, the region was to remain separated from the nation of Germany, and was put into a binding resurrected nation of Poland in order to give Poland sufficient access to the sea, while at the same time recognizing that its population was mainly German.


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Maria Alypia, OSB. As far as vocations are concerned, the year 1936 was a year of a

good harvest in the motherhouse because there were about 30+ Novices who made their First Profession in that year; among them was Sister Alypia SCHRÖTTKE OSB, who made her First Profession on 25 May 1936. At the end of 1938, she was sent to Wessobrunn to practice what she had learned in her Nursing studies; she took care of the sick and elderly Sisters in Wessobrunn. On 25 May 1939 she made her Perpetual Profession and soon after she got her mission cross; but before she pursued her mission, she went first for home-leave to the Free State of Danzig for two days in order to say goodbye to her family. Things did not turn out well for her because when she returned to Wessobrunn World War II broke out.

During the war, Sister Alypia worked in several Lazarets and kept good contact with her family. Once she wrote ‘My family had to flee from our home town during the war. They found themselves in West Germany. My father died before this happened.’ She experienced much distress caused by the war especially the occupying of the Gestapo, the secret police of Hitler that confiscated the Motherhouse-Tutzing in 1941.

Nevertheless, nothing holds back what God had prepared for each person. After the war, Sister Alypia was once again listed for foreign mission in 1948; but whatever the reason there was, she only left in 1949 for South West Africa, now Namibia, together with other Sisters, among them were Sister Viatrix WEBER, OSB Sister Imma LÖBER, OSB and Sister Godwina HIMMELSBACH, OSB. They arrived in Walvis Bay on 27 March 1949 and were assigned to different Stations of the Priory. Sister Alypia was assigned in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek and worked there for 12 years as a nurse, from 1949-1961. From April 1961 she was assigned in Swakopmund as Superior of the community until August 1962, when she was appointed as the 7th Prioress of Windhoek Priory in September 1962. She was a good organizer and could make the convent look very pleasant with the curtains she made, because she had a special gift in sewing. During the time when she was a prioress, it was still very difficult to travel to different Stations of the Priory, especially to Cuchi in Angola, which belonged to the Priory of Windhoek at that time until its closure in 1975. But she managed to complete her term of office well.

After her term as Prioress, she was assigned in Kavango Region and worked in Andara Hospital until early 70s when she was once again called to serve as Superior of Swakopmund from 1971 to 1980. From


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there she served in the infirmary and also worked in the sewing room of Swakopmund community. She enjoyed and meditated the scenery of Atlantic Ocean to which she always said ‘The love of God is like the waves of the ocean, one wave comes after the other towards us’.

At the age of 90, Sister Alypia’s eyesight began to fail and she needed help around the convent in Swakopmund. Regardless of her poor sight, she remained happy and cheerful, she loved the Divine Office very much especially the Latin songs which she knew by heart. One of her favourite songs was a song to Our Blessed Mother, which she was often heard singing.

In May 2003, Sister Alypia was transferred from Swakopmund to the Priory House in Nubuamis. She was admitted in the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek for some days before her death in September 2003. She went to meet her maker at the age of 95 on the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, 01 October 2003, at 1:30 in the morning.

On 07 October 2003, the Feast of the Holy Rosary, the Requiem Mass was celebrated for Sister Alypia at St. Joseph Church of Döbra with many Sisters and other Religious. This was followed by the burial rites at Döbra Mission Cemetery. It can only be said that after her 67 years as a Missionary Benedictine Sister and for 54 years of faithful service in the Church of Namibia, may she now joyfully enjoy the peace and love of the Lord in His Kingdom!

Requiescat In Pace!

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13. SERVED WITH GREAT FAITHFULNESS AND DEDICATIONSister Amarina Ballweg, OSB

(1880 – 1957)

On the 06 July 1957, Sister Maria Amarina BALLWEG, OSB was called home to God after eight months of severe suffering and pain in her

sickbed. She was well prepared for the Lord’s coming and breathed her last very quiet and tranquil, with no sign of agony or struggle whatsoever.


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Regina, as Sister Amarina was called before entering Monastery, was born on 07 August 1880 in Weikerstetten, Archdiocese of Freiburg. Her parents were well-to-do farmers who cherished religious life very much in the family and saw to it that they passed on good Christian principles to their children. Her mother died early while Regina was still very young and her father had to take care of the children. As Regina grew up, she, too, helped looking after her siblings since her father was also sick at that time; this delayed Regina’s entering to Religious Life. She was only able to enter the Missionary Benedictine Sisters’ Congregation of Tutzing at the age of 32 on 01 June 1912. On the Feast of St. Lawrence, on 10 August 1913 Regina became a Novice and received the name Sister Maria Amarina. A year later, she made her First Profession with her companions on 5 September 1914; then the World War I began. At some point during the war she was asked to serve as a nurse in Tourcoing / Flanders; there she became very ill and had to go back to the Motherhouse. In 1924 she was sent to study nursing at the Julius Hospital in Wuerzburg, where she completed her Course in 1926 with a very good result.

Two years later, Sister Amarina received her Mission Cross in November 1928 and set out for South Africa, Eshowe Priory. At the beginning of 1930 Mother Prioress General M. Clodesindis LÜKEN, OSB held a Canonical Visitation in South Africa, Eshowe Priory which was later called Inkamana Priory; the Prioress General asked Sister Amarina to go and serve in South West Africa, now Namibia, instead, because Inkamana Priory had no hospital at that time. Sister Amarina arrived in Namibia in 1930 and worked in the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek. She served the patients with great faithfulness and dedication. She had a very special concern for the sick and was willing and happy to get up at any hour of the night to bring relief to those in suffering and pain. She strived to be all for all as long as her health allowed it. When her age and ill-health allowed her no longer to be active in the hospital services, she was assigned in the sewing room where she made a lot of clothes for poor children.

Sister Amarina had a very contemplative soul and valued Holy Mass very highly; she also cherished the value of silence. When she was not in the hospital duties, she spent much of her time in the chapel praying and meditating, especially on Sundays when she would spent her whole day conversing with God.

In mid-November of 1956 she suffered a stroke; she was paralyzed and could no longer speak. Many times it was not easy for the nursing sisters and those who visited her to guess what could be the wishes of


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Sister Amarina, because she was so humble and undemanding. She was bedridden for the last eight months of life and depended only on the help from her fellow sisters and the nurses. In her helplessness she often looked imploringly at the picture of Our Lady hanging in her room, as if asking for some grace from Our Blessed Mother. Two days before her death she received the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick in the presence of all the sisters of the Priory House Community. The dusk of 05 July seemed to be the end of her days and so the sisters were called to join her in prayer and sang the Suscipe Me Domine with her, but her bridegroom kept her waiting for some more hours. Early in the morning of 6 July 1957 she fell asleep very peacefully into the hands of the Omnipotent One.

Her funeral was attended by many Religious who were on retreat in Döbra that week. She was laid to rest next to Sister Eremberta SCHNEIDER, OSB with whom she made First Profession in Germany and had celebrated together their Ruby Jubilee of Profession in Namibia. Sister Amarina will always be remembered for her well disposition spirit.

Requiescat In Pace!

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14. PREFER NOTHING WHATEVER TO THE LOVE OF GOD Sister Anthusa Kindl, OSB

(1901 – 1973)

The land of Angola welcomed Sr. Anthusa for a new foundation in Cuchi21 Mission in 1931. Together with her fellow missionaries, she

21 Cuchi in Angola belonged to Windhoek until its closure in 1975 due to war.


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served the people of Angola using the skills and knowledge gained through nature and nurture. After seven years, all of a sudden the Second World War began and all initial efforts were brought to a standstill. In 1938 she crossed the river from Angola to Namibia and became a missionary in Windhoek Priory. At that time her younger blood sister, Sr. Hiltrudis KINDL (1905 – 2002) was already a Final Professed Sister in Tutzing who would also come to Windhoek Priory 10 years later in 1948.

Anna was born on 09 May 1901 in U’Mühlhausen, diocese of Augsburg. From what could be gathered from her sister, Sr. Hiltrudis, their mother died while Anna was 7 years old. The young ones joined their father in caring for each other especially for the last born baby. They were 4 girls and 6 boys. One of her brothers died in the war and one of her sisters entered the Vinzentian Sisters in Munich and died at age 38 the same year their father died. Sr. Anthusa made her First Profession on 26 February 1927. On 06 February 1931, she was sent to land she longed for – Africa, where she desired to join her fellow sisters and work for the Lord. In Windhoek Priory, she was assigned to Kavango, the land that was almost similar to that of Cuchi, and resumed her missionary service. For many years she was superior in different stations of Kavango.

On 15 December 1971, she came to the Priory House in Windhoek suffering from intestinal obstruction. The X-ray showed cancer of the intestines. An operation was needed. After the operation she recovered so well that she was able to work again in Bunya. She returned several times to Windhoek for medical follow-ups which were always satisfactory. In spite of her illness, Sr. Anthusa celebrated the joy of her 72nd birthday. However, in May 1973, the last X-ray, showed complete intestinal obstruction caused by metastases. Only an operation could help, but the intestines did not function well again after the operation. As a consequence, this paralysis became the direct cause of her death.

Sr. Anthusa passed on without agony on 26th May 1973, in Windhoek. Her death saved her from severe suffering. She died unassumingly just as she had lived her life. To the mission she gave 43 years of her life and to the congregation 47 years of Monastic Profession.

May she now rest in eternal bliss!

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15. CLUNG TO HER ROSARY AND HER MISSION-CROSSSister Aurelia Haag, OSB

(1889 – 1967)

In the afternoon of Thursday, 16 February 1967, the Sisters in the community of Klein Windhoek had their Confession and in the evening

they wished to have a cheerful recreation together. But after supper Sister Herifrieda SCHWER, OSB, the Superior of the community went to look for Sister Aurelia who had not come for supper. It was a big surprise for Sister Superior when she found Sister Aurelia already dead; in her hands she held her Rosary and her Mission Cross. The community informed Mother Prioress Alypia SCHRÖTTKE, OSB about the sudden death of Sister Aurelia and the funeral was arranged to be on the following day, 17th February; however, in the morning of that day, the condition of former Mother Prioress Peregrina STREIN, OSB who had been suffering from gastric bleeding for years, showed that the Lord’s coming was also at hand. Sister Aurelia’s burial had to be postponed. Sister Peregrina died in the afternoon and as they came together to Namibia for mission, so they were buried together on the same day, their graves next to each other.

Anna, as she was called on her baptism day, was born on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola on 31 July 1889. There is nothing more told regarding her family background and her growing up. She entered in Tutzing at the age of 23 on the 10 October 1912 and on 08 June 1914 she became a Novice with several other companions. She was given the Name Sister Aurelia, OSB. Despite the Second World War that was ongoing, she and her fellow-novices made their First Profession on the 10th June 1915.

Due to the disturbance of the war Sister Aurelia made her Perpetual Profession at the Military hospital in France on 12 December 1919. After the end of the war, the Congregation was in need of new mission fields because the sisters in Tanzania were expelled from their missions and the number of sisters could not all be accommodated in the Motherhouse. Sister Aurelia was one of those who received their Mission Crosses to foreign missions and she was among the third group that arrived in


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Namibia on 16th of March 1922. Some months after her arrival in Windhoek Priory, Sister Aurelia was

sent to Kavango, this being the second expedition of the Tutzing Sisters to Kavango, and served in the kitchens of several communities. She spent 34 years in Kavango missions, and 11 years in Klein-Windhoek community. Though her death was so sudden and she died alone the way she was found shows that she was in the company of Our Blessed Mother and ready to meet her Saviour.

Requiescat In Pace!

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16. NO END OR TERM IS FIXED TO A LIFE WELL LIVEDSister Baptista Lyambayi, OSB

(1947 – 2004)

Kavango is a River which flows into the Zambezi River in Zambia; and across it one can see the green border of the neighbouring land,

Angola. One can imagine little Kevare, later Sr. Baptista, running up and down the bushes to play hide and seek, as children of her time would do, go to collect wild berries or go to the river during summer to swim and enjoy the laughter and giggles to the rhythmic sound of the splashing water while singing ‘Vakadona vanarumbondi’ a song commonly sung by girls while playing with water in the river, without any fear for the many crocodiles and hippopotamus of the Kavango River.

As they move around the playing would be replaced by fishing, washing clothes and fetching water atop their heads from the river to the house. The life of Sr. Baptista was closely connected to nature and familiar with the harsh realities of a dry weather season of the country, encompassing with the cycle of tilling the field, planting and harvesting activities.

Johanna was born on 10th October 1947, in Kansukwa, a village in


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Kavango Region, Northern Namibia. Her father, Lyambayi KEVARE and mother, Murarero KANKONO both died when Sr. Baptista and her only sister Olga were still young. The two orphaned children grew up in separate places. Johanna was brought up by her relatives in Musese, a place along the Kavango River between Tondoro and Bunya mission stations and her sister practically grew up with the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Bunya Mission, 65 km from Tondoro Mission. Much later, as an adult, Olga built her own house near Bunya Mission; this was home to Sr. Baptista during her home-leaves from the convent to enjoy the company of her sister.

A friend who attended primary school with her in Tondoro recounts how the young Johanna was a well-mannered, obedient and helpful young girl. She was committed to any work given to her and she did it without complaints. Her uncle recalls how family members and relatives were happy over Johanna’s entrance into the convent. On 6th January 1971, she made her First profession in Oshikuku, Ovamboland, under the formation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing who were and are cherished by many as Namibian Sisters’ spiritual mothers. On 1st July 200022 , after four years probation, Sr. Baptista transferred her vow of stability to the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. For some reason her integration was done later with three other sisters.

She rendered her service in many different stations as a good cook and also helping in the garden and other different house chores where her hands were needed. In the last years of her life she was assigned to Bunya, the Priory House in Nubuamis, Tsumeb and Ruacana. Everywhere she went she showed a friendly interest in people, taking time to listen to their stories. With her good sense of humour, she was known as a person who enjoyed a good laugh. She was also a good driver, although she was suffering from arthritic fingers, which would often enough turn blue and swollen, but she readily helped out with transporting Sisters even for the seemingly endless roads to the north of Namibia. On 9th July 2003, she began her kitchen work in Ruacana community and would also visit the kindergarten to give her love to the children. Very soon she became known by the neighbours and friends of the Sisters. She had wanted to join a Parish Women’s group called NAKAWA but already on 22nd March

22 The bigger group of Sisters from the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku was integrated earlier on 29 August 1999 in St. Michael, Outjo.


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2004 due to a recurring abdominal pain, she had to travel to Windhoek for medical examination. She underwent a diagnostic surgery on 1st April 2004 and was found to have an advanced stage of cancer. She stayed in the hospital for more than a month. Once she received the Anointing of the Sick. On 17th April, Sr. Pelagia EVULA her superior of Ruacana community, visited her in the Roman Catholic Hospital unknown to them all that it was to be their last meeting.

Sr. Baptista was discharged from the hospital on 04 May 2004 and lived in the infirmary of the Priory House until her passing away on 29 May 2004. She was fully aware of her illness and accepted it and began her prayerful spiritual journey which would have a beautiful ending. She prepared herself for the final day. One priest who visited her at least 3 times in the hospital recalls how Sr. Baptista told him: “They said that I have the sickness of the late archbishop Bonifatius Haushiku from which he died. I am ready – then I can see him and be with him.”

The infirmarian sister described her as a quiet and calm person who never complained. Sr. Baptista enjoyed the view through the window of her sickroom which was overlooking part of the Priory Orchard and a flower garden of Sr. Udalrike WIEDEMANN, OSB and Sr. Godwina HIMMELSBACH’s pink and red roses. At her bedside Sr. Baptista treasured a leaflet containing a few selected prayers for the sick, for friends, for healing and Psalm 102, and a prayer in times of ‘sickness and distress’. On the eve of her death, she asked a Sister who regularly visited and prayed with her, to read once more the prayers to her. She also requested for holy water to be sprinkled around the room. When this was done, Sr. Baptista remarked: ‘It is not enough, sprinkle some more.’

Many sisters will certainly remember this Saturday of 29 May 2004, the vigil of the Solemnity of Pentecost, when Sr. Baptista went home to God. On this day, she still attended Holy Mass on her wheelchair. After breakfast she returned to the chapel and prayed privately there. But in the afternoon, she spoke about feeling weak. She would often be heard softly saying the name ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus’ ... and ‘Tate, tate’ meaning father. She also asked for Sr. Raphaela HAENDLER, OSB, a medical doctor in the community to come to her. By mid-afternoon the community had gathered together around her bed praying and singing the ‘Suscipe’, ‘Salve Regina’ etc. She was conscious to the end, and when asked what she wanted, she answered ‘Keep on singing’; these being the last words she uttered. Except for some chest pain, there was actually no visible struggle. After casting a final glance at the faces around her bed, Sr. Baptista gently closed her eyes and peacefully gave


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herself into the loving embrace of her God. All stood still inside the room; it was exactly 16H40. The Prioress Mother Pia LANSANG, OSB, (1996 – 2004) remarked; “Indeed we had witnessed a holy death”. Afterwards, Fr. Thomas MANNINEZHATH, CMI, the Rector of St. Charles Lwanga Seminary in Windhoek at that time arrived and still gave her the last sacraments. Almost immediately after this, the community proceeded to the Chapel for an evening Holy Mass in her intention.

On 05 June her remains were brought to the Mission cemetery in Döbra were the funeral rite was held in the St. Joseph Parish Church; at least 10 priests were present at her funeral and the church was full of religious men and women and her Missionary Benedictine Sisters from different mission stations. Her sister Olga, their uncle as well as some relatives and friends were also present. A group of 20 Novices from the OMI International Novitiate in Döbra contributed songs at the Offertory and Communion. Fr. Maurus KANTANA, OMI, who knew Sr. Baptista well, presided over the funeral Mass. Fr. Innocent PANGUA, OMI, another long-time priest friend, gave the homily.

At the cemetery, her uncle gave a brief eulogy of Sr. Baptista on behalf of the family and expressed their gratitude for the life of Sr. Baptista and to the congregation for nurturing her in her religious life. The sisters, too, expressed their gratefulness to God who gave them a share of Sr. Baptista’s 56 years of life and 33 years of religious service.

We are assured by faith that she is now enjoying forever the joy of the presence of her spouse whom she longed to be united with in life and in death!



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17. YES I WILL GO Sister Bartholomäa Preiss, OSB

(1896 – 1989)

Along the Kavango River in Bunya mission, Sister Bartholomäa offered her service to the Kavango people. Everyone sought to wear

a pair ‘Bartholomäa-trousers’ and that is how she was known.She was an excellent seamstress, she was always kept busy. The

Bishop, the Fathers and the Brothers were always proud when they could have a pair of “Bartholomäa-trousers” they fitted perfectly well. She provided all necessary church linen and the clothes for the priests. “For the Church the best is just good enough”; she would say. The rich soil and plenty of water from the Kavango River compelled her to learn gardening skills and she produced vegetables and fruits. Vitamins were always welcomed in the otherwise very frugal life. When she became weak, she could not give up her gardening, she continued supervising. She greeted every visitor very friendly with motherly care, and after some conversation one would get a present of vegetables and fruits. Sr. Bartholomäa23 surely wanted to feed her visitors not only for a day but for a lifetime, because she would provide to other gardeners seeds or seedlings for their gardens. She always loved to help and knew how to make people happy. Aside from her assigned work, she helped wherever it was necessary - be it in the kitchen, laundry or housekeeping. Her vitality and energetic nature paid off, she could celebrate her 90th birthday and was for many years the eldest member of Windhoek Priory. She loved Kavango and the Kavango people so much, even when she became ill, she did not want to leave the Region. On Sunday, 08 October 1989, at exactly 5:00PM, Sr. Bartholomäa died in Bunya among the people she loved and who loved her, the following day she was laid to rest.

For all these wonderful works there needed to be a little girl called Anna Preiss from the “Bavarian Forest”. It seems that Sr. Bartholomäa was a delicate girl because she was baptized the day she was born.

23 Bartholomaea for Bartholomäa is also accepted.


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She was the 11th child among two boys and 10 girls. She was born on 24 April 1896 in Neuhäusl, diocese of Regensburg; on the farm of her parents Mr. Josef Preiss and Mrs. Barbara, Né Probst. The farmhouse was situated directly in a forest, an ideal place for the children to play. However, they had to walk about half an hour through the forest to go to and from school or to church. She once admitted that she was often scared to walk the seemingly lonely path through the forest, in spite of this she had a happy childhood.

When her mother died, the children had to help in the house, on the farm and garden. It was a great distress for the father and the children that the mother died when Anna was only 4 years old. The father found again a good mother for the many children who loved and cared for them with genuine love like a real mother.

After finishing school, Anna learned sewing and became a professional seamstress. She could help her siblings and the people in the neighbourhood with her good knowledge in sewing. Soon the wish to enter a convent and become a missionary matured in her. The first longer journey she undertook out of the Bavarian Forest brought her to Tutzing to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. She entered on 01 February 1922. Her Clothing day was 03 February 1923 and received the name Sr. Bartholomäa. She was a novice with the “Good Zeal” and could make her first profession a year later, on 10 February 1924. Already in the following year on 11 December 1925, her great wish to go to the foreign mission was granted her and she was sent to South West Africa, now Namibia. She boarded a ship from the Woermann Company, celebrated Christmas on the ship and arrived in Walvis Bay on 13 January 1926. Sr. Bartholomäa arrived in Windhoek with great enthusiasm and willingness to serve. She was a humble sister, undemanding and accepted the poor circumstances and primitive living quarters in which the sisters lived in the early development of Windhoek Priory. Working hard, earning and saving money was a matter-of-fact.

Sr. Bartholomäa made her Final Profession in 1927 in the Priory of Windhoek. She worked in Windhoek and was Superior of Klein-Windhoek in 1954 to 1960; after some times she was assigned in Swakopmund and Klein Windhoek respectively. The time came for Sr. Bartholomäa to move on to other shores in the Northern part of the county, first to Ovamboland and then later to Kavango. In Kavango she was assigned to Andara, Nyangana and lastly to Bunya where she spent the rest of her life, and still continues to live there after her death in the memory of the people.

When many sisters would claim to have home-leaves, Sr. Bartholomäa


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said no; she waived that right out of humility, to be faithful to her vow of poverty. No wonder that even when she died, she did not own many things. Among the few properties she had, she treasured souvenirs such as: her first travel document, given to her in 1925 and her still Bavarian citizenship with a stamp from Hamburg in it, the visa for South West Africa and a stamp of Kavango of 1939 and 1940.

During her funeral, there were letters from people who loved her and wanted to bid their final respect; one is quoted below. It was written in an excellent Afrikaans with so much respect and love in the selection of words, that it cannot be translated exactly. It read:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!First I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of

you who came to Kavango for the funeral of Sr. Bartholomäa. My special thanks go to Reverend Mother Prioress, who has come from Windhoek. And lastly I say thank you to the Fathers, Brothers and Sisters and to all here present.

We will always remember Sr. Bartholomäa with gratefulness. Sr. Bartholomäa worked first in the East of the Kavango in Andara, then in Windhoek; and when she was told to go to Nyangana she said: Yes, I will go there, because I follow the good news of Christ. I left everything to follow him.” Later between l937 and 1938, when there was a need for a sister to work in Bunya, she said; “Here I am, send me”.

Let me tell you what this sister did for us Namibians, especially for the Kavango and Ovambo people: she sewed jackets for the catechists from 1961-1965. We remember those catechists who wore red dresses, catechists like the late “Father” Josef Kueper, as the parish called him. Sr. Bartholomäa taught us how to use the sewing machine, to iron, to make shirts and cut trousers for the boys, to weave mats, to the smallest yet significant duties in the church. In the garden she taught us to plant orange- and mango trees, bananas and potatoes and all sorts of vegetables, and to look after flowers.

Until today the people of Bunya remember the kind Sr. Bartholomäa. Many may not exactly remember her name but the description of a sister they give is indeed that of Sr. Bartholomäa. Thanks to the Almighty God for the life of Sr. Bartholomäa.

May the Lord give her eternal life!


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18. THE CROWN WHICH HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOUSister Berlindis Bittl, OSB

(1909 – 2003)

Sister Berlindis happily celebrated her 94th Birthday on 17 August 2003 with many visitors. Ten days after, her biggest wish was fulfilled: to

go home to the Father. She departed from this life on the Feast of St. Monica, 27 August 2003 after a long wait in suffering and pain for 9 years. When her time came, she was fully prepared. Sisters and many staff from the Roman Catholic Hospital, who had been nursing and caring for her, came together to pray for her and to accompany her on the very last portion of her life. There was no reason to be sad, for she seemed to have reached her goal. As of 2003, Sr. Berlindis was the oldest Sister of the Windhoek Priory. She received her Mission Cross on 30 September 1934 as a Junior Sister and set off the following month for Namibia; she was only 25 years old. She made her Perpetual Profession on 11 October 1935, in Windhoek Priory.

Agnes, her baptismal name, was born on 17 August 1909, in Sornhuell, Bavaria, in Germany. Her father was a farmer and carpenter. Being the youngest of 12 children of her family, she grew up surrounded by her parents, seven sisters and four brothers in a hardworking and very religious family. Four of her seven sisters joined religious congregations. After finishing her eight years of school, she worked for five years as domestic helper in a family and then she followed in the footsteps of her elder sisters by entering religious life.

She entered in Tutzing on 06 January 1931 and on October of that same year she became a Novice; she received the name Sister Berlindis. The following year 11 October 1932 she made her First Profession and she was sent to Munich to study nursing. Two years later she was on her way to her new Foreign Mission assignment and after three weeks of sea voyage she arrived in Walvis Bay in October 1934 and then took the train to Windhoek through the Namibi Desert, one of the oldest deserts


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in the world. She worked in the operating theatre, laboratory and x-ray departments of Roman Catholic Hospital. This included lots of new learning on how to use every talent the Lord had given her. She was very practical and able to do many repairs herself. In late 1930s, the Roman Catholic Hospital purchased a very modern x-ray machine and the new missionary Sister Berlindis had to install it on her own; she was truly a God sent to the hospital and the Priory.

She managed the whole hospital single-handed as Matron, in-charge of theatre, and laboratory; she saw every emergency outside office hours day and night. She put up all difficult drips and stitched up many wounds at any day or night time. She could connect or repair broken plugs, drains; anything that was not functioning well in the hospital she fixed it. She saw to it that the hospital had the best quality of instruments and furniture. She was everything for and to the hospital.

Sister Berlindis spent her whole life in the Priory House working in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek until her retirement 1981 at the age of 72. She was well known as a good Nursing Sister, someone who was always available to help, very knowledgeable in her profession, good at making a diagnosis and experienced in laboratory and x-rays departments. Apart from that, she built up the hospital and kept it always up to date; a legacy she left the hospital with until today.

As a gift of her retirement, she went on home-leave to Germany in 1981 and stayed in Tutzing for two years. Then she returned back to Namibia and lived in Swakopmund community. There she did her apostolate of visiting patients in the hospital and also old people in old age homes. She experienced the restriction of the Apartheid of the colonial regime and had seen its ending and the new Namibian government after the Independence in 1990.

In 1994 the last part of her suffering started. She had a congenital mal-formation of her popliteal arteries of both legs. One of her legs had to be amputated in 1994 and in the following year 1995, the second one. Sister Berlindis had a strong personality and thus she suffered from being dependent on others. Since then, she had phantom pain in her legs to her very last day. She stayed in the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek and in days that she felt better, she visited other patients on her wheelchair.

When the seat of the Priory had to be transferred to the new site of Nubuamis, ten kilometres from Windhoek City, she, too, was transferred with the community to the new Priory House in the year 2000. Many people visited her every weekend and she received phone calls from friends whom


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she had worked with. Sister Berlindis spent those nine years in meditation and prayed much for all those who asked for her prayers. Oftentimes, she expressed her worries about the congregation for not having a ‘Canonized Saint’ until now. She tried every time to dress up herself and even take her own food during meals with the community. She was gifted with good sight as well as hearing and kept reading on her own.

In May of 2003 she needed more care and was sent back to the Roman Catholic Hospital for intensive nursing care. Many friends visited her still and enjoyed her last Birthday, but then she was tired afterward. She received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on Sunday, and on Wednesday, 27 August 2003 she knew it was time to go home, and she wanted nothing more but to die. She became unconscious in the early afternoon, and the Sisters kept vigil with her. She was glad when somebody sat next to her because she did not want to be alone on her last moments. After a long life of service for God’s Kingdom, one cannot help but imagine Sister Berlindis hearing these words: ‘Come, my beloved, receive the crown which have prepared for you from all eternity!’

Requiescat In Pace!

~~~~~~~~~~ • ~~~~~~~~~~

19. SISTER KAPIKA KAAWAMBO – (THE SLAVE OF THE OVAMBO PEOPLE)

Sister Bernolda Riedl, OSB(1917- 2009)

The Ovambo people are very observant and critical people; having seen Sister Bernolda working without rest day and night in Oshikuku

Hospital; running up and down to help people, they could only describe her services by naming her Sister Kapika kaAwambo - meaning the slave sister of the Ovambo people. Since then that is the only name many


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Ovambo people call her until today. The name ‘Sister Kapika kaAwambo’ as stated in her obituary, was given to her because she worked so hard at St. Martin Hospital, Oshikuku day and night like a slave.

Sister Kapika experienced the joy of living in a big community from birth. She was born during the peak of the First World War, in Dillishausen, Diocese of Augsburg/Germany on 23rd October 1917. Her parents wasted no time but to have their baby girl be baptized five days after its birth on 28th October of the same year. She received the name Josefa probably named after her father, Josef Riedl. He and his wife Karoline (FIPPER) RIEDL had 11 children. Josefa was the second of the 11 children of her family of five girls and six boys. Both parents understood the importance of good education and saw to it that all their 11 children were baptized a few days after their birth, and received religious instructions as well as equipped for future different careers. The parents implanted spiritual values and good moral to their children; and as a result four children heeded to follow Christ in Religious life: Josefa, who became Sister Bernolda OSB; Anna, who got the name Sister Consilia, OSB; Karoline, who received the name Sister Anne, OSB and Heinrich, who became a Priest.

The three girls who entered the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Josefa was the first one to set out and leave behind her work as she was already working in a hospital in Waal, a small town in Bavaria, Germany. She was 23 years old when she entered in Tutzing on the 05 November 1940, one year after the Second World War had broken out, not knowing that this would pave the way for her other siblings to follow in her footsteps.

It was not an easy start for the young Josefa. It was war time and the Motherhouse had been confiscated by the Gestapo, Hitler’s secret military, and the convent was turned into a military hospital. During the war, two of her brothers died, which was sad news for Josefa and her family. Her Novitiate too had to be extended due to the war and it was only after the Second World War that Sister Bernolda could make her First Profession on the Feast of the Presentation 02 February 1946 in Tutzing. Three years later, she made her Perpetual Profession on 02 May 1949; a year earlier her blood sister, Anna had made her First Profession in Tutzing and received the name Sister Consilia, OSB. She was also a nurse and served the sick with a strong sense of responsibility and diligently. There is no account on how happy they were living in the convent, but it can be said that they were really happy to the point that they attracted their younger sister, Karoline to join them a few years later.


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After her Perpetual Profession in 1949, Sister Bernolda was assigned in Wessobrunn, one of the beautiful houses that belonged to the Motherhouse. There she served as a nurse until the year 1951, when the voice to foreign missions called out for her. The mission-field in Namibia was greatly in need of workers since during the war no new members were sent out and yet some had gone to eternity. Going to foreign mission was a desired goal for many young sisters in Tutzing and every year a list of new missionaries was put up. Sister Bernolda, like many others, did not have to wait longer than ten years after her entrance; in 1951 she was among those who were sent for foreign missions. She arrived in Namibia on the eve of the Solemnity of St. Benedict on 10 July 1951.

She was assigned in the Priory House community and worked in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. Although she did not voice her disappointment upon her arrival in Windhoek, it can be assumed that she was not happy to render her services to ‘the whites only’24 in a segregated condition, as some other missionaries had expressed how such service hindered their spirit as Christians and Religious. This was due to the apartheid that was in the country at that time and Roman Catholic Hospital was at the service of the white people only. The church authorities had only two choices; either to leave the country or comply with the rules of the colonizing government; they chose the latter anticipating that the future would simply change this someday; hope for a better future was always a driving force for many missionaries in a colonial Namibia. Many missionaries who came to Namibia during the colonization period wished to be assigned in the remote areas where they could serve and live among the black Namibians rather than among the white Namibians.

In 1954, Sister Bernolda received the news that her younger sister Karoline had entered Tutzing a year before and as a postulant was sent for foreign missions to the United States of America. Karoline made her First Profession in Norfolk Priory in 1956 and was given the name Sister Anne, OSB. That year seemed to have brought much joy into the life of Sister Bernolda as she was finally granted her wish to serve in Oshikuku, Ovamboland, in 1956. There she lived, prayed and worked as a nurse and midwife; serving Ovambo people and came to be known everywhere so much so that it is believed that ‘There is no a bird that does not know Kapika in Ovamboland’. She was so much loved and respected that 20

24 During the apartheid period in the 1940s, the Roman Catholic Hospital became exclusively for whites only until in the early 1980s.


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babies were given the name ‘Bernolda’ by their parents in honour of Sister Kapika.

As a midwife, she had many chances to be the first to receive new born babies as they come into this world. She constantly put a sign of the cross on the forehead of each of the new born baby that she delivered. On the 07 April 1959, a mother, named meme Mechtilde delivered a handsome baby boy and Sister Kapika was in charge of her. As usually, Sister Kapika immediately made a sign of the cross on his forehead and said: ‘You should become a Priest!’ Meme Mechtilde treasured the words of Sister Kapika in her heart like Mary, Our Lady. She watched her son growing and nurtured him with the love for religious life and in 1988 the boy, now a big man was ordained a Priest in the Congregation of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI). It is with admiration to mention here that later the Priest became a Bishop; and not only a bishop but an Archbishop. His name is Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, the incumbent Archbishop of Windhoek.

In the hospital, there was no patient who died without seeing a priest as long as Sister Kapika was around; she saw to it that the priests were notified as to which ward needed priestly assistant at any moment. She was not only a nurse but also a teacher; teaching other Sisters and young girls around Oshikuku Mission how to serve the sick wholeheartedly day and night. When medicines were lacking, it was through her that the others learnt how to use herbal medicines for treating skin-diseases and wounds. She did not limit herself to nursing and teaching services only, but even domestic duties she did, teaching hospital domestics how to clean the hospital rooms and the areas. She taught them how to repair mattresses as well as how to paint the walls in the wards. But she never disregarded nor excused herself from participating in common prayer and community life. All what she did in Oshikuku was done for the sake of the Ovambo people; when observed while working, one would just remark, ‘this is really Kapika kaAwambo!’

Besides General Nursing, as mentioned in her obituary, Sister Kapika opened a leprosy ward and cared for the lepers with much love. She spent time with the lepers and was not afraid to wash and dress their wounds. Like, Jesus, her ‘food was to do the will of the Father’; she saw the presence of God in everything she did. Her good deeds of love, patience, humility and kindness, especially toward the sick and the poor attracted some young girls who worked with her and promoted their desire to religious life.

She had to retrieve her knowledge of farming, as her father was a


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farmer, by making a beautiful garden around the leprosy-building where she planted mango, lemon, and guava-trees; the place turned into a little paradise. Until today, the people in Oshikuku mission are still enjoying the fruits of her labour from that garden.

The year 1961 brought great news of Ordination to Priesthood of Father Heinrich, the young brother of Sister Bernolda. There is no account of her visiting home but her brother Fr. Heinrich came several times to visit her in Namibia.

The Vatican II came and brought with it some many changes such as change of the religious attire, which for some senior sisters like Sister Bernolda, was not easy. She was used to wearing her veil with a wimple and now they have to dress without a wimple which looked half naked to those who used it half of their lives.

The day of 24 November 1967 might have been a hot day for Sister Bernolda; as later the sad news had reached her that her blood Sister Consilia, OSB was called home to God at the age of 46 in Tutzing. Sister Consilia, as avowed in her obituary, was abruptly taken from her field of duty; when sometime in July 1967, she felt pain near the heart, however, the investigations revealed nothing. But in September the same year, she got pain in the right leg and thought to get rid of it with some days of rest; after an operation, it was revealed that it was too late to help her. She surrendered her life to her Creator on 24 November 1967. Sister Bernolda visited the grave of her sister when she went for home-leave and prayed for her sister’s soul to rest in the peace of the Almighty with the hope of meeting again in eternity.

In 1990, life in Namibia has changed greatly. The country had won its independence and the segregation between the whites and the blacks had come to an end. On 21st March the Feast of the Transitus of Our Holy Father St. Benedict was chosen as Independence Day of Namibia; and it was celebrated for the first time in 1990. The ceremony began with the old South African flag being taken down and the new Namibian flag being raised. That same year, Sister Bernolda was transferred to Andara in Kavango Region after her 34 consecutive years of service in Oshikuku. She stayed there for two years and then moved to the Priory House in Windhoek for her retirement. Subsequently, she worked in the garden around the house and planted many nice flowers, which were used to decorate the rooms of the patients in the hospital as well as the chapel and Sisters’ refectory.

It seems those who worked with Sister Bernolda had no negative experience with her, even the sisters in the community cannot attest to


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a disagreement with Sister Kapika at all. She was always kind hearted and even in her old age, she kept giving to everyone she met a friendly smile and spoke little. By her smiling face others felt how much she loved them. She liked to pray and join the community practices up to her very last weeks of her life. She lived so simple, so grateful, and so prayerful as well as punctual for Divine Office. She was an early-riser which made her wait every morning for the chapel to be opened. Since the chapel used to be locked every night the one in charge of the chapel always finds Sister Bernolda waiting for the chapel to be open before 5 o’ clock in the morning.

In 1992, her oldest sister, Ms. Antonia passed away. Sister Bernolda endured all these things, for she had matured enough and time had taught her to hand over everything into the hands of God. In 2008, her sister, Sister Anne, OSB in Norfolk was also laid to rest after her passing over to the next life on 02 of May 2008. Sister Bernolda came ahead of them in the religious life, but they went ahead of her to eternity. She followed them shortly after she celebrated her 92nd Birthday. No one imagined that it was her last Birthday on earth because she was still looking strong and continued to join the community for prayers and meals.

Sister Kapika made use of her old age by making rosaries and gardening. The rosaries which she made with devotedness and love, she gave them as feast day present to Mother Prioress. In the morning hours she would be carrying a pail of water from one plant to another other and in the afternoons she would make rosaries. She never lacked service!

One day she suddenly collapsed in the chapel while at prayer, and was rushed to the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek and as she has lived peacefully so too did she die peacefully in the morning of 12th November 2009. On 19 November 2009 she was laid to rest in the Mission Cemetery in Dobra. Many people came to pay their last tribute to Sister Kapika. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by eight Priests with Archbishop Liborius as Main-Celebrant. Her coffin was carried by Nurses from Oshikuku Hospital whom Sister Kapika trained and worked with years ago. She is survived by two siblings Father Heinrich RIEDL and Mrs. Maria WUNDERLE, both reside in Germany.

She truly lived the fruits of the Holy Spirit all her life long: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control.” Gal. 5:22. It can be surmised that she is an intercessor for all at the throne of God, may Sister Kapika kaAwambo pray for more vocations to the Church in Namibia!

Requiescat In Pace!


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20. THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED!Sister Berthild Leser, OSB

(1915 – 1991)

Sr. Berthild was one the novices who were carried in a horse-drawn carriage covered with blankets from Kerschlach to the newly

constructed Mother House in Tutzing. They sat tight like sardines in a tin so that they could not be seen by the Nazis. Nobody could guess the presence of the young novices in the carriage; in spite of this they were happy and cheerful inside it and enjoyed the ride.

Rosa was born on 27 December 1915 in Kappel on the Rhein. She was the 4th of 4 children - all girls of the farmer Matthias Leser and his wife Elisabeth. She was baptised a week after her birth on 04 January 1916. The father was allowed to have leave from the war to attend the baptism. He was very happy for his four daughters and remarked that if they all wanted to join a convent; he would gladly give his permission. He could not enjoy his family for long for he died in that same year of 1916. The mother had a hard time during and after the war on how to feed the children. In early 1930 their mother also died and they continued to cling together in genuine love.

Rosa attended her primary school up to Grade 8 then went on for a Housekeeping Course in the school of the Sisters in Bruchsal. Her older Sister entered in that Convent. The other two sisters married and kept good contact with one another.

After finishing the school Rosa went to help her aunt who had a shop. The aunt was happy to get a good help and good company.

Rosa heard about Tutzing from the Benedictine Sisters of Neuburg near Heidelberg. There she saw a possibility of following her wish to become a missionary. Her aunt was reluctant to let her good helper go. She could only visit Tutzing in summer of 1938. This was the time of political instabilities before the war and all convents were worried as to what would tomorrow bring. At the beginning of the war, Rosa was


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supposed to go to the war as a Red Cross Nurse to Heidelberg but then she was sent to the “Behring Lazaret” 25 in Tutzing and stayed in the convent. She wrote: “It was a difficult time to combine convent life with the outside life.”

In 1940 Rosa started the novitiate with 11 other postulants as Sr. Berthild. For this feast they could still invite their relatives but it was not possible anymore for their First Profession a year later. After the retreat for First Profession in Kerschlach the novices were brought to Tutzing in a horse-drawn carriage covered with blankets to hide them from the Nazis. At 4 o’clock in the morning of 26 May 1941, they pronounced First Profession to keep it secret from the Nazis. Shortly after the profession, the Motherhouse was confiscated by the Nazis. Most Sisters had to leave; only a few were allowed to stay to serve the Nazis. Many tears were shed by the sisters at the thought of parting from the Motherhouse. All the Sisters could go to Muenchen, where the “Barmherzigen Schwestern” (the Merciful Sisters, a Franciscan Order) welcomed them with great love and care. When they were sent to work, Sr. Berthild came to the Schwabinger Clinic, a short time later to St. Ottilien into the kitchen and 3 months later with 2 other young Sisters to Regensburg as nursing students. She was very happy and learned nursing successfully. In 1943, after her examinations she returned to the Motherhouse which was then turned into a hospital for the soldiers. Sr. Berthild could recall one incident which impressed her while she was with the patients in the chapter room. These were the patients who could not be transported in the elevator. A young soldier was lying next to the column and asked Sr. Berthild what was the meaning of “Ut in Omnibus glorificetur Deus?” When Sr. Berthild translated it for him: “That in all things God may be glorified”; the soldier was very impressed and happy. She later heard from his comrades that when this soldier was operated on in another hospital, during the anaesthesia he repeated the “Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus.”

At the end of the war Sr. Berthild had to go to Partenkirchen to be treated for tuberculosis, and returned to Tutzing after 3 months. In the following years she worked in the hospital in Tutzing and Wessobrunn. After the war many sisters longed to be sent out to the foreign mission. A joyful moment came for Sr. Berthild when it was finally her turn to be sent out to South West Africa, now Namibia, on 24 June 1951. Together

25 The Lazaret was a sort of hospital for soldiers in a building adjacent to the Convent in Tutzing.


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with her companions, they could even travel via Rome. Providentially, through an unforeseen accident they had to stay in Rome until 11 July and could visit the many churches including Subiaco; and with a small group of pilgrims had an audience with the Holy Father, Pope Pius XII. They had a conversation with him and each received his personal blessing. Strengthened and full of joy they flew to Johannesburg. The experienced another delay in Johannesburg and had to embark on a train to Windhoek, arriving on 19 July 1951. The sisters in Windhoek were of course very worried concerning their late arrival; they were overjoyed when they finally appeared.

In Windhoek Priory Sr. Berthild worked in the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek until 1958, then she was transferred to Swakopmund. She worked mostly in the theatre and in the out-patient department. In 1985 she volunteered to look after Sr. Katharina LUMMEL, OSB, in Andara for a year since no sister could be spared from the hospital to care for her. The closing of the hospital in Swakopmund was a hard blow to all the sisters in the Windhoek Priory; considering that they had been working there for a long period of time and knew the people well. They had to accept the situation and move on. She asked to be transferred back to Windhoek to resume her hospital service. She writes: “The Priory House accepted me again with my 70 years. I owe them thanks for that.” She worked in the children’s ward until her death in Windhoek in 1991 at the age of 76. Sr. Berthild was known as a sister who was always humble. She is buried in the Mission Cemetery in Döbra waiting for the resurrection day.



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21. SHE VENERATED OUR BLESSED MOTHER MARY DEEPLYSister Bonita Wohlmannstetter, OSB

(1889 – 1983)

Sister Bonita was born on 08 February 1889 in Unterdietfurt, Bavaria - Germany as daughter of Mr. Max WOHLMANNSTETTER, blacksmith,

and his wife Theresia, née GRUBER. In baptism she received our Lady’s name Maria; all her life long she venerated Our Blessed Mother Mary very deeply.

Maria spent her childhood and youth with relatives who did not have children of their own, but she was always closely connected to her 8 siblings until her death, even to her nieces, nephews as well as their children. Two of her Sisters entered the Institute Beatae Mariae Virgine (BMV); that provided an opportunity for her to learn cooking and housekeeping in one of their houses in Munich.

When Maria felt the call to religious life, she entered the Congregation of the Mission Benedictine Sisters in Tutzing in 1912. At her clothing ceremony on the Feast of St. Leo the Great, 10 August 1913 she received the name Sister Bonita, OSB. After her First Profession on the 05

September 1914 she was sent to St. Ottilien to replace the Brother who was in-charge of the kitchen of the seminary, for he was called to the army as the First World War broke out. Later she worked in the Motherhouse and in Maria Hilf.

Her joy was great when she received her Mission Cross for foreign mission to South West Africa, now Namibia, on 07 June 1927. While in the mission, she could utilize her knowledge and care with sisterly love in the kitchens of Shambyu, Swakopmund, Windhoek and Gobabis. She loved telling about her time in Shambyu, especially during the founding days of that Station. From 1945 she was part of the Swakopmund community where she celebrated her 90th birthday with many visitors from the Swakopmund town.

When she was 80 years old her vision slowly deteriorated, but she did not want to be operated on for she felt that God would not give her too


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many years to live. In the course of the years, it became hard for her when she could no longer work, but she filled her time with prayer and listened to her fellow Sisters who came to her with any problem and would ask for her prayers. With friendliness, she always promised to pray for them. She loved the community and its practices and it caused her much pain and hurts that during her last months of life and due to increasing physical weakness she could not come to all common prayers.

She longed to go home to the Author of life, and God granted her this wish on 30th December 1983. In the beginning of December she developed an intestinal illness and became bedridden. She received the Sacrament of the Sick and the viaticum on the 10th of December.

She became progressively weaker and weaker and in the morning of the 30th December she was obviously worse. She received again a general absolution and in the presence of her fellow sisters she went home to heaven, while they were praying with and for her.

On her burial Day many Sisters and Priests accompanied her and Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU26 of Windhoek presided at the funeral. He thanked Sister Bonita for all her work, prayers and sacrifices for the Namibian church. May God give His faithful servant the eternal joy and may she be a mighty intercessor for all!

Requiescat In Pace!

26 Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU was the first Namibian Bishop, ordained to presbytery in 1966 and to episcopate in 1979. He died on 12 June 2003. R.I.P.


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22. THE LORD CHOSE HER TO DWELL IN HIS TENT FOREVERSister Chrysantha Jakob, OSB

(1899 – 1969)

Sister Chrysantha JAKOB, OSB offered her radical yes to God when she was clothed as a Novice on the Solemnity of Mother Scholastica.

Since then, 10 of February became a very special Day for her. On the same Feastday, she also gave her final yes to God when she was called home to heaven on the 10 February 1969. Her passing on was sudden and entirely unexpected.

Frieda, as she was called by her parents, was born on 22 September 1899 in Kaiserslautern, diocese of Speyer. Her father was a municipal official of their town and Frieda had to get a good training in typing. She worked in a company as director’s secretary before her admission to the monastery. She also headed a Marian Organization for many years. Frieda felt the call to religious life at the age of 20, but she hesitated for some years. After five long years of uncertainty about her vocation, she applied to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing with her parents’ help and love, and entered at the age of 25.

On the Solemnity of St. Scholastica, 10 February 1925, she received the monastic habit, a veil and the name Sister Maria Chrysantha, OSB. On 12 February 1926 together with 12 other fellow Novices, they made their First Monastic Profession. The following year the happy young Junior Sister Chrysantha received her Mission Cross on 02 October 1927 to South West Africa, today Namibia; she arrived in Walvis Bay on 06 December 1927. She made her Perpetual Profession in Windhoek Priory, which became her home for more than four decades. Her mission services and prayer life was given to diverse communities such as Andara, Windhoek and last but not the least to Swakopmund, where she gave her last breath to God, the Most High. In Andara community she cared for


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the sick and went on long distances by canoe or on saddled two donkeys for the travels. She wanted to get in contact with the people, befriend them and at the same time dispel their suspicion and prejudices. Sister Chrysantha observed that people were very suspicious of the Sisters. They would hide their sick upon seeing them arriving and refused their medicines, because they preferred to take that of the traditional healers which saddened the sisters greatly. Nevertheless, the Sisters were not discouraged; they had to keep on convincing them that they meant well to them. She worked at her respective places with dedication and love. She experienced the difficulty of the beginnings of the Priory which caused her great sacrifices but kept her faithful and persevering in her duties.

In her younger days, Sister Chrysantha was strong, healthy and had a happy disposition. In 1966, she celebrated her 40th, Ruby Jubilee of Profession in good health. As years went on, she contracted high blood pressure that accompanied her for the rest of her years. In the morning of her death on 10th of February, she attended Holy Mass and also breakfast still cheerful and delighted by the Feast of Our Holy Mother St. Scholastica. She then asked to be permitted to lie down for sometime because she did not feel well. The Sister in-charge of the infirmary checked her blood pressure and no symptom was found on her that would attract any attention; yet she was allowed to go to bed as she had asked for. Later, a sister needed the key to the office which Sister Chrysantha kept with her. When the sister went to her cell, she found Sister Chrysantha lying peacefully on the bed, dead. The priest was called to say Mass and the following day, she was laid to rest on the Mission cemetery of Döbra.

She, who hesitated to follow Christ in religious life, did not hesitate to move on to the next life. She went quietly to the Lord who chose her to dwell in His tent forever. There, with all the Saints will sing God’s praises for all eternity.

Requiescat In Pace!

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23. FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDRENSister Dosithea Lechner, OSB

(1893 – 1971)

Sick and frail was Sr. Dosithea but not the spirit! The will and the spirit were strong in her, she was determined not only to live but to give

to the community and to the service of the church the last drop of her strong will. In the latter years of her life, she suffered from physical pain especially hip pain but she accepted all as a participation in the passion of Christ, her spouse.

Maria was born on 19 May 1893 in Aschbach, diocese of München in Freising. She made her First Profession on 12 February 1925 and on 21 June of the same year she was missioned to Windhoek Priory. Upon her arrival in Windhoek, she proceeded to Gobabis where the sick and the expectant mothers were waiting for her help. Sr. Sophia OHNMACHT, OSB was so grateful that she had such a devoted and competent sister and nurse companion to team up with her in service the sick. Sr. Dosithea herself spoke of sleepless nights and hard days they had to spend, but they did it with joy knowing that they were helping mothers and children.27 Her unique gifts of midwifery won the hearts of many mothers who after births would come to Sr. Dosithea to show off their babies whom she had helped deliver. Sr. Benedikta SCHMITT OSB, who lived with Sr. Dosithea in Gobabis, remembers one beautiful encounter: It was during the night when Sr. Dosithea was called to help a woman in labour in a nearby village. With a torch in hand, Sr. Dosithea and Sr. Benedikta went to where they were being directed and found the woman in labour. With the help of a torch a healthy baby was born, and then Sr. Dosithea realized that there was no where to put the baby not even a cloth or blanket. Sr. Dosithea removed her veil and the baby

27 CF. Sr. Dr. Bernita WALTER, OSB. ‘Service that Saves and Heals’ p.154.


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was warm again. It has to be noted that in those days, the church did not permit religious sisters to do midwifery. But the situation forced them to act. They could not help seeing women giving birth without any proper and professional assistant. Later on Sr. Dosithea personally acquired the permission to freely render her service with clear conscience.

Sr. Dosithea was very much loved by both blacks and whites and many where grateful for her service. It so happened that one day a bushmen wanted to graciously reward Sr. Dosithea by letting her smoke from his pipe. She was so famous and loved so much so that when she died years later, people came all the ways from Gobabis to bid her farewell with a very big wreath sent by those who could not personally attend.

Then came the sad moment of giving up Gobabis in 1962 due to lack of personnel; and the Missionary Sisters of Immaculate Conception (SMIC) took over Gobabis as their first mission station in Namibia. From Gobabis Sr. Dosithea was assigned to Tondoro where she continued serving the Kavango people until she fell sick and was brought to Windhoek for treatment.

In 1968, she fractured the head of the femur and was brought to Windhoek for treatment and she was able to walk again, but with the help of a cane. After some years she had to be operated on due to a lacerated muscle on her hip. She recuperated rather fast and was able to take over again the duty of guarding the patients who would need any kind of help.

At the beginning of 1971, the year she died, she suffered from violent pains and wished to be operated again, on the other hip, after consultation with a doctor. After the operation, her will to walk again did not fade away but the body could no longer bear the pain that recurred. Eventually, she was completely confined to bed for three and a half months. As if this was not enough, she had to endure another pain, pain in the joints of the right shoulder and arm and an obstinate cough. This persistent cough and an increasing breathing problem consumed her strength and her will to live. One of her favoured wishes was to see many more sisters being trained in midwifery; to mention but one is Sr. Marita HAARMANN, OSB28 who was on her way to Pretoria, South Africa to be trained in midwifery, to whom Sr. Dosithea expressed great joy.

A priest was called to administer to her the Last Sacraments. In the morning of her last day she received once more Holy Communion fully

28 Prioress of Windhoek from 2004 to 2010


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conscious. After some hours of agonizing pain, she became visibly quiet. As the Angelus bells were ringing at noon, her soul peacefully joined in the rhythm on to her Creator, on 23 August 1971 in Windhoek Hospital at the age of 79. Finally all the pain had gone! Her remains rest in the Mission cemetery of Döbra and her soul at peace with her God.

Sr. Dosithea gave 47 years of her religious profession in the missionary activity of Namibia and its people to the best of her ability. Though gone long before, her name remains in hearts and minds of the people she served.

May she rest in eternal peace forever!

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24. JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH!Sister Eckharda Grammer, OSB

(1901 – 1972)

Sr. Eckharda cared for the wellbeing of the Sisters by faithfully rendering her service in the kitchen, she saw to it that chickens had

their shares as well and that, things were ready for use in the sewing room.

She was born on 18 January 1901 in Ergenzingen, diocese of Rottenburg and was given the name Josefine on her baptism day. She made her First Profession on 10 February 1929 together with her 8 companions and she was missioned to Windhoek on 12 May 1932.

She was a good cook and also cared for the chickens and in the sewing room. In 1970, she was operated for breast cancer. After recuperating she returned to her duties and worked indefatigably, even if this meant struggling for strength and with heavy breathing. She worked as if everything depended on her and prayed knowing that all depended on God. As time passed, one could see that Sr. Eckharda was not well and the Sisters thought of metastases of the lungs. The X-ray showed haemorrhage of the lungs. A puncture brought some relief but only for a


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while. Sr. Eckharda felt that her time would come soon and she prepared for it. She, herself asked for the Holy Unction which was given her on 31 January 1972. Up to 06 February she was occasionally up and about. But then she experienced difficulties in, the oxygen helped but a little bit only. She could only sit in her room.

On St. Scholastica’s solemnity she would have so much liked to go home, but was prepared to accept the day and hour of God’s Providence. Quietly, she continued to pray and gazed at the crucifix with wide open eyes. One could hear her whispering, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph!”

On 12th February 1972, shortly before Sr. Eckharda could go home to the Father, some Sisters prayed the rosary with her and she followed fully conscious. Afterwards she sent her visitors away, saying, “Now you go home.” Sr. Berthild LESER who had just arrived from Swakopmund took the night-watch. As she was watching she realized that Sr. Eckharda was having hard time breathing. She quickly called some Sisters and in their company at exactly 21H40, Sr. Eckharda fell asleep peacefully without any slightest struggle.

For the bodily life had come to an end but not for her soul, and even her name still remain on the lips of her fellow sisters and the people whose lives she had touched in the little ways she could.

May she now rest in eternal peace of the Lord!

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25. WHEN GOD CLOSES THE DOOR, HE OPENS A WINDOWSister Edmunda Kienle, OSB

(1887 – 1971)

There are no records about Sister Edmunda’s childhood or her teenage days. What is known about her is that she was born on 05 March

1887 in Diesenbach, in the diocese of Augsburg, Germany. In baptism, she received the name Barbara. She entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing at the age of 23; together with


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six other Novices, she made their First Profession on 03 July 1910. Four days later after her profession, she received her Mission Cross to Tanzania on 08 July 1910. The name of Sr. Edmunda is hardly mentioned in the history of Tanzanian missions prior to First World War, but it can be inferred that she made her Perpetual Profession in Tanzania and had an experience of the First World War which led to the expulsion of the German Benedictine Missionaries in 1917-1918.

When the Lord closes one door, He opens a window. Upon returning to Tutzing with her fellow missionaries after being expelled from East Africa, today Tanzania, Sister Edmunda was destined to go to foreign mission again. This time, she had to go to a new foundation in Southern part of Africa. She arrived in Namibia on 21 June 1921 with three other fellow Sisters. Many former Tanzanian missionaries were homesick for Tanzania; when they were called to return to their former missions some did return, while others remained where they were planted. Sister Edmunda was one of those who opted to remain in Namibia.

She rendered her service first in Windhoek Werft, today Pionierspark, and then later she was assigned in Gobabis. After the closing down of the Station of Gobabis in the year 1962 Sister Edmunda was transferred to Swakopmund. There she took care of the chickens and helped in some other small works in the convent and in the hospital kitchens as long as her strength permitted her to.

In the middle of 1970, Sister Edmunda had heavy intestinal cramps that caused her much pain. At the beginning of 1971 she had to be admitted in the hospital; and from then on, she needed much intensive care. She became completely helpless and her fellow sisters had to care for her. She becomes hard of hearing and eventually almost deaf; she also started to have difficulties in breathing which seemed to have tormented her day and night.

Sister Edmunda received the Sacrament of the Sick in late April 1971 and her sisters in the community kept her company at the sickbed, praying and singing with her. On 02 May 1971, the Lord released her from her suffering and gently called her to Himself without any struggle. She served the Congregation for 61 years and 50 years of these were spent in Namibian Mission. Dying at the age of 84 completed a long and fruitful life lived in God’s service. She is buried in the mission cemetery of Döbra; where she awaits with many of her fellow sisters the resurrection of the departed.

Requiescat In Pace!


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26. HOMESICK FOR AFRICASister Ehrengardis Wehrmeister, OSB

(1902 – 1978)

The life of Sr. Ehrengardis was like that of all other sisters – very unique. Her road was crooked but God made it straight! Once she was almost

at the brink of no longer to be called a Missionary Benedictine Sister of Tutzing but God intervene. She was Prioress of Eshowe29 , Inkamana and then became fourth Prioress of Windhoek Priory, after which she went back to teaching and then back to leadership in a different milieu.

Maria Therese was born on 24 February1902, at lmmenstadt, diocese of Augsburg. Her parents were Mr. Josef and Mrs. Rosalia Wehrmeister. As a teenager she came to the Mission school in Tutzing. She was too young to begin her Monastic life so she entered the mission school and acquired a diploma with distinction in English language. A valuable preparation she would later need for her Congregation and its Mission.

Then began the August journey! Her Monastic life which she eagerly waited for occurred in the month of August in a consecutive manner. She became a postulant August 1923 just at the time when the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing were taking over the Roman Catholic Hospital in Namibia; she was clothed a novice in August 1924, and made her First Profession on 15 August 1925 in Tutzing; then Final Profession on 15 August 1928, in Inkamana Priory, Republic of South Africa.

She received her foreign mission assignment on the day of her First Profession. As a junior sister, she embarked on a journey to Africa, specifically Southern Africa. For 22 years Sr. Ehrengardis devoted all her energy to teaching the young Zulu people at various stations: Inkamana, Entabeni, and Eshowe. Later on, she became Prioress of Eshowe for 12 solid years from 1935 to 1947. Her long term of office included World War II, when the German missionaries were restricted by the government of South Africa, from travelling out of the country or make any contact with

29 The Priory of Inkamana, South Africa was first known as Eshowe. It was closed in 2000.


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anyone outside the country. Some priests and brothers were interned, and the government assigned the teaching sisters where they wanted them without any regard for the needs of the mission stations.

Sr. Ehrengardis fostered good relations between the Missionary Benedictine Sisters and the monks of St. Ottilien in Zululand, a relationship that has been there from the cradle of the ‘sibling’ congregations. She was loved and appreciated.

In 1947 Sr. Ehrengardis attended the Third General Chapter of the Congregation, which was held in Fribourg, Switzerland in which Mother Sigilinde WEBER, OSB, was elected Prioress General, and Sr. Ehrengardis became the Mother Vicaress. The sisters who met her at this chapter described her as a refined, amiable and wise person, calm and balanced in her views.

While in the Motherhouse as General Councillor Sr. Ehrengardis utilized her English skills and knowledge by teaching the aspirants in Tutzing mission school. She had a delicate sensitivity for others’ feelings which is revealed in this encounter: One junior sister, designated for mission to Japan was very excited about her foreign mission assignment but all of a sudden it had to be cancelled. The disappointment affected the junior sister very much. At that time junior sisters were not informed about the reasons for any changes made, but Sr. Ehrengardis, putting herself in the shoe of the junior sister went beyond this norm. She took her time to explain to the junior sister that the two small communities in Japan were not able to provide formation to juniors, and therefore only sisters with Final Profession would be sent to Japan. The junior sister never forgot Sr. Ehrengardis’ sympathetic act and kind thoughtfulness.

As Vicaress in Tutzing, Sr. Ehrengardis missed her foreign missionary work, she was homesick for South Africa. She also suffered from poor health. At that time, the Prioress General and the Prioress of the Motherhouse both resided in Tutzing, and the role of the Vicaress was not well defined. This may have created tensions in Sr. Ehrengardis’ daily service that caused her not to feel engaged and comfortable. At the same time, the sisters in Zululand kept pleading for her return. Less than two years after her election as Vicaress, Sr. Ehrengardis resigned. Though she suffered from poor health, she was determined to return to South Africa, the home she loved, missed and was homesick for.

However, instead of returning to Inkamana Priory, she was appointed as Fourth Prioress of Windhoek Priory in South West Africa, now Namibia, in March 1949. Together with six other new missionaries, they left for their new home Priory of Windhoek. For four years she was a provident


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and energetic prioress; dearly loved and appreciated by her sisters in Windhoek Priory. She used her initiative and varied experiences to meet the missionary needs in Southern Africa.

It happened that in the 1950s, Bishop Aurelian BILGERI, OSB, of Eshowe in Zululand South Africa, desired to have more missionary sisters in his diocese. As the Motherhouse in Tutzing was not able to send him as many sisters as he wanted, he contacted Sr. Ehrengardis, whom he knew and esteemed since her years as Prioress of Eshowe-Inkamana. He needed her help in establishing a new diocesan Congregation. Bishop Bilgeri invited the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing a total of 150, serving in South Africa, Namibia and Angola to join his new Congregation. He did this through a personal letter. The plan was explained as having the blessing of the Holy Father; nevertheless this endeavour caused considerable confusion among the sisters.

At that time Mother General Sigilinde Weber was in Brazil for visitation. When she returned to Tutzing in May 1953, she learned that Sr. Ehrengardis, the Prioress of Windhoek, had received an exclaustration from the Holy See. In June 1953 Sr. Ehrengardis left Windhoek in order to help Bishop Bilgeri in Eshowe draft the Constitution for his “new” Congregation. Bishop Bilgeri’s plan could have caused a split in the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

The Prioress General in the capacity of her duty and responsibility of fostering and preserving the unity of the congregation, acted as quickly as she could by revoking the exclaustration of Sr. Ehrengardis from the Holy See. Thereupon, the Prioress General sent a special visitator to resolve the matter in the affected Priories. It was providential that at this time the Generalate had been transferred to Grottaferrata near Rome in September of 1953, this fact helped a lot in dealing with this ‘split’ issue.

Sr. Ehrengardis had no wish to cease being a Missionary Benedictine Sister of Tutzing, although a question may arise as to why then she agreed to the plan of Bishop Aurelian. Based on the way the issue was resolved and the apology letter of Sr. Ehrengardis, it is then believed that firstly she thought, that the Generalate was duly informed and was in agreement with Bishop Bilgeri’s plan. Secondly, she had a great respect for authorities as one of the Benedictine values, and she trusted the bishop’s judgment concerning the needs of the Church in Southern Africa. Penultimate, the fact that the disconnection of the world during the Second World War led the sisters in foreign missions to totally depend on the local bishops; and lastly, she might probably not been


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fully aware of the effect which the bishop’s project would have had on the Congregation of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

At once, Sr. Ehrengardis was commanded by the Prioress General to return to Namibia by ship but not as Prioress of Windhoek anymore; instead she was assigned in Anamulenge-Ombalantu in Omusati Region, a remotest station in the northern part of Namibia near the Angolan border. She submitted to the decisions of the Generalate in all humility and obedience. She arrived at Anamulenge in December 1953, then she wrote an apology letter to all the sisters in Southern Africa, asking their forgiveness for the confusion which her actions had created.

As a simple sister yet skilled teacher in Ombalantu, she enthusiastically learned Oshiwambo language and became familiar with the customs and mentality of the Ovambo people. This was to become a preparation for another great responsibility about to be entrusted to her.

In 1956, Sr. Ehrengardis was called to guide the Namibian Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku, using her experiences and skills in a more fitting assignment. This Congregation was already began by Sr. Reginalda Weis in the 1930s amid great difficulties and opposition that were escalating, but then at Sr. Ehrengardis’ hand things changed for the better, more so even for the good, because the Congregation grew and stabilized. For twelve long years, until 1968, Sr. Ehrengardis harnessed her leadership skills, educational professionalism and her Benedictine values to give her best to the young sisters, mostly from the Omusati and Kavango Regions, with a solid monastic formation. They gratefully remember her loving, motherly ways.

Sr. Dorothea EMMANUEL who had died recently on 21 August 2011 gave a testimony of her experience with Sr. Ehrengardis when she and her 13 companions entered the convent in Oshikuku in December 1964. She furthers said that to many, Sr. Ehrengardis was a mother. When one would make a mistake she would correct with motherly love and never raised her voice.

She related that, young as they were, at times they would hide because they did not like to work. But Sr. Ehrengardis would find them quickly and encouraged them to love work because “He called us to work in His field.” When they did not like to eat the food that was not familiar to them she would say; “Listen here, your vocation is in that plate, you should eat everything that is put on table.” Her lessons to them were not only limited to the convent walls, but she also taught them from Grade 7 to 9 in all subjects and at the end of the year they all passed extremely well. To them their good results were not only because they were good students, but


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because Sr. Ehrengardis was a hardworking teacher and Sister.Another experience comes from Sr. Anna Maria FRANZISKUS, OSB,

who said that Sr. Ehrengardis came to Oshikuku to teach around 1955. They did not have any books in their classes, but Sr. Ehrengardis used to give them a piece of paper with one or two sentences on it to read, she always came to the class well prepared. She taught them counting, especially the multiplication, beginning with the smallest digits.

Sr. Anna Maria spoke of what a good teacher Sr. Ehrengardis was, to the point of becoming one of her candidates to enter Religious Life. According to Sr. Anna Maria, she is very grateful to Sr. Ehrengardis for what she has done for her since aspirancy to being a Professed Sister; what she knows about Religious Life was first instilled in her by Sr. Ehrengardis. She can vividly recall when convent life was too much for her and she wanted to leave the congregation; but Sr. Ehrengardis told her that even if it was hard for her she should still stay so that she could become an example for others to follow, and that she should pray over it first before making a decision. Sr. Anna Maria accords to Sr. Ehrengardis her educational qualification, and the person she is today.

In 1968 a young sister was assigned to help Sr. Ehrengardis and at the same time to learn some skills from her in order to lead forward the growing congregation of the Namibian Sisters. When the time came for her to step down and give the chance to others, she obediently accepted. In April 1968 she was then transferred to Swakopmund and served as superior of the community from 1968 to 1971. The breeze of the Atlantic Ocean and the cool weather of Swakopmund proved good for her health. Her mind was keen as ever, but she had to compensate for her failing memory by carefully writing down any information and tasks given to her. She could still continue serving as best as her strength could allow her. She also worked in the office of Antonius Hospital in Swakopmund. After her term has ended she helped in the sewing room, cared for the sisters’ chapel, and did some little house chores. She went on errands to the bank and post office until she was no longer able to go out alone. In August 1977 she needed a mastectomy; unfortunately, the surgery hastened the decline of her mental powers.

The last months of her life were a painful experience, very hard for her and her nurse. She died peacefully and quietly in Swakopmund, Namibia, on 23 February 1978. She is remembered for her gentle courtesy and refinement, for her respect and faithful love towards all her superiors and for her humble spirit.

Until today, Sister Ehrengardis is held in high esteem among the


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senior Benedictine Sisters in Namibia and South Africa who knew her as their Prioress.

May her spouse, whom she faithfully served, welcome her into his resting place forever!

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27. SHE SAVED MY LIFE WHEN I HAD REACHED THE END Sister Emidia Lohr, OSB

(1911 – 2000)

While the Year 2000 was a new beginning in this life to many, it was also a new beginning for the next life for some, among others for

Sister Emidia LOHR, OSB. She was called home to God on Friday, 25th August 2000, before Vespers. She had been suffering for a long time from illness and succumbed to heart and renal failure. She died in the presence of her fellow sisters in the Priory House community as they sang the ‘Suscipe Me Domine’ with her. Her sufferings were over and her face became youthful and radiant.

Mathilde, the name her parents gave her during her baptism, was born into a deeply Catholic family on 30 December 1911 in Denkingen, Archdiocese of Freiburg, Germany. She was baptized the day after her birth.

At the age of 21, Mathilde entered in Tutzing on 04 April 1932. On the day she became a Novice, she received the name Sister Emidia. She made her First Profession on 13 October 1934. Two years later, she received her Mission-Cross to Windhoek Priory in Namibia, which was then called South-West Africa. Soon after her arrival she started working as a helper in the hospital. On 13th October 1937 Sister Emidia pronounced her Perpetual Vows in Windhoek Priory in the presence of Mother Walburga SAUER, OSB, the then Prioress of Windhoek Priory.


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Sister Emidia was a person with a total commitment to whatever was assigned to her. She also loved her community and was close to her family and benefactors. Her readiness to help others and her friendly nature were like medicine for the patients. Once, an old farmer’s wife came to thank her saying: ‘Sister Emidia, you have saved my life when I had reached the end of my strength.’

Like many missionaries who came to Namibia, she, too, had longed to be assigned to the Outstations; her heart’s desire to work in a mission station was fulfilled when she was sent to Shambyu from 1963 to 1967. A year later, she was sent to Nyangana from 1969 to 1974. Sister Emidia had a special gift for cooking and housekeeping. During her years in Kavango, she trained some hostel girls on how to do kitchen work and gardening. She was very much loved by her helpers because of her generosity.

From 1979 to 1986, Sister Emidia was found in the hospital kitchen of St. Antonius in Swakopmund and later in the sisters’ kitchen of Swakopmund until the year 1990, when her physical strength began to diminish more and more. She still took care of the parish priest’s household in Swakopmund until 1998. Father Paul LOOTSEN, MSC, once said about Sister Emidia that ‘she was a genuine Benedictine; she lived her ORA et LABORA to the full.’ A few years ago, while she was still in Swakopmund, she welcomed her youngest sister, Theresia, who came from Germany to see her. It was a great joy for her and that was their last encounter.

In 1999 Sister Emidia began to lose much of her strength and she needed more help. On 01 December of the same year, she was transferred to the Priory House community. Due to her strong nature, it was not easy for her to accept help from others, but she slowly gave her FIAT. Every day she was brought to the Cathedral for Holy Mass on a wheelchair. The Eucharist was the centre of her life. For many hours she would remain in the chapel praying the Rosary and also on Sundays she would stay in the Cathedral after 7am Mass and attend all the other masses that followed: English, Germany and Portuguese. When her eyesight began to fail, some Sisters took turns to read some spiritual books to her and prayed with her. Whenever possible, Sister Emidia joined the community for the Divine Office and for common meals.

When the Priory had to transferred its seat in July 2000 to Nubuamis, Sister Emidia moved with the community to the new convent’s infirmary. After everything was settled, she got weaker and weaker. On 20 August, due to an acute worsening of her condition, Father Peter Eisenbart, OMI


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administered to her the Sacrament of the sick in the presence of some Sisters; soon after the service, she became unconscious. The Sisters kept watch at her bed day and night until the day she rested from her earthly life. The Vespers that evening of 25th August 2000 was offered for her eternal repose. After Compline the community went to pray together the Rosary in her room while waiting for an ambulance to take her body to the mortuary.

Sister Emidia was the first to be called home to God in the new Priory House in Nubuamis, with many Formandees who were deeply impressed by her passing away. That could be seen in the silence they expressed.

On Saturday, 31st August 2000, Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU of Windhoek was the main celebrant during the Requiem Mass in St. Joseph Church of Döbra with several concelebrating priests who also proceeded to the cemetery for the burial rite. May she be with the Lord in His Kingdom and may she intercede for church’s mission!

Requiescat In Pace!

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28. WE SHALL CALL HER MARIASister Eremberta Schneider, OSB

(1885 – 1955)

Sr. Eremberta was the eldest child of her family, her mother almost died during her birth. In their anguish, the parents called on the Mother

of God for help and promised to offer their child to a convent if only she would help them in their hour of need. On 02 October 1885, a healthy baby girl was born and was baptized Maria in Schirgiswalde, Diocese of Meissen. When the mother got better Maria’s parents brought her to Philippisdorf, a famous shrine of Our Blessed Mother, and renewed their promise hoping that she would help them fulfil it. In the course of the years Maria’s mother gave birth to 6 more children. Maria grew up and


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was a big help to her mother in caring for her siblings and also helped her father in his work.

The time finally came when she thought she should be thinking of what to do with her life. She planned to tell her parents of her wish to enter the convent. When she told her father about this he was moved to tears, and only then did he tell her about their promise to the Most Blessed Mother. They wanted her to be free in planning her life so they had not told her earlier about this. Both parents were moved and relieved that their promise would now be fulfilled. Maria then applied for entrance in Tutzing and was accepted. She had her clothing in 1913 on the feast of St. Laurence and was then called Sr. Eremberta. She made her First Profession on 05 September 1914, just when the First World War broke out. Sr. Eremberta was also sent to the battle front. She arrived at the west front in Froyennes and for several years she lovingly cared for the sick and wounded soldiers. When her fellow sister, Sr. Leutberta HERBST OSB30 fell sick, Sr. Eremberta dutifully and lovingly cared for her till she died after 6 months. Sometimes, she also took care of her own sister, Therese, who was then Sr. Scholastica, a Cistercian Sister. The Cistercian Abbey was taken over by the Russians and the Sisters were left with nothing, not even their clothing. Finally Sr. Eremberta and her fellow surviving sisters returned from the battlefield; ‘mission accomplished?’ definitely: No!

In 1923, the year the sisters took over the administration of the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek, she was also missioned to Namibia and became Sub-prioress31. After some years in Windhoek, she became Superior of the community in Antonius hospital, Swakopmund. At the end of her term she was sent back to the Priory House in Windhoek and later became Sub-prioress again. She took care of the sick, and the very weak Sisters received the medicines they needed even if these medicines were very hard to get during the war.

In 1937 Sister started having stomach bleeding. Through the years this problem would recur time and again until an operation was needed. She was very weak and had to receive the sacrament for the sick. Her

30 Sr. Leutberta Herbst was born in Germany on 01 December 1890. While in Froyennes serving the wounded soldiers, she got sick and was there for 6 months, because she was too ill to be transported to Tutzing. She died there at the age of 28 on 10 October 1918, from a late discovered cancer and she is also buried there.

31 In the beginning, even local superior were called Prioress and her representative Sub-Prioress.


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condition got worse and she was operated for the second time. Her doctors had very little hope that she would recover. A priest was called in and she was given the last blessing. She pulled through and was able to still celebrate her 40th jubilee of profession on 05 September 1954.

But her energy was spent, and on 09 March 1955 at 19H00, Sr. Eremberta breathed her last as the sisters prayed with her. A good and dear sister was taken away. We are sure that in spirit the sisterly bond of love remains.

May she continue to be our intercessor in heaven!

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29. HARDSHIPS ARE SIMPLY PART OF MISSIONARY LIFESister Erwina Diet, OSB

(1900 – 1985)

In the year 2000, Sister Erwina celebrated her 100 Birthday, but in heaven. She was born on 02 December 1900 in Altusried, Dioceses

of Augsburg, Germany. In baptism she received the name Genovefa. She was a daughter of a bookbinder Xaver DIET and his wife, Anna SCHÖNMETZLER. She grew up with three brothers and sisters, with whom she spent a happy childhood and youth and to whom she remained always very close. Already at this time she acquired a skill in bookbinding which in later years proved very helpful to her mission life. Her real profession was tailoring which she learnt from a skilled lady-tailor for women’s and men’s wear.

At the age of 26, Genovefa left home and entered the novitiate in Tutzing in 1926. On her clothing day on 09 February 1928, she received the name Sister Erwina, OSB and 25 April became her Name Day. On the feast of St. Scholastica, 10 February 1929, about 13 Novices pronounced their First Profession and among them was Sister Erwina.


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She received her Mission-Cross for South West Africa, now Namibia, on 16th December of the same year. She made her Perpetual Vows in the Windhoek Priory and served in many Stations of the Priory.

Her first 7 years were spent in Swakopmund, helping wherever she was needed. In 1937, she, together with Sister Bonita WOHLMANNSTETTER, OSB and Sister Leopoldine MÜHLBAUER, OSB were sent to Kavango; at that time it was a long and strenuous journey by ox-wagon, since cars were not yet available for this journey. They were destined to help building up the young Station of Shambyu which had been founded in 1930 by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate under the leadership of Father Joseph GOTTHARDT, OMI. Sister Erwina was assigned in the sewing room and in the garden.

After having spent 10 years in Shambyu, Sister Erwina was transferred to Tondoro community, where, for 30 years, she continued her work as seamstress and gardener. She used her skills of tailoring in these missions and made many suits for males. She loved to relate her experiences with her tailor boss way back in Germany, where she would go round to neighbouring farm houses to look for orders. Likewise, she often spoke of the difficulties of the beginnings at Shambyu, but she never complained. For her, hardship simply belonged to the missionary life. Her closeness to Jesus Christ helped her to bear everything. This attitude she always radiated over to her whole community wherever she was sent, especially during the years when she presided as a superior of Tondoro. She did a great job in the garden, which was very important for the maintenance of the missionaries’ health, since fruits and vegetables in those days were only available for those who raised them themselves.

In 1977 Sister Erwina’s mission work at Tondoro came to an end when the Station was handed over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku; by then, this Congregation was well established. She was transferred back to Swakopmund where she worked again in the sewing room. At the same time she helped to care for Sister Bonita, who was then 90 years old. Sister Erwina had difficulties in hearing, which she bore with patience and without complaint. In Swakopmund her kindness and faithfulness to the Holy Rule and her humour stayed with her and it enjoyed her community.

As years went by, Sister Erwina’s physical and mental powers decreased. Yet, with a few exceptions, she attended all community exercises. Added to her weakness came a liver disease. In spite of that, when asked about her health, she would always answer – ‘oh, I am fine.’ On 16 March 1985 she suffered haemorrhages of the stomach


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and intestines. Before the Anointing of the Sick in the afternoon she made the remark – ‘but I am not so sick.’ When she was told about her serious condition, she accepted it quietly and consciously participated in the Holy Unction with earnestness and zeal.

While the Swakopmund community was at Vespers32 on the 18th of March 1985 in honour of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the prudent and faithful servant of God, the Sisters’ thoughts went again and again to Sister Erwina, who was peacefully waiting for the coming of her Lord and God in her sickbed. Two hours later at 4:50PM Sister Erwina, a zealous faithful and always cheerful handmaid of God, was called Home.

Sister Erwina’s contribution as a missionary lies primarily in her kindness, cheerfulness and zeal. This was especially emphasized by His Excellency Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU in his homily. He related how as a little boarding boy, he worked with Sister Erwina in the garden, and though she would stir up the youngsters with ‘flux’ they still liked her because of her friendliness and justice, and that in later years he, as a Bishop, knew her as a good model, a kind, friendly and helpful Sister. The Archbishop himself had experienced the difficulties of a new mission foundation and understood the hardships of the early years in Shambyu.

After the Requiem Mass, Sister Erwina was laid to rest in the Mission cemetery of Döbra on 20 March 1985, where so many of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, the Fathers and the Brothers are awaiting their resurrection.

Requiescat In Pace!

32 In those days, the Sisters were praying Vespers at around 2PM.


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30. ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD THROUGH HER FELLOW SISTERS

Sister Ethelreda Lutz, OSB(1901 – 1979)

Sr. Ethelreda was born on 22 December 1901, in Strmica, diocese of Spalato, Dalmatia. She was baptized Katharina Anna Maria.

Her parents lived as German immigrants in Bosnia-Dalmatian, today’s Yugoslavia. Her father was a carpenter and worked for a big timber company. Together with a few hundred employees the LUTZ family lived deep inside the Bosnian forests. The parents had to substitute the primitive schooling with a good religious upbringing. At age 11, Katharina Anna Maria lost her beloved mother. After some time her father remarried the sister of her mother who gave the children her motherly love and care.

After World War I all the Germans had to leave Bosnia; the Lutz Family returned with their 5 children to Wurttemberg, Germany the home country of Sr. Ethelreda’s father. Katharina learnt dressmaking and she worked for some years as an independent dressmaker.

On 01 August 1924 Katharina, with the blessing of her parents, entered the Mission Convent in Tutzing.

On 13 August 1925, her clothing day, Katharina received the name Sr. Ethelreda. She made her First Profession on 30 August 1926. In the same year, on 10 October 1926, she left her German home to follow the call of the Lord to the mission in South West Africa, now Namibia. Together with Sr. Germana FISCH, she arrived in Swakopmund on 07 November 1926. Sr. Ethelreda started working in Swakopmund, but the humid climate was not good for her health and she was transferred to Windhoek on 19 February 1929. On 30 August 1929, she made her Final Profession. She was not the strongest person, but she put all her efforts and abilities into the service of the priory for the next 50 years. For many years she did all the buying for the many Mission Stations and the hospital in Windhoek. She fulfilled her religious obligations with great


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conscientiousness and was always a pleasant fellow sister. Until the last weeks of her life, she tried to be helpful to the sisters and cheer them up. Her strength weakened very fast and on 06 September 1979, Thursday, at exactly 14.00, she closed her eyes to this life and opened them to the next life. She died in Windhoek. God himself will be her eternal reward.

On 07 September her body was brought to Döbra where she is buried. In her obituary, the Prioress writes; ‘We recommend her to all for your prayer, especially to the priests at the altar.’


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31. I WAS SICK AND YOU VISITED ME. Sister Florentine Wirthmann, OSB

(1881 – 1962)

In Rieneck, diocese of Würzburg, Amalie Wirthmann was born on 25 November 1881. Honest, kind and devoted parents watched over her

childhood and youth. In the midst of 12 siblings she grew up a happy, diligent girl, helping with the house chores and the care of the younger children. This gave her ample opportunity to prepare hand and heart for her missionary vocation.

Amalie was 30 years old when she applied for admission at the motherhouse of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Tutzing. On 22 November 1913 she made her First Profession. As she showed great love and ability in the care of the needy and sick, she was sent to Munich in the spring of 1914 to attend a nursing course. Toward the end of the year, the need of the country already called the young nurse to serve in the military hospital in northern France. For four years, she assisted the sick at the sick bed and in the operating room and cared for the dying soldiers with unselfish charity, day and night; the need of others did not


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let her rest. At the end of the war she returned to the Motherhouse with a great amount of experience in nursing and management.

She longed to be united with the other missionaries who were serving in ‘Africa’; and at this time, in 1921 the Franciscan Sisters in St. Antonius Hospital were packing to leave Namibia. On 12 December 1921 with Sr. Agatha Ross as Superior and three other Sisters, Sr. Florentine co- founded the community of Swakopmund. They were the second group of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters to Namibia. They were pleased and at the same time awed at the development they found in St. Antonius Hospital in Swakopmund and also the splendid view of the ocean and the flourishing gardens. Finally on 13 January 1922 their predecessors, the Franciscan Sisters bade farewell to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters and went back to Germany; Sr. Agatha accompanied them until Walvis Bay. In the new community of Swakopmund, Sr. Florentine and her fellow sisters kept the lamp of the healing ministry burning. In the best way they could, the tried to live up to the intentions of the founders of the hospital and the command of Jesus himself. Sr. Florentine was a simple sister who through small means would serve as best as she could and helped where she could. Doctors and patients liked and trusted her. She had an open eye for body and soul of the sick and common sense for their families; she had a consoling word and a helping hand for everyone. For forty years she showed the same devoted love for all her patients, Catholics and non-Catholics. What may these forty years contain in charity and blessing, in sacrifices and renunciation! She never spared herself; her energetic will and trust in God made her push through in spite of a serious heart defect that often caused her trouble. Only during the last years of her life did she ask for an easier work, and was then given the night watch. Here she had more time for God and for the souls. God knows how much she prayed during the silent hours of the night, especially for the dying and all the intentions of his kingdom.

Prayer and union with God were for Sr. Florentine the inexhaustible source of strength in all circumstances. She loved the Divine Office and only the strict hospital duty could keep her from attending it. The Eucharistic Lord gave her the power to persevere in her works of mercy.

Her happy sociable character made community life enjoyable. Wherever she could help, she was ready. She had great interest in the missionary work of the district and the success of the Sisters. In 1958 she was allowed to go on holiday to the Motherhouse, and after her return she worked with double zeal to repay for this great favour but her heart problem grew worse. The doctor in Germany gave her still


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six months to live, but she kept up to four more years. The last months, however, became very painful, and she was forced to give up her night duty. On the last evening of her life, she enjoyed still the recreation while doing some knitting. At night, breathing was hard for her. She felt the end coming nearer and expected a sudden death. She prepared herself but feared to die alone. Our Lord gave her the grace to die before the altar in the community.

When 15 May 1962 dawned, Sr. Florentine felt no different from other days. She prayed Lauds and Prime at 6 o’clock, just before the beginning of holy Mass, her heart failed. Her last look was toward the crucifix at the side of the altar, then, she collapsed, without any sound, she was gone, gone forever for this world. Rev. Archbishop Joseph Gotthardt OMI, who was just going to vest for holy Mass, administered at once the Extreme Unction. The Holy Mass was then offered for her.

In the nave of the new church the body of Sr. Florentine was laid out. During the whole day people of the town came to pray in gratitude at the coffin of the deceased Sister. At the burial in the evening nearly the whole Swakopmund was present. On 16 May, the dear deceased was brought to Döbra to be buried in the mission cemetery. To God, the giver and preserver of all good, be thanks for the long life and blessed missionary activity that He granted to Sr. Florentine.

May she now rest with Him in eternity forever in peace!


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32. SERVING THE LORD WITH LOVE AND DEDICATIONSister Frankhilde Hilpert, OSB

(1905 – 1980)

Sister Frankhilde was born on 02 June 1905 in Neustadt, diocese of Freiburg and was baptized Maria. Her mother died early and Maria

and her father had to care for her two brothers. One of her brothers died in the First World War, and she stayed closely connected to her only brother during her whole life.

Maria learnt sewing and how to make the Vestments. At the age of 33 she entered the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Congregation in Weiterdingen. She began her novitiate on 26 April 1939 and received the name Sister Frankhilde, OSB. In the course of the Second World War, she made First Profession on 27 April 1940 and Final Profession on 27 April 1943 in Kerschlach. She got some experience in book-binding from the time she spent in Uznach and that came in very handy when she was later sent to foreign missions.

After the war was over, she was sent to South West Africa, now Namibia, on the 04 March 1949 and arrived in Windhoek on 29 March 1949. Sister Frankhilde served with love and dedication at different Stations of the Priory such as Klein Windhoek, Andara, where she served as a superior in the early 1970s, Bunya, Tondoro and Shambyu. In all these places, she sewed habits for the Sisters and to the people she taught sewing and looked after the hostels. As her days progressed and aging was approaching her mental faculties diminished faster than one could have expected, but she could still help in the sewing room. In the community she was always cheerful and helpful to her fellow sisters.

On 16 April 1980 Sister Frankhilde had a fall in her room and fractured her femur. She was flown to Windhoek by airplane for immediate surgery which was done on 17 April 1980. Before she left the Kavango, she received the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and was prepared for


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whatever might come her way. After the operation her physical and spiritual qualities degenerated even more. For three months she was alternating in getting weak and improving again. On the Eve of St. Benedict’s Solemnity 10 July at ten o’clock in the evening Sister Frankhilde gave her life back into the hands of her Heavenly Father. She was buried on 11 July 1980, His Grace Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU, a son of Shambyu Mission where Sister Frankhilde had worked for many years, accompanied her on her last journey with reverence.

Requiescat In Pace!

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33. ALL FOR THE LORDSister Friederike Lohmüller, OSB

(1898 – 1989)

When Sister Friederike was born, the congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing was only celebrating its 13th years

of foundation. She was born on 15th September 1898 at Bühl, Tübingen in the diocese of Rottenburg, Germany. She was the third of ten children of her parents. Her father owned a nice farm and her mother took good care of all the children. Sister Friederike grew up in a very harmonious family; being one of the elder children, she helped her mother to take care of the younger ones. Three of her brothers migrated to the USA and were very successful in their endeavours there.

Symphorosa, as Sister Friederike was called, entered in 1922 in Tutzing and received the name Sister M. Friederike, OSB. On the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, 15th August 1924 she and 16 more Novices made their First Profession. After profession, she was sent to Münich to improve her knowledge in nursing. The following year, her name was on the list for foreign missions. She and Sister Bartholomäa PREISS, OSB, her companion in profession, received their Mission


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Crosses for Windhoek Priory on 25 October 1925. She accepted her new assignment with great enthusiasm and joy, an enthusiasm that never left her, and made her ready for any sacrifice and work. Sister Friederike was only 27 years old when she came to Namibia and spent 64 years serving in Namibia; she never returned to her homeland.

She first worked in St. Antonius Hospital, Swakopmund. When the hospital needed repair and there was no money to pay any worker, Sister Friederike took up the job and even painted the wall perfectly well. Sister Friederike’s main work was in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. The patients appreciated her and felt safe in her care for she took special care of the spiritual needs of the individual patients, and many of them found their way back to God and the Church through her effort. In spite of her work with the patients in the hospital, she still found time to work in the garden and did a lot of pruning, fertilizing, et cetera to make the garden a place of joy and delight. To her delight, on her Golden Jubilee day of Religious profession, the community gave her presents: a wheelbarrow, a spade and rose plants, which meant that she was still fit for garden work. Apart from gardening, she was very good at sewing and embroidery too, especially church linen and shorts for needy boys. In times of special need, she also offered herself to help in the sacristy, and it was noticeable with what reverence she always handled the altar vessels. When flowers for decorating the chapel were scarce, Sister Friederike crafted artificial flowers which attracted her fellow sisters to smell them because they looked so real. She was indeed a self-sacrificing person who used her gifts and talents to the max. Though her name may be forgotten by many, yet, few remember Sister Friederike through the palm trees she planted in 1936 which today stand tall in front of the Hospital, enveloped by the hospital’s extension building and garage. They provide shade and shelter to those who need rest.

When home-leaves were introduced, she too was offered a home-visit to her family in Germany. But, even though she was very close to her family, she declined the offer, because of some personal ideal reasons, like her ‘vow of poverty’, as she said; having made the sacrifice of leaving her home and family, a very great sacrifices, it was a sacrifice once and for all – no going back on it.

On 15 September 1988, Sister Friederike celebrated her 90th birthday. It was a joyous day for her and the whole community. But it was also a sign that her days are counted. Her heart had given her troubles for many years and it got worse with her age, but she was always busy with handiwork and also attended Holy Mass and the Divine Office with


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the community. She longed to join recreation but she was unable. She would always remark the following day; “You laughed so much last night that today I do not even know what you were laughed about”. Although she was a nurse, she had little confidence in medicines; she had rather put much confidence in herbs and made use of them. In that same year of 1988, four sisters died one after another. Sr. Friederike afraid and concerned that she might be the next, she prayed that the Lord may not let her too or else the police might come to inspect the convent thinking that there might be something wrong among the sisters that they are dying one after another. The Lord seemed to have had granted her request that she could wait to die the following year. In April 1989, she suffered from Broncho-Pneumonia and also pleurisy which forced her to stay in bed. During all the days of her illness never a word of complaint escaped her lips. She united her suffering with the suffering Christ. ‘All for the Lord’, were words that came often from her lips. She died peacefully on the Feast of the Visitation 31 May 1989. She was buried among her fellow missionaries at Döbra; there she waits with all the Saints for the Resurrection.

Requiescat In Pace!

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34. IN COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD’S WILLSister Gabriele Drees, OSB

(1917 – 1994)

There are as many vocation stories as there are people called to religious life for God acts differently in the life of each person. Some

feel called at the age of ten, others at thirty. Some are excited about the call while others resist it strongly. Many are called to work in their own countries, while others are invited to be missionaries in faraway


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lands. What people with different vocation have in common, however, is a personal loving search for Jesus that gently invites each one to respond to God’s plan in each one’s life.

Sister Gabriele Drees was already 37 years old, a medical doctor and an active member of the “Heliand-Bund” when she entered the congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing on 04th June 1954. Anna, as her parents called her, was born on the 09 May 1917 in Werl, Westf. During her whole life she nurtured a deep love and veneration for her family, her native city and, especially, the ‘Mother of Grace of Werl’. On the 04 February 1955 she became a Novice with fellow 15 Postulants. She was given the name Sister M. Gabriele. On 07 February 1956, 14 Novices pronounced their First Profession in Tutzing. It is worth mentioning some of those, too, were sent to Namibian mission, such as Sister Hildetrud KNOTH, OSB and Sister Udalrike WIEDEMANN, OSB. The following year, 1957, two of their companions were sent for foreign missions to the Manila Priory,33 the others had to wait, although not too long.

Sister Gabriele spent her Juniorate specializing as a surgeon. The day of her Perpetual Profession in 1959 seemed to have brought her nearer to her goal to go into a mission-country. One time her name was on the list to go to foreign mission to South-West Africa, now Namibia. But during the preparation for her journey, she was diagnosed with breast cancer which needed surgery as soon as possible. This prolonged her Advent for foreign mission, and kept her waiting with hope. It also marked the beginning of a lifelong problem for she never recovered from the results of the radiation she had to have.

Sister Gabriele must have prayed so hard with courage and confidence in God to strengthen her in her suffering. After some time, she accepted her foreign mission assignment with the consent of Bishop Rudolf KOPPMANN, OMI, Bishop of Windhoek; she came to Namibia in June 1961. She started a grace-laden medical and missionary activity in the mission hospital of St. Martin in Oshikuku. She served for 27 years with dedication and enthusiasm. She helped countless people, for she devoted herself to each and every one without distinction of race or prestige; she spent much of her time listening to people’s problems, and always gave a helping hand.

33 Sister Ludwigis Fabian, OSB and Sister Fructuosa Gottanka, OSB received the mission cross to the Philippines on 30th May 1957.


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As a consequence of her cancer she had to undergo another surgery on her left arm in 1973. This hampered her services she had been doing such as surgical and gynaecological activities in Oshikuku Hospital. After she recovered, she still worked for some years but in 1988 she had to give up her medical profession because her health was deteriorating by then. She transferred to the Priory House in Windhoek and from then on she dedicated herself to the sick in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. She was an understanding and sympathetic pastoral minister to the sick, giving them consolation and advice, accompanying them in their last journey and bringing some of them back to prayer.

Sister Gabriele was strong in the spirit but her physical body was spent; however, her love for her fellow sisters in the Community continued unimpaired and her humour remained intact. On 10 November 1994 she suffered from a stroke; and for about four weeks she consciously suffered from pain and the helplessness of being partially paralysed. She accepted it as a preparation for her final home-going to the God she always desired. On ‘Gaudete’ Sunday, Sister Gabriele surely heard the verse: ‘Gaudete in domino sempre; dominus enin prope est!’ (Rejoice in the Lord always; for the LORD is near at hand!) She was called into eternal life while the community was still praying the office of the Vigil on 10 December 1994.

Requiescat In Pace!


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35. THE AFRICAN VETERANSister Genovefa Meyer, OSB

(1886 – 1973)

Sr. Genovefa constantly enjoyed the beauty of ‘green’ Tondoro Mission where the river perennially flows and birds chirp their melodious

songs. On 19 June 1886 a year after the foundation of our congregation, Genovefa was born in Germany. No account of her childhood life is available, but it can surely be assumed that she was taught to love God to whom she later offered her life.

She was one of the founding members of the community in Swakopmund Werft-location. She was a nurse but was not restricted to nursing work only. Like all other missionaries she lent her hand wherever needed. In July 1923, together with Sr. Pirmina FLECK, OSB, Sr. Cölestina GLEICH, OSB and Sr. Thoma BAUTZ, OSB, Sr. Genovefa went to found the community in Andara, where they tirelessly cared for the sick who were often hidden from them, because people did not believe in the effectiveness of their medicines. Sr. Genovefa speaks of the Hambukushu that “they are hard-headed, but also kind-hearted”. In 1965 she came to work in Tondoro for the rest of her life; where she epitomized an adage that goes: “I touch the future I teach” by touching lives through teaching. She was the principal of the Mission School of Tondoro; she educated the people how to read and write as well as prepared them for different Sacraments of the Church. She was a hostel mother who taught young girls how to care for their bodies and souls. For 51 years, she worked and prayed, quietly and faithfully in the mission-field of South West Africa, now Namibia. She always tried to be of help.

For many years, she patiently bore liver trouble and other physical signs of debilitation, although these ailments were not the cause of her death. Age and sickness weakened her body; yet she tried her best wherever she could be of help. A few days before she died, Sr. Genovefa suffered a fall and hurt her forehead. On 28 March 1973 she died in


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Tondoro at the age of 87; she died as quietly and as unpretentiously as she had lived.

The news reached the Priory House in Windhoek through radio and telephone, announcing the passing away of Sr. Genovefa, ‘the African veteran’. She was put to rest in the Mission Cemetery of Tondoro, becoming the second Missionary Benedictine Sister to be buried there.

May she now rest with Him in eternity forever in peace!

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36. A JOYFUL HEARTSister Germana Fisch, OSB

(1893 – 1968)

Sister Germana came into this world on 02 December 1893 in Straubing, diocese of Regensburg, Germany. In Holy Baptism she

received the name Maria. Her parents gave to all their children as best legacy a good, faithful Catholic education. In early age, Maria felt called by God to be a missionary sister. In a recommendation letter to Tutzing, her Pastor wrote about her: ‘Maria Fisch has not only inclination, but she also works hard for the religious life.’ So she came with a joyful heart to Tutzing and on 01 September 1921 she became a Postulant. During her investiture as a Novice in July 1922 she was given the name Sister M. Germana, OSB. Together with 14 fellow Novices they made their First Profession on 27 July 1923.

Shortly after her Perpetual Profession in 1926 Sister Germana received her Mission Cross for South West Africa to the Priory of Windhoek on 10 October 1926. She served in Nyangana for about forty years and performed her duties as a cook faithfully. In 1966, she developed cancer which made her transfer to the Priory House in Windhoek for surgery and for further treatment. She bore her sickness patiently and she placed all her pain under the cross of the Lord; she never uttered a word


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of complaint. She was always happy and would give a smile to all who visited her. Whenever she felt better she would always go to do little services in the kitchen up to her last days before she died. Although she was very ill, Sister Germana did not allow herself to be confined to bed, but she struggled to be of use until her last day on earth.

There was no improvement of her health and she had to undergo a second surgery. This brought her little relief, for a short time. She began to have difficulties in breathing more than usual and on 16 August 1968 all could see that her end was near. The priest, who was hearing confessions for the community, was called to give her the Anointing of the Sick. The community was praying for her in her cell as she yielded her soul to her Almighty God. She died peacefully on the 16th of August 1968.

For all her 45 years in religious life, 42 years were spent in Namibian mission. Only God alone knows fully all the services that she offered for the Windhoek Priory. May God reward her all she did principally when she taught others through her good example of faithfulness, especially for lifting up her years of suffering to the Lord without complaint!

Requiescat In Pace!

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37. THE MOST DIFFICULT FAREWELL OF HER LIFESister Gerolda Leimgruber, OSB

(1900 – 1980)

Sister Gerolda was called home to God at the age of 80. She was born on 27 April 1900 in Ittenthal, diocese of Basel-Lugano, Switzerland.

On her baptism day, she was given the name Anna. She was the oldest of her 10 siblings; five boys and five girls. Early in her life she heard the call to follow Christ in religious life. She kept this wish in her heart quietly,


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because she felt that her parents still needed her help at home. At the age of 24 her father allowed her to enter the convent and she entered in Tutzing in March of 1924. In February 1925 she became a Novice and the name Sister Gerolda, OSB was given to her. She pronounced her First Profession on 30th August 1926 and on the 03 April 1927 she bade goodbye to Tutzing for her foreign mission to Namibia, then South West Africa. She made her Final Profession in Windhoek Priory.

At the beginning she served in Swakopmund, Windhoek-Werft and then later for a few months in the laundry of the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. In 1929 she was transferred to Nyangana in Kavango Region. In the very primitive circumstances of the beginnings Sister Gerolda worked in Nyangana for 13 years, until she was called back for the laundry in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek in 1942. Another 13 years passed and then Sister Gerolda was sent once again to Kavango, first for five years in Shambyu and then for about 16 years in Nyangana again. At this time the Hospital in Nyangana was already being run by the Mission Institute of Wurzburg for 20 years and only the domestic department was handled by the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. In 1976, Sister Gerolda had to let go of the Station of Nyangana that had taken a special place in heart by now, as this was the area where she had worked for many years. The Station was handed over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku. It seemed that it was the most difficult farewell in her life; she suffered extremely under the loss of the Nyangana community and its local people whom she loved so much. She had spent there much of her years and had used all the strength of her life in the immense amount of work she did such as gardening, butchering, taking care of the cattle, dairy, laundering, et cetera for decades. Nevertheless, she submitted and let go of Nyangana, but its memories stayed with her.

Soon after her transfer to the Priory House community in Windhoek she became frail, ill and had many complaints. Eventually, she became weak and could only move around with the help of a wheelchair in order to go to the chapel and refectory. The last weeks of her life were spent in the hospital. She had suffered much but she was strengthened through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and received blessings from many priests who visited her. She gave back her soul into the hands of her Divine Father on 02 January 1980 and was laid to rest on 03 January at Döbra.

Requiescat In Pace!


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38. TO BE WITH THE LORD, THE REDEEMERSister Gerwina Herrmann, OSB

(1908 – 2001)

Sister Gerwina’s life shows no dramatic events. She was never strong, yet she always found ways and opportunities to help in the

community. Her death came so quickly and unexpected after a fall in her room during the night of 05 May 2001 in Swakopmund. This was not her first fall, but it seemed it was very painful for her to get up again. In spite of the pain, she managed to climb back into bed. Later during the day she was transferred to Windhoek Hospital for treatment. It was found out that she had broken a bone in her pelvis34 and had to stay in bed. She was confused, something that was not noticed before her fall. Life seemed to seep out of her slowly and about a week later, almost unnoticed; she was called to go home to her Maker. She died as quietly as she lived on 12 May 2001 in Windhoek.

Sister Gerwina came into life as Christmas gift of to her family on 23rd December 1908 in Nuβloch near Heidelberg, Germany. She was the first child of Mr. Sigmund and Mrs. Rosa Herrmann. The following day on Christmas Eve she was baptized and received the name Lidwina. She grew up with her 4 younger siblings and loving parents.

Lidwina entered Tutzing in 1933; and along with her fellow Postulants were clothed as Novices; they were a group of 19. Lidwina, now Sister Gerwina, OSB pronounced her First Profession with the big group of other Novices on 11 January 1936. That same day of profession, seven of her companions were listed for foreign missions. Sister Gerwina had to wait for her turn for some years. In 1939, she made her Perpetual Profession. From September 1939 to July 1941 she was in St. Ottilien. Subsequently, she took up nursing in Regensburg and wrote her exam in May 1943 which she passed very well.

34 Pelvis is a strong basin-shaped ring of bone near the bottom of the spine formed by the hip bones on the front and sides, and the triangular sacrum on the back.


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At some point in the course of the Second World War, Sister Gerwina was called to help in the army and nurse the wounded soldiers. After the war, she was sent to Wessobrunn, which was at that time a satellite hospital of the City of Münich. In 1948 she was on the list to go to foreign missions, too, but she suffered from cardiac problems twice and so she had to wait one more time. She waited with hope and trust in God who never deserted her. Finally, in the year 1956 her desired dream for foreign mission became reality. On 06 October 1956 she could leave by plane; she was the first group to use a plane; until then the travel was done by ship. The flight lasted one whole week passing through Rome and then Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa, before finally landing in Windhoek. Sister Gerwina stayed in the Priory House for a short time and moved to Swakopmund in January 1957. There she remained and worked at the St. Antonius Hospital as a nurse and radiographer for many years. It was sad news for Sister Gerwina when the hospital, in which she worked for 30 years, was closed in 1986 and the work of the sisters in the hospital ceased. But this was not the end for her, rather a beginning for something new. She looked after the sacristy of Holy Rosary parish church of Swakopmund for many years and helped in the community whenever she was needed.

Although she was not that healthy all her life long, she was always happy and very prayerful. Sister Gerwina was known as one who spoke little but worked more; she would always walk away when someone spoke forcefully. After her last fall when she was brought to the hospital in Windhoek, she accepted death consciously and ready to take her leave for heaven. When she was asked if she had any wish, she answered ‘to the Saviour’. On the day of her death, 12 May 2001, she explicitly said that she was going home and wanted ‘to be with the Lord, the Redeemer.’ The Lord answered her plea and called her to Himself.

On 17 May 2001 Sister Gerwina was laid to rest in the cemetery of Döbra. At her funeral service at St. Joseph’s parish church in Döbra, there were 6 priests present, countless Sisters from different congregations and a great number of young students from the St. Joseph Secondary School in Döbra. She had reached her goal; the Priory gives thanks to the Lord that Sister Gerwina had served and lived for almost 45 years in the Windhoek Priory.

Requiescat In Pace!

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39. LIVED QUIETLY, JOYFULLY, UNASSUMINGLY AND MODESTLYSister Gisberta Gröbl

(1912 – 1998)

The Solemnity of our Holy Mother St. Scholastica, 10 February 1998 was striking in Haus St. Benedikt, Germany! The community had

celebrated Lauds and the Holy Eucharist with Sister Gisberta among them. As the community assembled in the refectory for common and festive breakfast the call of the Lord came to take away Sister Gisberta to eternity. She collapsed and died instantaneously in the midst of her fellow Sisters and in the presence of Rev. Father Theodor LANDMANN, Chaplain of the convent, who was still able to administer to her the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Her quiet life and selfless service ended unexpectedly…

Sister Gisberta was born on 21st October 1912, in Treidlheim, in the diocese of Augsburg. In baptism she received the name Amalie. She was the eldest daughter among the six children of Michael GRÖBL a famer and his wife Crescentia, née GEIGER.

Amalie attended the elementary school in Mauern; later she was employed as a household helper in a family. She was a very lively and joyous person who loved to attend dancing parties and festivities. As a youth, she was greatly interested in mission periodicals. One day she told her mother that she wants to enter the convent and go to foreign missions.

On the 01 March 1934, Amalie entered with the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and had her Novitiate probation. At the clothing ceremony she received the name Sister Gisberta, OSB. She made her temporary Profession on 11th September 1936. Two months later on 13th November of the same year her wish to go for foreign missions was fulfilled and she was sent to Namibia, the then South West Africa. She made her Perpetual Profession on 12th September 1939 in Windhoek


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Priory. During her 55 years spent in foreign mission, Sister Gisberta was

assigned in Oshikuku and Anamulenge as in-charge of the kitchen. Her benevolent and joyous character was a blessing for everyone: the Priests, the Brothers, her fellow Sisters and all other mission personnel. When she talked about her experience in the mission in later years, her eyes shone as a sign that the people were very close to her heart. These long years of her missionary life were not without privation and difficulties. The most terrible experience for her was one night of 1976 when the SWAPO guerrillas raided Anamulenge Mission Station, where she was a Superior of the community at that time, and carried more than 100 students away from the school to join in the independence struggle. It was a terrible blow!

Sister Gisberta never complained nor did she show self pity even when her eye sight became weak and she had difficulties in hearing. On 05 October 1991, with a heavy heart she went to Haus St. Benedikt in Germany. It took her nearly two years before she got over her nostalgia for “Africa”. Afterwards she managed to integrate herself fully into the new community and was assigned to take care of the laundry, where she served with indefatigable zeal and practical sense. Moreover, she also devoted much time for silent adoration before the tabernacle. It is said that she truly lived quietly and joyfully, unassumingly and modestly, and as a religious Sister radiated a deep union with God in prayer.

On Thursday, 12 February 1998, the Holy Eucharist was celebrated for Sister Gisberta in the chapel of Haus Benedikt, Tutzing and thereafter she was buried at the Waldfriedhof.

Requiescat In Pace!


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40. THE HEARTS THAT SEEK THE LORD WILL REJOICESister Hadelina Mittermaier, OSB

(1917 – 1996)

Sister Hadelina was born on 18 May 1917 in Unterbruchhof, Hörbering, in the Diocese of München-Freising. Already on the following day, the

baby girl was baptized and was given the name Therese. Her parents, Josef MITTERMAIER and Maria, were farmers and she grew up with one brother and five sisters.

Therese was only 19 years when she entered Tutzing on 03 March 1937. Already as a candidate her superiors recognized her ability to learn, and after a short time in the novitiate, she was sent to the ‘Missionsschule’. Unfortunately, the school had to be closed down in 1938, and Therese together with her fellow-students returned to the novitiate. She became a novice on 09 January 1939 and received the name Sister Hadelina. The outbreak of Second World War did not hinder her group of about 13 Novices from pronouncing their First Profession on 10 January 1940.

When the Nazis occupied the motherhouse in Tutzing, Sister Hadelina and two other Sisters were sent to Regensburg to the hospital of the ‘Barmherzigen Brüder’ to be trained in nursing. She first made use of her training in the ‘Lazarett’ and then in the hospital of the Motherhouse. In 1943, her only brother died in the war in Russia.

On 29 October 1948 she was sent for foreign mission to Namibia and she arrived on 13 November 1948. She worked in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek until the end of August 1949; then she was sent to Shambyu in the Kavango Region. With her love for cleanliness, Sr. Hadelina cleaned every place so well, so much so that one could really eat from the floor. With her good education and quiet dedication she soon became well-known beyond the border of Shambyu. Especially women sought her help and she helped them wholeheartedly. But she could not


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interact with the people fully without knowing their language. Obviously, she had to learn Rushambyu; soon she could speak the language of the people and that aided her to gain new experiences and knowledge about the people’s needs and their culture.

During those early years, there was no doctor in Kavango, so Sister Hadelina had to make the diagnosis and treat the patients with the simple means available. Being an excellent nurse and knowing her science very well, apparently she was highly appreciated by the doctors who, from time to time paid a visit to the place. Sister Hadelina once witnessed an unusual emergency ‘Surgery on road’ between Rundu and Tsumeb when one of her patients got ill and reaching the hospital in Windhoek seemed impossible. A lorry for transporting the patient was prepared and from time to time on the way Sister Hadelina would inject her patient to relieve his pain. However, all of a sudden, the spasm of pain became violent and the injection helped nothing. The patient’s condition was deteriorating visibly. They stopped and camped while one of them went to call the doctors through the radio to come and rescue the sick doctor. Two doctors and two nurses arrived at the camp site and at around 2:30 AM the operation began under flashlight and lasted for two hours and it went well; the patient survived. The patient was taken back to Rundu while still under aenesthesia and Sister Hadelina took care of him.

In April 1965 Sister Hadelina was transferred to another Station Tondoro, 135 kilometres away and she was put in charge of the clinic there until July 1968. Then with joy she returned yet again to Shambyu until the Station was turned over to the Oshikuku Sisters in 1989. It was hard for Sister Hadelina to bid farewell to Shambyu, a place that had became her second home. Day and night she had been at the service of the people, without sparing herself and/or her health. The people in Shambyu came to know, love and appreciate her very much; but as a missionary, she had to move on to another community.

She transferred to Bunya and served there for another three years in the parish priest’s office. She did her work quietly and conscientiously, and she was faithful in her religious life and community practices. From Bunya, she was sent to Andara, still in the Kavango Region, but the struggle to learn a new language was always a barrier for her in every place she was transferred to. During those days there was no common language in Namibia. The colonizers did not want the people to speak one and same language, it was only after Independence in 1990 that the new Government introduced English as a National language.

In all the communities and stations where Sister Hadelina worked,


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she provided many services and was compassionate to people and animals. She often encouraged the nurses and shared with them humorous stories. She supported them in many ways and she carried all their worries and concerns in her prayer. In Shambyu many people remember her faithful watchdog called ‘Nero’ for which she cared very well.

Another painful experience of separation came in Sister Hadelina’s way when Andara community had to be hand over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1995. This meant a return to the Priory House community for Sister Hadelina, while she was waiting for the completion of Swakopmund community house which was being enlarged. The priory was in dire straits as far as personnel were concerned. As the sisters grew old and some died and no new missionaries were coming from Germany, this led to the giving up of one station after another. Andara was the last Station to be closed by the Tutzing Sisters, and they remained only with two communities, Swakopmund and the Priory House in Windhoek. Providentially, a ray of hope for the Priory lit once again when some of the Oshikuku Sisters applied for integration into the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and they brought back some of the Stations they were living in. The Novitiate also had opened and started to grow slowly but surely.

In January 1996, Sister Hadelina was finally transferred to Swakopmund; and she was a great help to the Superior as she took charge of answering the telephone and the doorbell. She helped wherever she was needed. Since she knew how to use her time well, she knitted for the poor during her free time. Her fellow sisters in the community remember her as a well-liked member of the community.

Sister Hadelina was looking forward to her 80th Birthday in May of 1997, when suddenly towards the end of October 1996; she got ill with abdominal pain and high fevers. On 04 November 1996, she was flown from Swakopmund to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek and she was found to have a perforation of the stomach which must have happened some days previously. An immediate surgery was planned; but she did not wait for the surgery; she went home peacefully to the Father on 07 November 1996. She was able to receive the last rites of the Church and immediately, as quietly as she had lived her life, so she left this world quietly. Sister Augusta KUNZ describes Sister Hadelina thus: “She was a wonderful sister, someone you could look up to.” Sister Hadelina spent 48 years in Namibian soil as a faithful missionary. Now, she is one with her Creator whom she had sought and served all her life,


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Sister Hadelina can truly sing the verse ‘The hearts that seek the Lord will rejoice’.

Her funeral Mass on 08 November 1996 was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU of Windhoek, who originated from Shambyu and had known Sister Hadelina very well. He emphasized in his speech, about Sister Hadelina’s total dedication to the people, especially the sick whom she served day and night. A group of Sisters and Nurses travelled the whole night all the way from Shambyu 800km to Windhoek to bid their last grateful farewell to Sister Hadelina. There was great participation of her Sisters and representatives of other religious congregations during the funeral. May Sister Hadelina, intercede for Namibian Mission!

Requiescat In Pace!

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41. ENDURED EVERYTHING WITH GREATEST PATIENCESister Harwarda Fischer, OSB

(1905 – 1986)

The month of March must have been a joyful month for Sister Harwarda. She was born on 07 March 1905 in Lahrfeld, diocese of Paderborn.

Twelve days later she was baptized on 19 March and received the name Anna Josefa. Her father was a farmer, and his family was blessed with eight children, four sons and four daughters. Of these, Anna Josefa was the 6th child. Her eldest sister also chose religious life and became a Vincentian Sister.

In her favourite month, Anna Josefa entered in Tutzing on 01 March 1934. Furthermore, on 31st of March 1935 she was clothed with the


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religious garb and received the name Sister Harwarda. She made her First Profession on Easter Octave 20th April 1936 in Tutzing; already on 11 October that year of her profession, she received the Mission Cross. The following year, she disembarked at Walvis Bay on 02 April 1937; she pronounced her Final Profession in Windhoek Priory and spent the rest of her life in the Namibian Mission.

Sister Harwarda was assigned to several of the stations of the Priory and worked as a nurse and/or as a housekeeper. Thus, Windhoek, Swakopmund, Gobabis and Anamulenge were the places of her commitment. She shared much in the suffering of Christ; since 1950 she was blind on her right eye. In 1955 she suffered from a steady advancing arthritis in all her joints; but continued to serve in the mission stations until 1968. After that she returned to the priory house where she worked in kitchen and laundry.

The doctors tried to relieve her from her pain through a hip-operation in 1982. Yet even after this operation Sister Harwarda needed a cane or even two to support herself. During the last years of her life she could hardly work as her hands were also stricken by the disease. She prayed much, and whenever she had sweets she would give joy to some poor children. Another share in Christ’s sufferings was awaiting her when she lost much of her hearing power. However, she endured everything with greatest patience.

At the beginning of November 1985, she began to have difficulties in keeping her balance. One day, unfortunately she fell in her room and had to be hospitalized. Her health condition changed from day-to-day. Sometimes she could attend Holy Mass in the Cathedral on a wheelchair, at other times she could go on foot, supported by the Sisters.

Towards the end of November 1985 she, with some other elderly Sisters, received the Sacrament of Holy Anointing. Sister Harwarda felt that the Lord would soon call her home and she was ready to follow the call. In spite of her weak health no one expected her to die so suddenly. She went home to the Father on 10 January 1986, at 8 AM. She was the last of her siblings on earth, because all her brothers and sisters had already gone ahead of her. Surely the passing away of her siblings caused her much pain; finally, the Lord took her, too, into His eternal Kingdom, where she will meet them once again. May she find the fulfilment of all her desires there! His Excellency Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU, with many faithful and the community accompanied Sister Harwarda to her final resting place in Döbra cemetery.

Requiescat In Pace!


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42. A SISTER WHO IS ALWAYS SMILINGSister Herifrieda Schwerd, OSB

(1911 – 1979)

Sr. Herifrieda was born on 30 October 1911 in München and received the name Johanna at baptism. After finishing school she took up

sewing and became a professional dressmaker. She entered in Tutzing on 17 November 1933 and was clothed a novice on 10th January 1935. She made her First Profession on 11 January 1936 and was sent to South West Africa, now Namibia on 27 April 1938. It took her 4 months before arriving in her mission country on 15 August 1938.

Sr. Herifrieda made her Final Profession in Windhoek on 11 January 1939. Immediately after her Final Profession, she took over the Holiday Department (Erholungs-station) of the hospital in Swakopmund; she looked after the many, who were recuperating, the sick and the elderly, guest of all walks of life, and served them with love and dedication. In 1964 she was called to Klein-Windhoek to become a superior of the community. Sr. Herifrieda was a jolly sister of a humble nature, and in return she was loved by all who met her.

She developed a cataract and she was operated in July 1979 and the result was good; even the eye-specialist was pleased with the out-come of the operation. However her general health condition was not normal again, the operation seemed to have affected her health. Sr. Herifrieda blamed the condition of her health on the differences in height of sea-level between Swakopmund and Windhoek. She claimed that Swakopmund at the sea was the normal state of weather for her, unlike in Windhoek which is over 1600m above sea level. She told herself and others to be patient. Her encouraging words were always; “It will come right, I just need a bit more time than others to recover”. She resumed her work happily.

In the morning of 03 August 1979, the sister nurse noticed a great restlessness in Sr. Herifrieda. At lunchtime she realized that her pulse was weak and irregular. A doctor was called in, but her condition


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deteriorated rapidly. She could hardly breathe, even oxygen would not help. Rev. Bishop Rudolf Johannes Maria KOPPMANN was called quickly to administer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Within a few minutes Sr. Herifrieda died in Windhoek, presumably of cardiac failure. Although we do not know the day or the hour of our death, still the sisters felt that Sr. Herifrieda’s death was completely unexpected. One Sister remarked on behalf of the others; ‘Her sudden death hit us all very hard. We believe she is safely home in God’s hand that is our consolation.’ She died at the age of 67 in her 43 year of religious profession

On 07 August her body were transported to the Mission Cemetery of Döbra where she now awaits for the resurrection of the dead to come.

May she rest secured in God’s loving embrace!

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43. I KEPT YOU IN MY HAND AND CARE FOR YOUSister Herigar Baudenbacher, OSB

(1913 – 2009)

Sister Herigar was born in Steinheim near Dillingen, Bavaria in Germany on the 14th of April 1913. The next day she was baptized and given the

name Margareta. Her parents were deeply pious people and they passed on the good moral to their children. Her father Josef BAUDENBACHER was a farmer and her mother Margarete Baudenbacher assisted her husband in whatever way she could. They were very faithful in attending Holy Mass daily.

Margareta grew up with her six brothers and two sisters. She was the seventh child of the family. The young Margareta attended elementary school in her home-village from 1919 until 1926. Thereafter, she was admitted to the Secondary School in Maria Medingen near Dillingen. She also attended the domestic school at Lohhof, Mindelheim in 1930.


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In the following years, she helped at home and was a member of the Church Choir and a Youth Leader during Hitler’s time.

Her eldest brother became a priest and one of her sisters, Serafina became a Religious, too, in the Franciscan Order. These might have inspired Margareta to seek a religious life as well. On the 01 March 1939, she entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing in Germany, where she pronounced her Temporary Profession on 26 April 1941. After Profession, she was assigned in St. Ottilien to work in the hospital for numerous soldiers who were wounded in the war.

April 1944. This was due to the restriction of Hitler’s regime in which religious profession were held in secret. In the worries of Second World War, Margareta, now Sister Herigar was allowed to give her life to God in Perpetual Profession secretly in Kerschlach behind closed doors on 26th April 1944. Mother Prioress gave Sister Herigar the words of the Prophet Isaiah: ‘I, the Lord, called you with love. I keep you in my hand and care for you.’

From 1946 to 1948, Sister Herigar attended the St. Maria Stern Teacher’s College in Göggingen near Augsburg. Thereafter, she worked in the Girls’ Hostel in Tutzing and later in Weiterdingen, Bernried and Marienfried in Olpe, Sauerland. The 26th May 1955 was the mission sending day of Sister Herigar to Namibia and she arrived by ship in Walvis Bay on 11 June 1955. Like many other missionaries, she never saw her homeland anymore for she did not go on home-leave even when it was allowed.

She was assigned in Nyangana community from June 1955 to December 1956, where she worked as a teacher in Nyangana Primary School. Later she was transferred to Bunya from 1956 to 1993 where she taught all subjects of Grade 7; at the same time she was the matron of the Girls’ Hostel. She also taught the children needle-work and making sisal-mats. She played the organ in the parish church of Bunya and taught young people the art of organ accompaniment.

In 1993, Sister Herigar needed a back surgery in the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek and from then on she went to Swakopmund for recuperation; for health reasons, the doctor advised her not to return to Bunya, which was very disappointing news for her. But, her wide smile, sense of humour and dedication did not leave her. She stayed in Swakopmund for over 15 years. She was very active and energetic and would always run instead of walking. Age and weakness of the body however, overtook her. She was put in a Care Home in Swakopmund for sometimes for intensive care and assistance. When she returned from


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this Home she was seemed changed completely: no more broad smiles and slept more. She did not like to eat anything except chocolate. After giving her chocolate daily, the sisters noticed that Sister Herigar could no longer fit in her habits; they had to cut down this diet immediately.

In September of 2009, Sister Herigar fell in her room and broke her elbow. After that, she had a surgery in the Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek which went well and she was discharged. She was then transferred to the Priory House at St. Benedict Priory, Windhoek infirmary. However, her general condition deteriorated, so much so that she had to go back to the Hospital for nursing care. While in the hospital, although she was weak, she still managed to give a warm smile to everyone and could sing aloud the German and Rukwangali songs.

She became weaker and weaker, until God fulfilled her longing to go home to HIM on 28 December 2009. Of all her siblings she was the last on earth to go home to God. Her smile and happy disposition will forever be missed!

Requiescat In Pace!

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44. FAITH ALONE ENABLED HER TO PERSEVERESister Herluca Rohrmoser, OSB

(1903 – 1984)

In the early morning of 25th July 1984 at 5:40 AM Sister Herluca ROHRMOSER, OSB, passed away to enter the Kingdom of the Father,

after having prayed and served uninterruptedly 57 years in Ovamboland.Sister Herluca was born at Wessobrunn on 04 March 1903. In

baptism she received the name Olga. Her deeply religious parents had 10 children, three sons and seven daughters, of whom two daughters


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entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. After finishing her elementary education, Olga volunteered to serve the Tutzing Sisters in Wessobrunn for six years. Meanwhile, her father and her grandfather were ready to give her further training, but Olga preferred to continue her service for the Sisters for free, because she saw the great poverty of the Convent at that time.

With joy Olga would later on relate her experiences as a volunteer to the Tutzing Sisters especially when she worked together with Sister Bonita WOHLMANNSTETTER, OSB and Sister Katharina LUMMEL, OSB.35 These two might have influenced her greatly, that on the 01 August 1922 Olga decided to enter in Tutzing. On her clothing day, on 28 July 1923 she received the name Sister Herluca. That same year, her older sister Amalie also followed her in Tutzing and became Sister Adelinde, OSB. Right after First Profession on 12 February 1925 Sister Herluca was assignment to Honnef community. The poverty of this Station was so extreme that the sisters had to struggle to the utmost of their physical strength to keep afloat. Sister Herluca often shared these privations and the scarcity of food of that time. Honnef had to be given up after 2 ½ years due to financial difficulties. That paved the way for Sister Herluca to receive the call to foreign missions; she was given her Mission Cross on 01 July 1927, and with enthusiasm she set out for her new assignment to South West Africa, now Namibia. After 25 days of high sea voyage, she arrived at the port of Walvis Bay, her mission land, on 29 July 1927.

About two months later, on the Foundation Day of the Congregation, 24 September 1927, a group of Sisters and two Brothers of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate proceeded from Windhoek to Ovamboland to start a new Foundation of the Tutzing Sisters. These Pioneer Sisters were Sister Aemiliana MITTL, OSB, as superior, Sister Germana FISCH, OSB, and two Junior Sisters: Sister Reginalda WEIS, OSB36 and Sister Herluca Rohrmoser, OSB. This journey was a historical event for Sister Herluca. On a narrow railway the Sisters came first to Tsumeb where they stayed with the Holy Cross Sisters while preparing for their long journey to the North of the country. They started their journey in the afternoon at 18H00.

35 Sister Bonita Wohlmannstetter, OSB died on 30 December 1983 and Sister Katharina Lummel, OSB died on 07 February 1984 both in Windhoek Priory.

36 Sister Reginalda Weis, OSB is considered to be the foundress of the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku.


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The two Brothers who were going with the Sisters thought of sparing the new car for this journey and took an overused automobile and hooked on a trailer, which carried the most essential things for a new foundation. On top of the loaded trailer rode two teachers for Oshikuku and Anamulenge.

After an hour’s ride the car had its first break-down, which took the Brothers two hours of repair and then proceeded with their journey that night and the following morning. Towards noon the group, now totally exhausted, reached the police station at Namutoni, a ruined fort from the German and Herero War of 1905. After a short rest they went on but the car suffered one break-down after the other, so much so that one of the Brothers had to return to Tsumeb to look for a better car. There was no other alternative for the Sisters and Brother but to wait for the return of the other Brother, which meant four days in the Etosha Pan wilderness exposed to wild creatures. They had to keep wild animals away during the night with a camp-fire. When the ‘better car’ finally came it took the Missionaries to Oshikuku without difficulties and they arrived at 7:00 PM, on 30th September 1927, the death anniversary of the Little Flower. Since the Little Flower was just beatified in 1923, and canonized in 1925, her fame was spreading everywhere. In that year, 1927, St Thérèse of Lisieux was declared then a co-patron saint of the missions with St. Francis Xavier; thus, the pioneers of the new Station of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing in Oshikuku could not think of another name but dedicated their new Station to the great missionary, Saint Thérèse. Today, the Parish of Oshikuku also bears the name of St. Thérèse. There, on 12 February 1928, Sister Herluca pronounced her Perpetual Profession.

Sister Herluca was first assigned in the kitchen, she had a boy as her helper named Antonius37 from whom Sister Herluca learnt Otshikwambi and she taught him German, especially prayers. As the boy grew up, he was sent to study at Döbra. Sister Herluca did not limit her work to the kitchen only but she also went to the outstations with Brother Ferdinand Rehrl, OMI to teach catechism to the people while the brother was helping in building new churches.

She experienced the difficulty and poverty of the new foundation and great hardships the community had to live in, for years to come. The greatest difficulty was the scarcity of water. A great problem was the laundry which could be attended to only every two or three weeks.

37 Antonius is the father of Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, OMI of Windhoek.


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Their black habits, which they wore at that time, became stiff from sweat. It was only a can of water allotted to each Sister per day for use of her personal needs; water had to be fetched from Oshana38 every day. Fresh fruits and vegetables were not available at that time and gardening was not possible due to lack of water. The recess of the first visitation at Oshikuku in September 1929 by Prioress General Mother M. Clodesindis LÜKEN read: ‘There is a total lack of vitamins for the Sisters.’ Seven years later there was a good rainy season for the first time after their arrival in Oshikuku; and slowly but surely life started to improve for the better. But Sister Herluca was all the time eager to save water so much that even when she was older and had to be nursed, she did not like to bath for she would yells ‘we must save water!’

Experience is the best teacher; the young Sister Herluca had to learn from her daily living experiences. Real pests were the termites which attacked the mission from time to time and could devour anything left on the ground. One time the termites ate up a pair of new shoes that was left on the ground under the bed during the night. That was a true learning from nature for the missionaries!

In 1932 Sister Herluca was transferred to Anamulenge community to serve as superior of the said community and alternated several times in the following years as superior between Anamulenge in Ombalantu and Oshikuku in Uukwambi. From 1952 to 1962 she was Superior of Oshikuku. She also served as interpreter for the two lay doctors who in the meantime had arrived in Oshikuku Hospital; by then Sister Herluca had mastered Otshikwambi language. Soon she was assigned to accompany the ambulance in fetching the sick from villages to Oshikuku Hospital and was later put in charge of giving anaesthesia and even had to take the place of the Doctors whenever they were on vacations. This meant for her an almost unbearable mental burden, since she had never received any training in hospital work. Faith alone enabled her to persevere and do right with her service. The people seeing her faithfully working day and night had named her Kuku Niita because of her diligence and effectiveness in her duties even in her old age. Kuku Niita was only relieved from the burden of giving anaesthesia in 1961 upon the arrival of Sister Doctor Gabriele DREES, OSB, in Oshikuku.

Kuku Niita was loved by the people and she gave them her whole

38 Oshana is an Oshiwambo word for a flat landscape where rain water naturally stands still for a long period of time, sometimes even until the next rain comes. People go to fetch water from it for their daily use; and animals, too, drink from it. Catfish breed in the oshana which provides people with an important source of dietary protein.


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love by rendering her humble services for decades. In January 1978 she had to give up her work in the hospital as her health began to wane and symptoms of old age appeared. However, she continued to visit the sick and to pray with them in the hospital. In April 1983 her mental capacities also weakened remarkably and by October 1983 she was confined to bed. Sister Zita LUTZ, OSB cared for her with motherly love. There were ups and downs in Sister Herluca’s condition. Her suffering dragged out till 25 July 1984 when the Lord called her to her eternal home at the age of 81. There she will see her own contribution to the spreading of His kingdom in Ovamboland.

Kuku Niita loved flowers and when she passed by flowers, she would touch them with tender love. Once when she was asked about prayer life, she answered ‘Prayer becomes more and simpler, without so many words.’

On her funeral day, a protestant Christian, who as a little boy witnessed the arrival of Sister Herluca and her companions in Oshikuku appreciated her highly and testified while taking soil from the grave saying: ‘As this handful of earth is part of Ovamboland, so Sister Herluca was part of its people, may she rest in peace!’ Can there be a more beautiful token for a missionary as she was? Later the people of Oshikuku put a very big gravestone on Kuku Niita’s grave which is still there today.

Requiescat In Pace!

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45. ONE IS NEVER JOBLESSSister Hermana Hebesberger, OSB

(1901 – 1988)

One sister, who was assigned in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek for her whole life without being transferred to another

community, was Sister Hermana. She was never transferred since her


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arrival in Namibia but she had yearly mission trips to Kavango for dental mission, often during her leaves.

Sister Hermana arrived in Namibia in June 1932 and since then worked in the same hospital until the Lord called her on 17 June 1988. Among the things she left was a used-up slip of paper containing these words: ‘Oh my Jesus I adore your sighs. Receive mine when I pass out of this life. Already today I offer to you all my agonies and pains that will accompany my death. I wish that the last moment of my life be an act of pure love, and that in the abyss of your mercy all my restlessness and sins be forever immersed and accepted.’

It can be presumed that Sister Hermana has made the prayer above so much of her own that it had actually ‘shaped’ her death. She went quietly to the Father without any agony. In the morning of her last day on earth nobody would have thought that it would be her last day. Although for many years her health had slowly declined with heart failure, nobody expected a death for her which was too sudden. It so happen that on 17 June she did not rise up with the community because the Holy Mass was to be held in the afternoon that day. At noon she complained of severe pain in the heart. She was admitted to the hospital where she felt more secure and relieved under the care of a physician. In the afternoon she took some coffee and at around 5:30 was ready for supper, and still expressed a wish regarding which food she wanted to eat. As the nurse was about to leave her room, she turned once more just on time to see Sister Hermana falling back on her bed dying. It was a heart failure! A visiting priest from South Africa was called to administer Holy Anointing of the Sick. The doctor, the nurses, Mother Prioress as well the priest attended to the dying Sister and prayed with her. At the words: ‘Jesus, to you I offer my life and all my love’ Sister Hermana breathed her last. Everybody considered this experience a special grace that Sister Hermana died in the presence of a priest, when the city of Windhoek was known for the scarcity of priests. At the moment of her death Holy Mass had just started in the Cathedral, and the gospel of the day read: ‘Don’t gather treasures here on earth but in heaven where neither moth nor rust will eat them up.’ All who knew Sister Hermana felt that these words of Christ expressed the fulfilment of a rich missionary life she lived.

Sister Hermana was born on 30 October 1901 in Schlierbach, diocese of Linz, Upper-Austria. On 02 November 1901 she was baptized in the Cistercian Church at Schlierbach and was given the name Cecilia. She was the fourth daughter of 12 children of Franz HEBESBERGER and his


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wife Maria, owners of the Mayr-farm at Edt. Cecilia attended elementary school from 1905-1914 and her various

talents showed themselves already at early age. Until 1920 she helped her parents on their farm, and then she served in the household of her uncle until 1926. She must have felt the call to the religious life at early age, for quietly she rejected all advancements of suitors. Once, as she shared to some of the sisters, her father admonished her for her impoliteness towards a certain young man, whom he would have wished to become his son-in-law. Hence, Cecilia went to meet the man in a room with two doors. As he entered through one, she greeted him politely and then left through the other door. These characters of hers were tagged ‘amiable disobedience’ by a priest who presided over her funeral Mass.

On 30 January 1926 she entered in Tutzing and on her clothing day she received the name Sister M. Hermana. On the feast of St. Augustine, 28 August 1928, 13 Novices pronounced their First Profession, among them was Sister Hermana. Already on 16th November of that same year, four of her companions were sent to foreign missions. She expectantly waited for her turn which did not take long. She first had to acquire some necessary skills needed for her future mission. She took up nursing in the hospital at Munchen-Schwabing and graduated with distinction; then she went on to acquire skills in dental technology under Dr. Figgert at Tutzing.

Before she received her Mission Cross, she had the joy of seeing one of her blood sisters become a Cistercian Choir nun in Waldsassen in 1932. That year she received her Mission Cross to Namibia on 03 April, and set out on 11th May; after a four-week sea-trip she arrived at Walvis Bay on 11th June 1932.

Since her arrival in 1932 until her death she only worked for the same Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek where the seat of the Priory was until the year 2000. She worked as a nurse and dental technician. She had gained high appreciation from all she came in contact with and had helped in the development of the hospital to make it the best hospital, through the high quality of her professional work as well as her charisma as a warm-hearted, benevolent, unassuming and pious religious person. She would never refuse any acts of love, nor would she say ‘no’ to a request, but would make herself available to everybody. She was always ready with a kind word; she listened to others and gave sound advice when asked. Sister Hermana experienced the Apartheid-law and she acted against it, by opening a dispensary in a hidden place for the unfortunate black or coloured Namibians. By means of donated medicines she was


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able to help thousands of poor people, especially children. They showed their gratefulness and love for her by accompanying her to her grave after her death. In 1963, she received the sad news of the death of her Cistercian Choir Nun sister.

On one occasion in 1963, she wrote in a letter to her benefactors saying ‘There are always plenty of sick ones here, and to attend to them all is often tiresome, yet there is also an opportunity to help in the salvation of souls. At present I am on a business trip regarding dental treatment. It is always a great joy for me to visit our outposts and help the mission personnel and others with their dental ailments. It is practically impossible for them to go all the way to Windhoek to look for a dentist.’

‘Thus, I travel from station to station with extra dental machine and other necessary facilities. Of course much time is wasted with this travelling, and then again it takes time until one is at last ready for work. On the other hand, I am happy to say that much progress has been made these last ten years in the mission field. Many people are coming from far away for treatment, sometimes as many as 100 patients are treated per day. One is never jobless.’

Such visits to the outstations lasted for many years until the mission was finally able to send its patients to Windhoek for treatment. This particular mission work was taxing for her health. She had to suffer back pain due to the bumpy and winding roads through the bush. Furthermore, while she would be at work monkeys and magpies would steal her shining instruments. It sounds humorous, but it showed with what inconveniencies Sister Hermana had to deal with in those medical mission trips.

After Vatican II she, too, had a chance to go on home-leave but only once in 1966; from then on she never saw her homeland again because she wanted to dedicate herself to her foreign mission commitment. She kept close contact with her family and also with the Cistercians, especially the Rev. Abbot of the Cistercian community who was one of the greatest benefactors of her mission work.

Likewise, Sister Hermana did offer her services to innumerable people as a dentist. Knowing the need for on-going training and upgrading her services, she kept asking for information about the newest trends in dentistry, she acquired skills which satisfied the inspectors. Almost even to the end of her life she was requested by the highly qualified maxilla-facial specialists operating in the hospital to do the finishing touches to the newly operated patients and she did it excellently.

As the years went by Sister Hermana had to give up her hospital


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work, because of failing health, but since she believed that ‘One is never jobless’ she started another apostolate, the ‘hospital pastoral,’ which she pursued until 16 June 1988, the day before her death, 17 June. She considered her pastoral work as a professional work too. At times when patients were scared by the thought of their deaths, Sister Hermana took it upon her to accompany the dying on their last journey and to prepare them for the end. With the same zeal and patience with which she formerly tried to heal bodies she was now endeavouring to heal souls. God alone knows how many people she consoled, helped bear their problems, brought back to God and to the Church, reconciling them with God and with other people.

She would have celebrated her 60th anniversary of Profession on 28 August 1988 but she went to celebrate it with her Creator into eternity. She was a loving and warm person, one can be certain that she is a powerful intercessor for others before God.

Requiescat In Pace!

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46. THANKFULNESS WAS ALWAYS A VISIBLE VIRTUE IN HERSister Hermine Gerhard, OSB

(1935 – 1998)

After the Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI) reached Kavango Region, and Mission Stations were opened one after another, boarding

schools were also started. One of these stations was Bunya, which was founded in 1929. Many people were baptized and the Tutzing Sisters educated many young people. Like many other youth, Hermine Gerhard was one of the children who came to the boarding school.

Hermine was born on the 10th of December 1935 in Haisisira, in Kavango, Namibia. She was the eldest of six children; two girls and four


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boys of Mr. Gerhard HAMUTENYA and Mrs. Barbara Kasiku.In her younger years she was very active in youth groups and in other

activities. Her happy disposition made her a well loved person especially among her peers. Hermine was attracted by the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, but since at that time the Tutzing Sisters did not open a Novitiate in Namibia, Hermine was instead advised to join the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku, a local Congregation. She entered the Convent in Oshikuku in 1953. In the Novitiate, she had to learn Oshiwambo which she eventually mastered very well. On the Feast of the Assumption, 15 August 1959, Sister Herluca ROHRMOSER, OSB, Superior of OSB-Tutzing39, received the Profession of Sister Hermine as she and other Novices made their First Profession in Oshikuku. She kept her baptismal name, Hermine.

Sister Hermine was a very intelligent person, and was gifted in teaching. In 1961 Sister was sent to Waldfrieden in Omaruru where she continued her studies. The year 1964 found her in Döbra taking Teachers’ Training Course. After finishing the Course she was sent to Bunya to teach in the same school, where she herself had received elementary education. It is there that she began her teaching profession. Later, other Mission stations benefited from her teaching services, she was in Oshikuku, Ombalantu, Mariabronn, Ilyateko and lastly in Namutuntu.

She had some shocking experiences during her life which tested her faith and endurance. During Namibian Independence struggle, when the war was threatening, she received the news that her mother, her brother and some other members of her family were brutally killed in their home, in Kavango. It was a struggle for her to understand why such tragedy had to happen to her beloved ones, but she overcame it with time. Another shocking experience she had was a robbery attack on the school in Ilyateko where she was teaching with other Sisters. After this attack, she suffered a first light stroke from which she recovered well enough to continue teaching.

In June 1996 Sister Hermine’s desire to belong to a Missionary Congregation was realized, when she, along with other Sisters, transferred to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, and started their probation of three years. But she could not be integrated with other sisters for she went ahead to heaven where, hopefully, she rejoiced

39 At that time Oshikuku Congregation depended on the OSB-Tutzing and the superior of Oshikuku Community acted as Prioress of the Local Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku.


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with the others on their integration day, on 29 August 1999, a year after her death. During the duration of her probation, she was assigned to Namutuntu community in 1996, where she continued with her teaching in the school. This school was not modern at that time; it was built by the villagers who wanted their children to be educated by the Sisters. Like all other teachers, her classroom was a thatched-roof hut. Hence, it was not always easy for her to go to and from school because the school was some distance away from the convent, and the way had deep sand and the path was not shady. Nevertheless she joyfully did her teaching and loved her pupils very dearly.

On 06 June 1998 she was brought to Andara Hospital because she experienced weakness on the left side of her body. On 10th June 1998 she was air-lifted to Windhoek where a cat-scan of the head was done. This showed that there was already an extensive damage to the brain and nothing further could be done.

For Sister Hermine, thankfulness was always a virtue within her. Even during her last days when she seemed to regain her speech, she was still grateful to others for taking care of her needs. When called by her name she tried to respond with the usual greeting of an amiable and a big smile.

On 18 June 1998, during the morning which was her last morning on earth, she received many blessings; Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU prayed at Mass for her and afterward visited her to give her his blessing. Few hours later several priests came and even her parish priest Father Herbert KRUMSCHEID, OMI from Tondoro visited, prayed and blessed her. The Sisters took turns praying the rosary, singing songs with her, and when the time of death looked imminent the Sisters sang the final ‘Suscipe Me Domine’ with her. She had a very peaceful and quiet death on 18 June 1998 at 10:05 AM.

The interment Mass was on Monday 22 June 1998 at 9:00 AM in St. Joseph Church at Döbra and she was laid to rest in the Mission cemetery of Döbra. There were five priests who concelebrated at the Requiem Mass. Her blood sister, two brothers and several of her relatives attended the funeral. Many Sisters from the Kavango made the long trip to bid their final farewell to a much loved fellow Sister.

She was always a loving and faithful community member; she will surely be missed. May the Lord in His loving kindness give her a special place in heaven!

Requiescat In Pace!


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47. EYES FIXED ON THE CRUCIFIXSister Herta Fischer, OSB

(1913 – 1988)

Gertrud, as Sister Herta was called before taking monastic profession, came into this world on 24 July 1913. Her birthplace is called

Nürnberg, in the diocese of Bamberg, Germany. She was the eldest of five children in her family whose father was a mechanical engineer, and from whom Gertrud seems to have inherited technical tricks and ways on how to handle mechanical appliances. Her mother, a deeply religious woman, took great care for a thorough Christian training of the children. Possibly, Gertrud’s religious vocation can be traced back to that early training at home.

After completing her elementary education, she took up commerce. She was known as a very diligent and conscientious student. After her graduation, she worked for 9 years in the book-keeping office of Nürnberger Pencil Factory. She was much appreciated by her employer and soon she was entrusted with confidential business. Sister Herta was always interested in religious movements and she became a member in some of them such as the “Christians of Mary” and also the “Quick-born”, an organization for young people in her town. Gertrud was a great lover of God’s nature and spent most of her leisure time in the Alps, on the shores of the lakes, she was rather an explorer of beautiful places. This brought her one day to Tutzing, where she became acquainted and interested in the Benedictine missionary life.

Soon the Second World War broke out, and life was filled with anxiety and with great privations. At the beginning of the war two of her sisters died. Gertrud was very rebellious and she often came into conflict with the ‘Gestapo’. She could not agree with the Nazi-regime; she joined rather an underground movement called ‘Ant-Nazi movement’. The Nazi even hindered her from entering the Convent and made her work with them. But one day she was unexpectedly discharged and at once she


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informed Tutzing Priory. On 15 October 1940 Gertrud was admitted to the novitiate and received the name Sister M. Herta, OSB. That meant new life with new career for her had started. Despite the war, about 49 Novices were still admitted to First Profession in 1941, under the direction of Sister Gertraud GANTERT, OSB, the Novice Mistress. The group of 16 Novices made their First Profession on 26 October 1941 and Sister Herta was among them. She worked for a time in the administrative department, afterward she was sent to Münich to take a Course in Nursing. Since it was still wartime, life was not that easy, many sisters had to leave the Motherhouse by the order of the Nazi Government. The place and the buildings were confiscated and the convent was turned into a military hospital. Only sisters who had knowledge of medicine and nursing were allowed to stay in Tutzing and were employed in the hospital. Sister Herta, who had then started her Nursing Course, had to stay and she was assigned to the X-ray department. The doctor in-charge of the X-ray department soon noticed the interest and skills of Sister Herta in dealing with the machines; the doctor took special concern in teaching and instructing his eager student.

Sister Herta pronounced her Perpetual Profession on 25 May 1945 at the end of the Second World War. She was already assigned as the in-charge of the new X-ray department; and as always, she did her best to the greatest satisfaction of the doctors. After the war, the Motherhouse was given back to the Congregation and the Sisters were allowed to return to their convent which had become a hospital by then. The sisters maintained the hospital, and used it especially for the training of sisters who were to be sent to the foreign missions.

During all those years, Sister Herta’s longing for foreign missions did not die but she nourished it as she kept waiting for the proper season. To her great happiness, she received her Mission Cross on the Solemnity of St. Scholastica, on 10 February 1955 and on 24 May 1955 she disembarked in Windhoek. She worked for some time in Swakopmund and Windhoek and then in January 1957 she was sent to Gobabis. Here, she found a new modern X-ray machine which gave her a great joy; she could give better service to sick. In 1961, she returned to Windhoek to be in-charge of the X-ray department of the Roman Catholic Hospital. Since the beginning, the doctors in the hospital had great confidence in her, and often entrusted her with cases that should have been handled by doctors only. Sister Herta’s reputation spread and soon difficulties arose with the government authorities, because she lacked the prescribed diplomas. That brought Sister Herta to start with all her energy preparing herself


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for the necessary examinations which she passed successfully, and her service continued once again without interference from the government. Since then, it was said of her that she made the best X-ray pictures and the best diagnosis from them.

In 1988, she was discovered to have a blood disease which caused a continuous weakening of her physical strength. The continuous work with rays might have been the cause of her disease; though she always took all possible precautions to avoid too much X-ray exposure. The doctors as well as she tried all possible means and treatment to cure or prevent the progress of the disease, but to no avail. In May 1988, it is said that Sister Herta almost died of an embolism in the lungs; but perhaps, her days were not yet counted off, she recovered and joined the community in prayer as before. From time to time she still helped in the X-ray department. She was against the ongoing changes in Church and in the religious life brought by the Vatican II. She suffered from all the trends of her time, but she tried her best to cope with them. In her long illness, she deliberately offered all her sufferings to God in ‘atonement’, as she would say. The Lord seemingly accepted her offer and for the last three weeks before her death, she underwent sufferings and an agonizing death struggle.

On 11th July, the feast of St. Benedict, she showed up in the community for the last time. Some sisters remarked that her whole appearance reminded them of the suffering Christ. On 13th July, she intended to go to Holy Mass, but just before the time, she fell asleep and the infirmarian did not like to wake her up. After Holy Mass, the infirmarian found her lying on the floor, unconscious and partly paralyzed. She had suffered a stroke when trying to get up. The priest administered the Holy Sacraments of the Sick to her. During her last days, she suffered still from a painful embolus in her right leg. The community could only pray and show her their love and sympathy through their presence. Most of the time, she seemed to be unconscious, but at times, she would open her eyes and would look at all around her very steadfastly. She often joined in prayers that were offered for her on her sickbed. Everybody believed that the end was near; and thought she might die on 24 July her 75th Birthday. But no, she did not wish to die on her Birthday, she lingered on for four more days and on the fifth day she grasped the hand of one of the sisters around her and held it fast. With her eyes fixed on the crucifix she surrendered her soul into the Hands of her Lord, while the sisters were singing the ‘Suscipe Me, Domine’.

It was on 29th July 1988 at 7:00 PM when she breathed her last and


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gave back her soul to the Almighty Father. She was buried on 02 August 1988 in Döbra in the presence of a large crowd of people. The Priory of Windhoek prays that Sister Herta may be a powerful intercessor, and remember the needs and problems of the church in Namibia.

Requiescat In Pace!

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48. FROM ABOVE I SHALL REPAY YOU AND I SHALL NOT FORGET ANY ONE

Sister Hertlinde Hüttmann, OSB(1906 – 1961)

Maria was born on 24 February 1906 in Warmecke, Diocese of Paderborn. She was baptized the next day and received the name

of the dear Mother of God. Sauerland has been her home. She was the fifth of eight children. Love and fidelity bonded the happy family where a lively faith, good morals, diligence and cooperation could favourably develop. Maria was of a sunny, happy disposition. She was good to everybody, loved all people, animals and flowers as God’s gifts. When time came to decide about her vocation she followed her older sister, Sr. Wilhelmine, who as a Missionary Benedictine Sister already was working in the Philippines. In 1931, Maria asked for admission in the motherhouse, Tutzing. Her younger sister, Sr. Anoberta also entered two years later and worked in the Brazilian vineyard.

On her clothing Day, she received the name Maria Hertlinde and a year later, on 24 April 1933, she made her First Profession with 10 more companions. Her great desire to work in the foreign Mission-field was fulfilled in 1934. As a young professed Sister, she got a mission-cross for South-West Africa, now Namibia.

The Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek was then in its early development. Sr. Hertlinde put herself entirely at the service of the task set before her, that of healing. Although she had no special training for


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this kind of work, she soon cared with skill and love for the sick and in the theatre. When the hospital got a bigger X-Ray machine and a bigger space was needed too, she helped install it where it could be used. She worked first as an assistant in the X-Ray department and after some years she was able to manage the X-Ray work to the full satisfaction of the doctors, who appreciated her knowledge, and of the patients who respected and loved her. She was always ready to help and always kind to all.

The X-Ray department was in demand because this was the only service in the town. Sr. Hertlinde had much to do all the time; the task was overwhelming and the work load was big for her; it was difficult for her, but she never complained nor thought of herself. She was not perturbed from giving to the Lord what God wanted her to give through His people. However, her malady gradually got worse and showed itself on her hands and feet. Medicines gave her some relief. She knew God had put her on this place and He would give her the necessary strength. She relied on the help of her Guardian Angel whom she had chosen as protector of the X-Ray department. Her favourite saint was the Little Flower, whom she constantly asked in prayer, for a true zeal for souls. She loved the common prayer; especially the common plain chant which cheered her.

In this way the 27 years of her mission-work in Windhoek were fulfilled. God brought her work and activity to an unexpected standstill. An acute loss of strength forced her to give in and finally to spend six weeks on a sickbed. These were days and nights of great sufferings, but at the same time a period of graces in preparation for the last hour.

With resignation and even cheerful readiness she knowingly and firmly said her “Fiat” to all the sufferings God would still send her. She remained a missionary and included all and everything in her physical and spiritual suffering; the sufferings of the night of the soul were not spared from her. For the last three days she could receive Holy Communion, this gave her the strength to pull through. The Anointing of the Sick had been given to her on 23 September. The next 4 weeks were of constant ups and downs, since she could take liquid nourishment in very small quantities only. She became weaker and weaker; sometimes she even fainted. Though the doctor did all he could, she could not be helped. With love, prayers and hope, one of her Sisters sent her water from Lourdes. “How happy we should have been if our dear Lady had worked a miracle on her. But the number of her years seemed complete!” her fellow sisters remarked. Sr. Hertlinde knew it and she prayed very often:


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“My God, have mercy on me! My Jesus, fetch me!” On the feast of the Little Flower 30 September and 3 October, she was waiting for death, but she had to continue to suffer and was grateful for it. During the last three days her agony resembled somewhat that of our Lord. There was always a Sister with her which gave her comfort. She often repeated the words: “From above I shall repay you and I shall not forget any one” as a sign of gratitude.

On 23 October, Monday, towards evening, the dear Sister changed perceptibly. Shortly after Compline the Sisters gathered round her sickbed to say the prayers for the dying with a Priest. While the sisters sang the “Suscipe” a movement as if she would like to go could clearly be perceived. The difficulty in breathing became always more painful. Just at midnight her breathing got quiet and after a few deep breaths, she expired on 24 October 1961; relieved from all earthly pain.

At the grave, Rev. Fr. Heinz HENNING, OMI, Provincial of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate in Namibia at that time, prayed:

O God, Lord over life and death, we recommend to Thee the eternal rest of good Sr. Hertlinde, whose mortal body we have put to eternal rest. Thou hast called her into thy Kingdom through religious state. Thou hast given her the grace to serve Thee in the sick and suffering for decades. Thou gave her cheerfulness in days of health; Thou gave her fortitude to remain brave and courageous on the sickbed. Now Thou hast taken her home and we who feel her departure painfully ask Thee humbly to reward abundantly and lovingly what she has been to us for Thy honour and all she has done for us, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This was the life of Sr. Hertlinde, who gave her all, who joined in the passion and death of Christ. We can only pray and hope in faith that she will rise with Him on the last day. She was laid to rest in the Mission cemetery, Döbra.

May she gain possession of Christ’s never ending peace and joy!

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49. SAVIOUR, COME; I AM READY!Sister Hiltrudis Kindl, OSB

(1905 – 2002)

On the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, 14 September 2002, Sister Hiltrudis Kindl went home to God after she had been bedridden in

the last few days. The Lord heard her plea of ‘Saviour, Come! I am ready!’ She died in Swakopmund where she was assigned for many years.

Sister Hiltrudis was born on 19 May 1905 as the 10th and last child of Kaspar and Magdalena Kindl. She lost her beloved mother at the age of three, and her father together with her older siblings lovingly cared for her as the baby of the family.

In a handwritten short account of her life, Sister Hiltrudis narrates: ‘We were 4 girls and 6 boys in my family. We had a medium-sized farm. As First World War began, my brothers had to go to military service and so my father had to depend on us girls. One of my brothers, a theology student, died in the war. My second eldest sister who entered with the Vinzentian Sisters in Münich did bedside nursing with the seriously ill and she died at the age of 38. This was in the same year of my father’s death. Until 1923, I worked at home with my brother in our hometown of Untermühlhausen; then I went to St. Ottilien to help in the kitchen in the household and in the sewing room. After a three month course in sewing with the Dominican Sisters in Diessen, I applied for entrance to Tutzing. My sister Anna had already made her First Profession there in February 1927 and became Sister Anthusa. On 04 April 1929, I entered as a Candidate in Kerschlach, and then I moved over to Tutzing as a Postulant. On 12th September 1930 I became a Novice and changed my baptismal name, Genovefa to Sister Hiltrudis. On 07 October 1931, I made my First Profession and on 15 October 1934 my Perpetual Profession.’


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Sister Hiltrudis experienced the suppression of the Tutzing convent in 1942 due to the Second World War. At that time, 30 Sisters including herself were at least allowed to remain in the motherhouse, but they were obliged to work and serve only under the authority of the military. The convent was filled with 340 children who were in need of rest and rehabilitation. The parents of the said children were made to believe that the Sisters were taking care of their children, but in truth, the Sisters had no possibility of acquaintance with them. Later, the motherhouse was turned into a Lazarett.

The year 1948 brought the joyful event in the life of Sister Hiltrudis, when she received her Mission Cross for foreign missions to the Priory of Windhoek, Namibia. The journey by sea lasted more than 20days from the 4th to 27th of March 1948. It surely was a great joy for her to meet her blood sister, Sister Anthusa, OSB, who had been sent to Namibia 18 years earlier. However, despite the fact that the two sisters were in the same mission country, they only met occasionally due to the difficult travelling condition at that time, but they were both happy to serve the Lord in the foreign mission.

In 1970 Sister Hiltrudis went on homeleave and again saw her homeland, Germany after many years away in the mission. In 1973 her blood Sister Anthusa passed on to eternity after one and a half years of suffering from cancer of the intestines. Three years later, in 1976 Sister Hiltrudis once more went on homeleave. One of her greatest joys was the visits of her grandniece to Namibia.

Sister Hiltrudis was a thoughtful person. Remembering some fond memories with Sister Hiltrudis, Sister Scholastica KALIKI, OSB, recalls: “It was in January 2000, when I had to leave Swakopmund where I was for my Postulancy Formative Activity, I was leaving for home because my mother had just died. Sister Hiltrudis weak and frail was climbing the steps holding on to the iron rails along the corridor; she motioned me to go to her and she handed to me a banana which she took from her pocket and whispered in a German which I understood to be ‘please eat and be strong’. What a caring and an emotional encounter!”

After 71 years of religious life and 54 years as a missionary in Namibia, she may now joyfully behold the Lord whom she had lovingly and faithfully served all her life. She worked as a cook specifically in Windhoek, St. Antonius Hospital in Swakopmund and in the hostel of Klein Windhoek; at the latter the boys at the school fondly called her ‘Sister Kitchen’. At the farewell Mass at 9:00 AM of the 17th of September 2002 in Swakopmund, the parish Priest spoke of the significant task


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of a cook, mainly because Jesus in his life took part and ate at festive celebrations and then instituted the Eucharist in the form of a meal. God knows how many drops of perspiration and how many bodily pains the heat from the kitchen stoves and ovens brought her.

After the burial rite at the Swakopmund cemetery, the group of parishioners and friends came together for lunch in the Sisters’ refectory in honour of Sister Hiltrudis. She would have quietly smiled to see a familiar sight, sitting together at the meal, because in her lifetime, she habitually prepared food for people.

Requiescat In Pace!

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50. WORKED WITH GREAT KNOWLEDGE AND LOVESister Honorata Stocker, OSB

(1894 – 1975)

Sister Honorata was born 12 December 1894 as the 11th child of the 14 children in Reisensburg, Germany in the Archdiocese of Augsburg.

Six of the children died early and she grew up with four brothers and three sisters in a religious farmer’s family. In baptism she was named after Our Blessed Mother - Maria.

After her schooling, Maria helped in the household and learnt how to cook very well. In 1920 she applied for admission into the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and on 01 October that same year she entered. During her Postulancy probation Maria got so ill that she was advised to go back home for some time and return only if she gets well. But she cried and begged so persistently to be allowed to stay rather than go and wait at home; her tears moved Sister Ignatia, OSB her Novice Mistress and she had compassion on the poor Postulant Maria. She received permission to let her continue with her formation.


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Postulant Maria was so worried that if she goes and waits at home she would reach the age limit of 28 and she might never be allowed to enter again. Despite her illness, Maria was allowed to become a Novice on the feast of St. Agnes, 21 January1922 and was given the name Sister Honorata. She pronounced her First Profession on 02 February 1923. Her health too did improve noticeably.

Three weeks after her Profession Day, she and four of her newly professed fellow-sisters together with two more sisters received their Mission Crosses for South West Africa / Namibia. She made her Perpetual Profession in the Priory of Windhoek on 02 February 1926. Since she was a cook, her assignment was mainly in the kitchen, she worked with great knowledge and love. Due to the lack of nursing personnel, she made herself available to help in the hospital and she was taught nursing care and she did give the anaesthetics in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. In those days the hospital was still very small and underdeveloped. She showed much skill and God blessed her that there was never a mishap while she was working in the job for which she had no diploma or any training. At times she expressed how sometimes it was difficult for her to go from kitchen work into the operating theatre in the hospital. After some years, she was relieved from the hospital burden when a young nursing sister came from the Motherhouse - Tutzing.

After her 27 years of service in the kitchen of the Priory House community which she did with all her energy, Sister Honorata was transferred to Windhoek-Werft, now Pionierspark, a smaller community, but to do the same work. Instantly, she found herself loving the place because she loved to be in contact with the natives who live in the area. She was loved by the children of the kindergarten, too.

As the years went by, she developed arthritis which got worse with time. Luckily for her the kitchen was fairly narrow and she could support herself on the furniture when she had to walk around. In December 1968 the segregation between the whites and the blacks grew stricter in Namibia as a result the community of Windhoek-Werft was closed up and the sisters were sent to other houses of the Priory. Sister Honorata who was already in her 70s came back to the Priory House.

Age and sickness had taken a toll of her energy, but she was still willing to help the sick by simply praying with very sick, anaesthetized patients or just sit and watch them. She had a passion for knitting too, even when sitting with a patient she had her knitting at hand. She made lots of pullovers, shawls, woollen collars, and many others. Numerous products of hers were sent to the Kavango Stations including Angola. As


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she knitted she often mentioned how grateful she was that she could still use her hands and eyes. Until three weeks before her death she sat in her room knitting.

One day in mid-May her strength ebbed away and she could hardly walk on her own. The sister in the infirmary brought her into the chapel in a wheelchair. She received the Anointing of the Sick in the presence of all the sisters and from that hour onward she waited urgently for the coming of her God. She repeatedly said: ‘The redeemer takes long to come.’ In the morning of 24 May, He came to lead her to His Kingdom which was prepared for her from all eternity.

Two priests were present when she died; they blessed her and prayed with the sisters for her departure into perpetuity. She died quietly and peacefully as she had lived. May God be her reward for a life spent in service of Him and His people!

Requiescat In Pace!

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51. EAGERNESS FOR FOREIGN MISSION ONCE AGAINSister Ignatia Buggle, OSB

(1911 – 1974)

Before the Second World War got too aggressive, eleven Novices made their First Profession in Tutzing on 10 January 1940. That same

year, five received their mission crosses for foreign missions. Among these five, two, together with one Novice received theirs for North Korea on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary, 12 September 1940. They were Sister Friedhelma GRIMM, OSB, Sister Ignatia BUGGLE, OSB and Sister Serva SPITZLEI, OSB; the latter was still a novice. Sister Ignatia and her companions made their Perpetual Profession in Wonsan Priory, North Korea. Their mission life seemed flourishing when suddenly North Korea was occupied by Russia and the communist took control of the land. The Missionary Benedictines – men and women, had to endure


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persecution which led many of them to be arrested in the night of 10 May 1949 by the Korean Communists and they were imprisoned for three months. The 19 Korean Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing were told to return to their families, but they continued to live out their monastic calling secretly. Some years later, some of the aforementioned sisters fled to South Korea where they established the Priory of Taegu. The 20 German Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing together with several monks were taken to a labour camp where they had to do heavy manual labours. Many of them were not accustomed to such labour, but they had to do it for they were regarded as ‘prisoners’ then.

Sister Ignatia celebrated her 38th Birthday in the labour camp which they named ‘Oksa-dok’. She was born on 17 October 1911 in Immendingen in the diocese of Freiburg, Germany and was baptized Maria. During their stay in the captivity, she helped with cooking; it was not an easy duty because the food were insufficient, but she, together with Sister Optata MÜLLER, OSB managed to get three meals per day ready for their fellow religious ‘prisoners’-sisters and monks. Sister Ignatia experienced the inhuman treatment in the camp, especially during the ‘death march’ where they had to march for long miles without shoes in the dark and on rocky mountain paths.

She had seen two of her fellow sisters40 and 15 monks succumbed to death during those painful and hopeless years of imprisonment. The condition of their health was so poor that many if not all thought no one of them would live much longer. Each one of them was facing death at any time. They suffered from illnesses due to lack of food, poor diet and hygiene. They had no spare clothes to change and no soap for washing themselves and they had not even toothpaste. During winter seasons life was more tormenting for them then ever, particularly at night as they could only prevent their toes being frozen by stepping on each other from time to time; there were neither blankets nor warm clothes for them. These were days of hunger, especially that of spiritual nourishment, for sometimes they were not allowed to practice their religion and had neither books nor Bible with them. Some of them, if not many, fell into deep depressions. One night, one of the sisters who suffered from depression disappeared from the sleeping room, she was found in the graveyard weeping on a new grave mound and dug into the earth with her hands as she shouted ‘I must get in there, I cannot live anymore!’

40 Sister Eva Schütz, OSB, died on 10 August 1950 and Sister Fructuosa Gerstmayer, OSB, died on 16 September 1952, both in the labour camp at Oksa-dok, North Korea.


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Their faith was truly tried, but they all bore their fate bravely trusting in God who is the only help of all.

Finally, 07 January 1954 brought them liberation, they were told that they are free and were given new soldier pants and shoes, the sisters had no choice but to put on whatever was given to them. From that day, they were also assured that they are not ‘prisoners’ but ‘highly-honoured foreign guests of the government of North Korea’ instead. After 4 years of seclusion as prisoners and having forgotten what privacy means, they are suddenly became ‘guests’ and had soon to return back to Europe. Their arrival in Germany was a surprise because their communication with respective communities and families had been cut-off since their arrest, and so no one in the motherhouse knew they were arriving. During those dreadful four years in captivity, no one in Tutzing neither in the whole congregation nor their families or relatives knew their whereabouts. Nevertheless, their return to the Motherhouse in Tutzing was a magnificent celebration for the whole Congregation.

Having survived the hardships in the labour camp and the hearty welcoming of the Sisters in the Priory of Tutzing might have given new hope to Sister Ignatia, which prompted her eagerness for foreign mission once again. After a few months stay in Tutzing, she was destined for a new mission assignment to South West African, now Namibia. She departed for Namibia in May 1955 with other three sisters. In Windhoek Priory, she worked in Swakopmund Convent taking care of the elderly sisters.

In November 1972 she suffered a stroke caused by brain haemorrhage; from which she did not recover. Her left-side was also paralyzed from that stroke; but mentally she was always very clear. Her condition got worse and worse; thus, in July 1973 she was brought to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek from Swakopmund hoping she will get better treatment. After her arrival in Windhoek, she seemed convalescing, but then she complained having pain in her kidney. She received twice the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. In the morning of 05 February 1974 her condition worsened rapidly. The priests and sisters said the prayers of the dying for her until she was called home to God at 09:05 AM. She calmly and gently gave her soul back to the God who saw her through the Korean captivity and after 19 years of service in Windhoek Priory.

Requiescat In Pace!


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52. A GLASS OF WATER TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN

Sister Imma Löber, OSB(1913 – 1998)

Sister Imma Löber, OSB was born on 10 October 1913, in Tauberrettersheim; she was baptized two days after her birth on 12

October and received the name Klara. She grew up in a big and happy family. Klara was the 12th and youngest daughter of her parents, the farmers Andreas and Maria Löber. She loved to talk about her happy childhood and cheerful youth days with her siblings and parents in their big farm, that had a big orchard and vineyards. She would also talk about her father who was rather strict but lovable; he kept the children at home away from the street. Her father used to go hunting early mornings but would come back home on time to be with the family. During winter seasons, the rosary was said in their house led by their father. The family was very pious and generous, six of the 12 children became religious: 2 boys became priests, 4 girls became religious women.

As a baby, Klara had a near death experience, when one of her older sisters, Margareta, who was babysitting her, placed the baby-carriage on a dangerous spot while playing with other children in the neighbourhood. The baby-carriage rolled and turned upside and down into the muddy, water-ditch. Luckily, there was a caring lady nearby who was witnessing the accident; she rescued the baby Klara from suffocating.

When she was 6 years old her eldest sister entered the convent of the Daughters of the Holy Redeemer in Würzburg; one more elder sister also entered later in the same congregation. Her elder brother was ordained to priesthood in 1935 and that made Klara and her sister Margareta wishing to become missionaries, too. Margareta had to sacrifice to stay home while Klara entered first because their father was against their decisions. Klara entered in Tutzing on 01 May 1935. She became a novice on 26 April 1936, and received the name Sister Imma. At the age


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of 24, she made her First Profession on 14 October 1937. In 14 October 1940 she made her Perpetual Profession, a year earlier, her blood sister, Margareta also entered and made her First Profession on 10 January 1939 and she was called Sister Venantia, OSB.

Sister Imma worked in Kerschlach for a few years and then she was sent for further studies; she took up a course as a dietician. At the beginning of the war, she helped in Schweikelberg until the abbey was closed by the Nazis. She was sent back to Wessobrunn and later she was transferred to Tutzing until 1949. That year on the 04 March 1949, a group of six sisters were sent to Windhoek Priory, they were Sister Hiltrudis Kindl, OSB; Sister Viatrix Weber, OSB; Sister Alypia SCHRÖTTKE, OSB; Sister Frankhilde Hilpert, OSB; Sister Godwina Himmelsbach, OSB and Sister Imma Löber, OSB.

Since Sister Imma was a good cook, she was assigned to work in many different Stations of the priory. Several times, she was put in-charge of the hospital kitchens in Windhoek and Swakopmund. In 1951, she received the news of her blood Sister Venantia’s foreign mission assignment to Eshowe Priory41 in South Africa. But such joy lasted only for five years and on 22 June 1956 Sister Venantia was called home to God in Nongoma hospital, South Africa.

In 1968 she was transferred to Shambyu in Kavango, where she worked until the Station was given over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1989. Apart from being a cook, she did gardening, took care of pigs, the chickens and doves. After Shambyu, she was assigned to Bunya and did the same work. Bunya mission was likewise handed over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1994, and Sister Imma had to be transferred to Swakopmund, where she cooked for the community, the visitors and holiday-guests. Since the convent is just a short walk to the ocean, Sister Imma took the advantage of going to the sea to swim, for she enjoyed swimming whenever the weather was favourable. On the afternoon of the 26 January 1998, she once again went for swimming as usual, not knowing that this was her last swim. After swimming for some time that afternoon, she came out of the water onto the beach and there she collapsed and became unconscious. People, who knew her, sent for an ambulance and brought her to the convent. She was still able to give her name and the address.

When the ambulance arrived at the Sisters’ house, Sister Elreda KLEIN, OSB got a big fright when she saw Sister Imma; she immediately

41 Inkamana Priory was called Eshowe from the beginning.


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directed the ambulance to the hospital. She realized that Sister Imma needed a doctor and proper examination. Another sister followed soon and took along some things which she thought Sister Imma might need at the hospital. When the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Sister Imma could not speak anymore, but showed her joy of seeing her fellow sisters at her side.

She underwent different tests, and the doctors told the Sisters, that a haemorrhage in the brain was the most likely diagnosis. But the sisters were told, there was no further help to be given; and that Sister Imma might not survive the following night, Father Paul LOOTSEN, MSC from the parish of the Holy Rosary was called to give her the last rites of the Church. At about 03:00 AM on 27 January 1998 Sister Imma’s condition deteriorated. Sister Adelheidis FLORIN, OSB the Superior of Swakopmund community at that time was on holidays at the Priory House in Windhoek. She was called and together with Mother Prioress Pia LANSANG, OSB arrived in Swakopmund just in time before Sister Imma completed her life’s journey on 27 January 1998. The Sisters thanked Sister Imma for her untiring work to the priory and the mission. Through her, the hope of a hundredfold reward to those who gave even a glass of water to one of the least of His brethren is fulfilled. She was buried in Döbra, among many of those she had served during her life time especially the past 50 years she rendered to the Windhoek Priory.

Requiescat In Pace!


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53. DEEPLY RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONSSister Ingrid Schmitt, OSB

(1927 - 1987)

‘May I never boast of anything, but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through it the world has been crucified to me and I, to the world’

(Gal.6:14). These words of St. Paul seem to express Sister Ingrid’s life. In Tutzing where she had begun her religious life, is where she also said her last ‘Fiat’.

Sister Ingrid was born on 15 April 1927 in Hainstadt, diocese of Mainz, Germany. She received the name Hedwig Maria in baptism. The second name Maria remained always very dear to her. From her early childhood she had a great devotion to Mary, Our Blessed Mother. She grew up with her siblings and lived a happy life with their deeply religious parents. But their happiness was interrupted during the Second World War by bombings and deaths in the family and of near relatives. Hedwig Maria studied book-keeping and Commerce and was employed by DUNLOP, a well known firm where her father also worked.

On 03 November 1948 Hedwig Maria entered in Tutzing. At her clothing day on 17 October 1949 she received the name Sister Ingrid. The following year, on 19 October 1950 she pronounced her First Profession and three years later sealed her first promise with her life-long ‘Suscipe Me’. After her Final Profession, in 1950 she helped the cellarer in the Motherhouse for one year. Then for another one year she served in Weiterdingen as a bookkeeper and helped in the Reception.

Sister Ingrid’s wish to go to the Foreign Missions was finally realized on 14 March 1962, when she was sent to Windhoek Priory in Namibia. For more than two years she took care of the Kindergarten and the boarding students of Windhoek Werft, today Pionierspark. She loved the learners and cared for them with a mother’s love. In 1965 she took over the Accounting of the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. She


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was also in charge of ordering and distributing the medicines. Many people remember her for her attention to the poor, her generosity and readiness to help because ‘In accordance with the Benedictine Rule we share our goods and place our work, skills and time at the disposal of the community and its mission.’ Sister Ingrid was also a matured person with deeply religious convictions and a variety of experiences.

During her 25 years stay in Namibia she went only twice on home-leave after the Missionary Benedictine Sisters’ Constitutions had permitted home-leaves for foreign missionaries. In December 1985 she asked to return back to Germany for personal reasons. After a short stay in Rome, she took special courses in business and management in Germany and in England. Subsequently, after a well deserved ‘home-leave’ with her dear ones, she received a call to Madrid, Spain, where the community was badly in need of an experienced Treasurer. With great interest and eagerness she started her work in Madrid community, but God’s ways are not our ways. After a short stay she suddenly suffered from strong abdominal pains. The doctor in Madrid told her that she has an inoperable tumour. Mother Edeltrud WEIST, OSB42 advised her to go back to Tutzing for more extensive examination and treatment. The doctor in Tutzing confirmed the doctor’s verdict of Madrid. Sister Ingrid spoke her ‘Fiat’ and began to prepare herself for her last journey. On the feast of the Assumption she received the sacrament of Holy Anointing. The remaining weeks she spent them in prayer and silent waiting.

She received still the visits of her brother and sister from New York, who made the long trip to see their sister for the last time. Less than one year since she left Windhoek Priory, she peacefully surrendered her soul to her Creator on 09 September 1987. The burial was set for 14th September, to give time to her relatives and many friends in and outside of the country to attend.

The Requiem Mass, which was followed by the funeral, was celebrated by Rev. Bishop Rudolf Johannes Maria Koppmann, OMI43 and Father Heinz Henning, OMI concelebrated; both came from Windhoek, who happened to be on home-leaves during Sister Ingrid’s sickness and death. There were also other two priest-friends from

42 Mother Edeltrud Weist, OSB was Prioress General at the time Sr. Ingrid got sick.

43 Bishop Rudolf Johaness Maria Koppmann, OMI was second Vicar Apostolic of Windhoek, Namibia; he died on 24 June 2007 in Swakopmund where he lived after his retirement from Windhoek. R.I.P.


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her home town who concelebrated. Many relatives and fellow Sisters accompanied Sister Ingrid to her resting place.

May she be a good intercessor for all before God’s throne!

Requiescat In Pace!

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54. GIVE ME GRACE TO CALL YOUR NAMESister Irene Nakale-Tshavuka, OSB

(1959 – 2009)

Twins in Ovambo culture are very well respected and are considered as queens and kings. Angelina Katakula with her husband Abniel

Nakale Tshavuka were blessed with four pairs of twins and two single children, their children together were ten, seven girls and three boys. One pair of twins was born on the 09 September 1959 in Oshima, Omusati Region in Namibia. On 21st of July 1960 the twins were baptized in St. Theresia Oshikuku Parish Church and were given the names Elisabeth and Irene. The former got married and had children while the latter chose religious life.

Irene, with other ten candidates entered the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1980. As a Novice, Irene was assigned to Bunya for her Formative Activities. For personal reasons, Novice Irene was left behind by her group that made their First Profession in 1984. The following year, she joined the group behind her and pronounced their First Profession on the 06January 1985, presided by Father Kaishara ka Nangombe,44

44 Father Kaishara ka Nangombe is Father Gerhard Heimerikx OMI, who served for many years in Namibia, and later, during the liberation struggle he ministered to the Namibians exiled in Zambia and Angola. He died at the age of 86, on 25th of October 2009 in Hünfeld an old-age home in Germany. He was laid to rest at the Oblates’ Cemetery in Hünfeld, Germany, R.I.P.


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OMI. Like many other young Novices of the Post-Vatican II, she opted to keep her baptismal name and was known as Sister Irene Nakale-Tshavuka, OSB. That year, 1985, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing celebrated their Centennial of Foundation; the way it was celebrated by the Sisters living in Oshikuku Mission might have given a good impression on young girls, because many decided to enter the convent, although they were still not allowed to join the Missionaries Sisters’ Congregation. After her Final Profession on 06 January 1991, thereafter, she was assigned in Kavango Region.

On 14th June 1996, Sister Irene was among the Fifty-eight Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku who started their canonical probation and were integrated to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing on the 29th of August 1999. From then on she was assigned as a cook in Tondoro, Priory House and lastly in Ongha community. In the year 2000, on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, Sister Irene’s father, Abniel Nakale-Tshavuka, passed on to eternity. Her mother, Angelina KATAKULA, followed six years later on 20 February 2006.

Sister Irene was a quiet person by nature and sometimes was mistaken to be moody. She was simple, joyful at times and liked jokes. When she had to teach or to correct somebody she did it in a friendly, kind and humble way. She was very prayerful and had a favourite song to Our Lady ‘Nda hara ndi hore Maria Meme, muudhigu nenyanyu ndi ku karere…’ (I want to love Mary my Mother, in difficulties and in joy I live for you).

In 2008 while she was in Ongha community, she became sick with cancer of the liver. She was brought to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek and the doctors tried all they could do to help her but God’s ways are not ours, she died on 20th of August 2009 exactly 20 days before her 50th Birthday, in the presence of many of her fellow Sisters who were singing and praying with her. She never complained about her suffering; but bore everything in quiet and stillness for ‘We have Mary, the virgin Mother of God, as our model. She is a woman of faith who listened with her whole heart and received the Word of God. In joy as well as in suffering she gave a believing and loving response and remained the humble handmaid who brought Christ to the world.’ 45

As the Sisters looked in Sister Irene’s belongings, they found a Prayer handwritten; she might have been praying it all her life through because it has some words similar to her favourite song mentioned above.

45 The Constitutions of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing chapter 2:17.


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Moreover, she must have been praying the prayer fervently the days prior to her admission in the hospital; the prayer read:

‘My Dear Lord, Thank you Lord, that you called me!Thank you for the graces I received these days!Thank you Lord for your love and your kindness!Be with me everywhere I am!Strengthen me in my difficult time!Give me grace to call your name in times of happiness and in times of sorrows.Thank you for your healing and for your forgiveness!Lord you know me and I ask you to bless me every day of my life! Amen.’

She is survived by her twin-sister Elizabeth and her sister Cecilia; the rest had gone ahead to eternity. She will be missed very dearly but it can be hoped that she will intercede for everyone.

Requiescat In Pace!

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55. YOU TOO GO INTO MY VINEYARDSister Irmina Pauly, OSB

(1888 – 1969)

Susanna Pauly was born on 05 October 1888 in Maring, diocese of Trier. At the age of 24, she entered the Missionary Benedictine Sisters

of Tutzing Congregation; on 01 March 1912 she became a Postulant and the following year she was clothed as a Novice and received the name Sister M. Irmina. On 05 September 1914, she and ten other Novices made their First Profession; that same year in November the First World War broke out. During the war there were no possibilities of sending new missionaries to foreign missions. Sr. Irmina had to spend her first years of Religious in the Motherhouse until the end of the war in 1918.

From 1918 to 1921 she was assigned in the beautiful convent at


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Wessobrunn until the Lord’s voice said to her ‘You go also into my vineyard’. She received her Mission Cross to the new Foundation in South West Africa, Namibia; she joyfully said yes to her new place in the Windhoek Priory. She arrived in Walvis Bay together with Sister Thaddäa POPP, OSB, Sister Peregrina STREIN, OSB Sister, Aurelia HAAG, OSB Sister Adeline VOGEL, OSB and Sister Aemiliana MITTL, OSB in early 1922. Sister Irmina and Sister Thaddäa were assigned to Epukiro community; and after a year, Sister Irmina was transferred to Windhoek on 01 April 1923. That same year in May the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing took over the administration of the Maria Hilf Hospital and renamed it as the hospital of Our Lady of Perpetual Help or simply ‘Maria Hilf Krankenhaus’ on 16 April 1923. The hospital had been run by the Franciscan Sisters of Heythuizen, Nonnewerth since 190746. Later in the 1930s the hospital was again renamed and became what is known today as the Roman Catholic Hospital. In those days the hospital catered to the Europeans only; which was not Sister Irmina’s wish to work for fellow whites in ‘Africa’. She wished to serve the blacks instead, however she had no other choice but to do her best as she could, fulfilling what the Congregation’s Constitutions admonishes ‘Obedience presupposes and fosters personal maturity and genuine freedom.’

Sister Irmina was assigned in the hospital as a nurse and in the sewing room; she was also a sacristan of the parish church. Her work in the hospital was very much appreciated for the reason that she had a good knowledge in nursing and she loved the sick; she was then given night duties on Sundays. The patients loved her humble and quiet services that they named her ‘Little Guardian for Sunday nights’.

On 26 June 1926 the community of Windhoek was erected to the status of a Priory and since then it became known as St. Benedict, Windhoek Priory, with Mother Agatha ROSS, OSB47 as the First Prioress of Windhoek. The Priory started to extend its wings to some other regions as the sisters answered the call of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate to go and help in the mission Station of Bunya. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters went to serve in Bunya in 1932; a year which brought a big and yet desired shift in Sister Irmina’s service. She was transferred to her long awaited mission of Bunya community. She was one of the founding

46 The Franciscan Sisters had to leave the hospital because they were posted in Namibia only to fulfil a contract with the Army Hospital until 1920s.

47 After her office as prioress of Windhoek, Sister Agatha ROSS was transferred to Tanzania, and died in Peramiho on 14 September1945.


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members of the Sisters’ community in Bunya and also its first Superior. There she showed her maternal affectionate and loyalty in her office as superior.

In 1936, her service was needed in Andara community, where she took over the office of superior, too. She was being transferred from one Station to another always as a Superior. After her term of office ended in Andara, she was assigned as Superior of Nyangana in 1942. As she served as superior in those communities, she diligently worked with joyful heart, selfless spirit and kindest manner as she cared for the welfare of her fellow sisters and the whole Mission Stations.

In the early 1950s, she felt her strength dwindling; but despite her weak health she continued to serve with constant kindness to all. She also remained faithful to her prayer life until the last days of her life. In 1967, her strength considerably deteriorated; she was offered to transfer to the Priory House but she modestly declined the offer. She requested to spend her retirement years in Nyangana instead, because she wanted to die there among the Kavango people, with whom she spend more than 30 years of her life. This wish came true faster than one could think of.

Ten days before her death her strength failed and she had to lie down for some days, everyone hoped for her speedy recovery but the Lord called His handmaid servant to Himself on 18 October 1969. She was buried in Nyangana, Kavango; her long stay with the people she loved and served faithfully was fulfilled.

Requiescat In Pace!


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56. A LIFE LIVED IN OBSCURITY, SILENCE AND HUMILITYSister Isberga Gruber, OSB

(1901 – 1978)

Maria was born on 24 January 1901 in Helling, archdiocese of Munich-Freising. She hardly spoke about her past or family or childhood.

The little that is shared in this page about Sr. Isberga is from some of her fellow sisters, especially those she lived with her in Swakopmund which is surely in agreement with her life of silent and humility.

Maria grew up with some siblings on a big farm. She was the eldest daughter. At the age of 18, her mother died and she took over the role of a mother.

In her diary, a note was found which says that in 1925, a Holy Year; the family had a 9 day trip to Rome and had an audience with Pope Pius XI. At that time surely an extraordinary event! She was then 25 years old, a year before her entrance. She was admitted in Tutzing on 15 February 1926.

God called Maria and she followed him and became Sr. Isberga on her clothing day on 27 August 1926. She made her First Profession on 10 February 1929 and Final Profession on 11 February 1932, and she was missioned to Cuchi in Angola on 03 April 1932 for this fledgling foundation. At that time Cuchi was under the care of Windhoek Priory. Her mission assignment there was short lived, for after only one year and a half year she had to say goodbye to the country she came to love due to health reasons. At the end of 1933 she found a new home in South West Africa now Namibia where she served faithfully until her death.

Sr. Isberga worked in the kitchen of the St. Antonius Hospital, Swakopmund for 45 years giving nourishment to body and soul of innumerable patients, guests, fellow- sisters and mission personnel through her untiring service, which she executed always with a friendly smile on her face. She was known for this throughout the years and decades of her life regardless of her later pains.

When she was 63 years old, the hidden suffering began in the life


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of Sr. Isberga. An increasing osteoporosis caused her serious pains in her back and knees which required her to wear a neck support and a corset. She later developed an arrhythmia of the heart. During her only home-leave in 1966 she found a slight short term improvement through mud-baths and other therapies on her knees. In spite of all the pains she had to bear, Sr. Isberga continued her kitchen service. Her fellow sisters helped her as much as possible but she really did not like it. She received more rest days than other sisters which she appreciated a lot.

Sr. Isberga was throughout her life very interested in the happenings of the community. She was always available to her fellow sisters in their joys and disappointments, while her own small and big joys and sufferings she silently took to her God.

In 1978, Sr. Isberga joined the annual retreat that was held in Swakopmund, seemingly with a clear and attentive disposition. She went for confession and had a talk with the retreat master, he recounted afterwards. On a Sunday morning during the retreat conference her chair was vacant and a little later she was found in her room lying on the floor. She was put to bed and the sisters discovered that she had suffered a stroke which paralyzed her vocal cord. She received the Sacrament of the sick and became conscious but could only answer by nodding her head when she was spoken to. Her pulse deteriorated slowly, thus she needed someone around the clock to watch and wait with her for the arrival of her bridegroom. At the end of the retreat the sisters sang the Te Deum on her death bed. At 2.00AM on 03 July 1978 the sister on night duty noticed a sudden change and called other Sisters. With the prayers of the Sisters she gave her soul at 2.50AM into the hands of her Creator. Indeed she needed the retreat for her viaticum. A life in obscurity, silence and humility had come to an end.

One could envy Sr. Isberga for her beautiful return to God on the last day of her retreat. It was a transfer from the timely limited Being-with-him during the quiet and retreat days to the Oneness-with-Him without end.

“May Sr. Isberga be our intercessor that we may also be called to God when we are ready to say ‘Yes’ in total dedication to our last perfection.”


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57. WORKED WITH ATTENTION AND LOVESister Jutta Hafner

(1898 – 1980)

At the dawning of the Solemnity of Our Lady’s Assumption, 15 August 1980 Sister Jutta Hafner OSB passed away to the eternal home from

Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek. She was born on the Foundation Day of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Congregation - 24 September 1898 in Schmiechen, diocese of Rottenburg. In baptism she received the name Maria. She was the 7th of 17 children of Hafner family of which two died while they were still babies and one brother died at the age of 25. Her mother was a strong and energetic woman who in spite of the work she had to do for her big family, reached the blessed age of 90+.

Two Sisters of Sister Jutta felt called to the religious life and entered the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters in Reute and one brother became a Priest of the White Fathers. Maria Hafner entered in Tutzing on 15 October1920 after completing her One-Year Course in nursing from 1918-1919 in Berlin. On her clothing day on 16 June 1921 she was given the name Sister Jutta. She made her First Profession in Tutzing on 02 February 1923 and received the Mission Cross for Namibia in October 1923. Christmas of 1923 found her in her mission country after her arrival on 23 December 1923. She worked on many mission stations on the Priory, mainly in Kavango and in Ovamboland. In 1960 she was transferred to Swakopmund and did night duties in the Antonius Hospital for 15 years.

After the Vatican II home leaves were permitted, Sister Jutta took the opportunity to visit her home country after over 50 years. In 1977 she was assigned in the refectory in Swakopmund which was no small job for her with so many visitors in the community. Nevertheless, she


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did her work with attention and love. The Solemnity of St. Benedict of 1977 found Sister Jutta in bed after her fall on 07 July with a fractured hip. She was brought to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek and had an operation on the 09 July. In spite of her heart problems, she took the anaesthesia and the operation quite well. Unfortunately, the wound developed problems and would not healed. She suffered much pain from it, but she kept a sense of humour. She was an exemplary patient; very grateful for every help that was given her and she was serene. She knew God could call her at any moment and she was well-prepared for His coming. She received the Sacrament of the sick and received Holy Communion daily; for ‘As we walk the way of Jesus Christ we encounter darkness and the folly of the cross, but we also experience the mystery of his saving love.’ 48 She got weaker and weaker everyday and at the dawning of the feast of the Assumption, 15 August 1980, the Lord called her home. Sister Jutta was buried in Döbra in the afternoon of the same day.

Requiescat In Pace!

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58. HELPING AND HEALING!Sister Katharina Lummel, OSB

(1891 – 1984)

Elizabeth was born in Schraudenbach, diocese of Würzburg, on 12 September 1891. She was the 2nd of 5 children.

She entered Tutzing on 01 July 1912, became a novice on 24 November 1913. On 2 January 1915 she made her First Profession. After 5 long years of waiting came the news for her, to leave for foreign

48 The Constitutions of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing chapter 2: 16b


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mission in South West Africa, now Namibia. She left Germany on 11 November 1921, a year after the first eight sisters had arrived to make a foundation in Namibia. She arrived in Walvis Bay on 12 December and proceeded to Swakopmund together with five other sisters, to begin a new community in Swakopmund and take over the St. Antonius Hospital from the Franciscan Sisters, who were to leave Namibia in a few weeks’ time. This was not to be her permanent destination though; on 23 June 1922 Sr. Katharina joined the first group of sisters who were to make foundations in Kavango Region, specifically, in Nyangana. Kavango Region was the place she would live and serve for the rest of her life. They travelled for 3 weeks with an ox wagon from Grootfontein to their destination in Nyangana Mission, the oldest of the stations in Kavango which was founded by Fr. Joseph GOTTHARDT, OMI in 1910. Fr. Gotthardt later became Bishop and then Archbishop of Windhoek. Sr. Katharina and her companions had to overcome many technical hitches and troubles along the way. For 120 kilometres, they had to face dangers from wild animals, mosquito bites, snakes, the scorching sun and lack of water for the oxen – the “thirst stretch”; this ‘thirst stretch” was most feared by many travellers to Kavango. They trekked along with heavily loaded ox wagons and many oxen in a pathway that was not completely paved. At long last, they reached their destinations.

In 1928 Sr. Katharina moved from Nyangana to Andara, another 100 km to the east of Kavango, where she lived and worked for God’s Kingdom until her death. In addition to her heavy work in the kitchen, garden and in the house, Sr. Katharina visited the sick in their huts. The dying people were often hidden, because to the natives baptism was a ritual they could not comprehend. To them it was viewed as witchcraft because coincidentally, after their sick ones were baptized, many would immediately die as if killed by the rite of baptism. Even the headman was very much against the visits of the sisters. The daring missionaries, convinced in the mandate of Christ, did not give up but continued to fight to win people for Christ himself. Sr. Katharina talked often about these visits and the fights she had encountered with the headman of Mbukushu.

She did her pastoral work around the villages and God blessed her work. She used any kind of travelling mode used by the natives; on foot, by canoe or on a horse- back. That is how she ventured to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ closer to the Gciriku and Mbukushu people. Many challenges were met in the mission field; not only the language barriers but also misunderstandings and rejections.


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Sr. Katharina herself was not spared from the sickness as the villagers. ‘She was wounded as she healed’. She very often suffered from malaria and other tropical illnesses.

Once in those 62 years she enjoyed a home-leave in 1959. In spite of the long distance and the long separation from her family, they re-united immediately and from then on they exchanged letters while in Andara, and some material assistance could be rendered by her family for Andara mission.

When Sr. Katharina got old, her vision became very poor, partially blind and she had a cataract operation in 1981. Gradually she was confined on a wheelchair and spent her life in the apostolate of prayer; totally dependent on the help of a fellow sister. She was always very grateful for every small favour accorded to her and with interest, joy and humour she took part in the community life praying the Divine Office by heart.

On 7 February 1984 at 18H45 the Lord came to take her home to his eternal Kingdom. She died in Andara and was buried there in the mission cemetery under a big acacia tree. She will surely be a faithful intercessor in her eternal joy.



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59. A GIFT FROM ABOVE, FOR THE SHAMBYU PEOPLESister Leopoldine Mühlbauer, OSB

(1930 – 1993)

The Mission Station of Shambyu49 was established in 1930 by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) per request of Fr. Joseph

GOTTHARDT, OMI, to Fr. Franz MARX50 assisted by the OMI Brothers and the natives. Seven years later, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters were needed in this Mission station to care for the sick and to educate the natives. On 05 October 1937, Sr. Leopoldine arrived in Utokota/Shambyu. Sr. Bonita WOHLMANNSTETTER and Sr. Erwina DIET had preceded her already on 16 August of the same year; together they started a community in this mission that had already begun in 1930.

Maria was born on 05 February 1904 in Dossenheim, Germany. She was trained as a teacher. After completing her training as a schoolteacher she joined the Benedictine Sisters in Tutzing. She made her First Profession on 11 January 1936 and was missioned to Windhoek on 13 March 1937. She arrived in Shambyu in October, after acquiring some language skills in Nyangana. Upon her arrival, she took over the administration of the mission school because Fr. Franz MARX, OMI, who was managing it, had left for Germany. The mission of Shambyu in Kavango needed this strong sister of body and character. She put her skill and talents, energy and enthusiasm in improving and developing the living standard of the people.

When the school hours were over, she would go around the villages to visit the sick and the needy. She would travel either by canoe or on foot accompanied by some older boys who lived at the mission.

The beginning had to be laid on strong foundations of suffering and

49 Originally, Shambyu was known as Utokota- meaning that Shambyu is in Utokota, but today Shambyu refers only to the Mission which is situated between Utokota and Gove Villages.

50 Ref. Dr. Maria Fisch, History of Shambyu Mission 1930 – 2005. P11.


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patient enduring. The three sisters were first sleeping in huts while their house was being constructed. At that time, the construction was completed, expect for the windows and doors which were still missing. They opted to remain in huts because leopards always roamed around the house and mission. Finally they could to their house. There were no furniture apart from beds and a few empty boxes; thus started a life of ups and downs and unusual adventures for the young teacher. Sr. Leopoldine tried hard to lay a strong foundation too in the education system and hostel activities. The disappointments and setbacks often caused worries and doubts as to whether the sacrifices and troubles would ever have the expected outcome.

Sr. Leopoldine is described of having been a teacher and a governess with body and soul, endowed with total commitment and a vibrant spirit. She knew well how to discipline the girls, clapping her hands was enough for them to maintain a complete silence. Like most of the early missionaries, Sr. Leopoldine came to Namibia with idealistic religious conviction and an erroneous concept of the ‘African culture’, psychology and religion. In her memoirs, she frankly admitted having made mistakes during her first years in mission and that her pupils were not inspired by her theoretical teaching methods. She failed to approach them on their own levels. The native teachers she worked with: Mr. Josef KANDJEKE and his colleague Mr. Andreas HAINGURA were her consoling factors and driving forces not to give up no matter what. They often advised and encouraged her of how to go about with what she did not know or understand.

One time she was dumbfounded at what she experienced with the children whom she had asked to form some figures out of clay. The results were some deformed dolls with big chest and a big navel, without hands or face. She thought that the girls needed a sample to improve their product so she showed them a pretty European doll for their model. The girls contemptuously returned the doll, commenting “It has no soul; there is not life in it”; this shook the feeling of the superiority of her culture.

There were times when she misunderstood the Namibian culture, Kavango culture to be specific. In the early years some of the girls ran away from the hostel. Sr. Leopoldine followed them and used the opportunity to pray with the villagers. Then she would lie down in the open sky hoping that the girls would accompany her back to mission the next day. During the night she heard drums and singing. For her that was an immoral practice, she arose in protest, clapping her hands and in a commanding manner ordered the dancing to stop immediately.


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The outcome was a wave of revolt and hate against the spoilsport. At another occasion she went to the residence of one of her girls, they were busy initiating her and she interrupted the ceremony; this caused a commotion among the people and she was harshly rejected for doing so. She was indeed fearless and engaged herself with conviction and obstinacy for what she thought was good and necessary and tried by all means to convince the natives. Sr. Leopoldine was very fortunate that the people still held some regard and respect for her, so much so that even Hompa51 MBAMBANGANDU, did not expel her from the place, which was very possible.

She kept her missionary candle burning through hard work and sacrifices. She endured the strong heat as she trudged for hours through deep sand to visit the villages, to gain trust and to gather school children. Most of all she loved and cared for the girls, she wanted them get all the necessary education while in the hostel, so that they could become women of character and that their marriage in the future would become models for others. She was deeply hurt at the instability and lack of interest of the pupils and the wayward behaviour of some girls who would rather go home to marry, than staying in the mission. She prayed intensively to God for the redemption of those souls.

Life, however, was not all suffering and all pain; she had moments of joy with her fellow sisters and in her mission field. She was always overjoyed when the catechism interested the catechumens or when her former pupils would return to the village as qualified teacher, able to support her. Presumably more to these was the joy of seeing some of her hostel girls interested to join religious life. This rejuvenated her to always go on working as hard as her strength could offer. She always got praises from the school inspector for being a good disciplinarian; but she was aware that all success depended on the blessing of Heaven to whom all praise should be accorded. Her diary portrayed her as a person who was naive and emotional, contrary to her appearance in public. During holidays she would go with the priests for pastoral assistance in the out stations of the parish far in the bush. There she would spend days and weeks in the frugal conditions afforded by the bush life. She taught religion and hymns and prepared the Christians for confession.

Sr. Leopoldine tried to teach the catechumens with firmness all Christian principles and doctrines that were not familiar to them. For her

51 In some dialects of Kavango, Hompa means traditional king or God.


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this was necessary for laying a firm foundation in them so that they may be worthy of receiving the sacrament baptism. On 01 September 1975, Sr. Ntine52, as she is fondly known, resigned as principal and hostel mother, and handed over the responsibility to a native teacher; then she focused her attention fully on pastoral work.

When she reached 50 years of service in Shambyu, the community organized a celebration in her honour, many VIPs were in attendance. The late Bishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU, her former pupil, presented her with a book containing the following dedication: “You are a gift from above for the Shambyu people, as we all believe. A thousand thanks for everything from us all.”

Sr. Leopoldine was a great figure and an enthusiast missionary among the Shambyu people. She was a prayerful woman too and wanted to pass on the culture of prayer to others. She finally converted a great man, Hompa Mbambangandu to Catholicism, and gave him the name Joseph, the patron saint of Shambyu Mission.

To the mission girls, she taught them to pray the rosary while busy making their baskets. She was a vocation promoter too and many girls who entered religious life claim to have been inspired by Sr. Ntine. Her name and good work remain on the lips and hearts of many Shambyu people

With a heavy heart, Sr. Ntine had to leave Shambyu in 1989 for Andara Mission to continue her apostolate of presence and prayer. On 05 August 1993 she passed on to a better life in Andara. Today a kindergarten of the Mission bears her name to keep alive her legacy and love for education. Even though Sr. Leopoldine is lauded so highly, her missionary endeavour was only possible through the support of her community.

The people of Namibia, whom she loved and served to the last minute of her life, are ever presented to God for their intentions.

May she enjoy the eternal rest she deserves!

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52 Kavango people like many other regions are fond of abbreviating names or sometimes change a name completely as a sign of endearment or maybe because it is too long, or as a description of that particular person. Thus Ntine was for them short for Leopoldine.


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60. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE ITSister Lintrud Kiermeier, OSB

(1917 – 2009)

A firm leader and a versatile follower is Sister Lintrud Kiermeier, OSB. After some years of teaching experience, she entered the convent

on the 03 May 1939. Four months later Adolf HITLER, the Leader of Nazi Germany, invaded Poland on 01 September of that year which made Great Britain and France sent an ultimatum that he either withdraws German forces from Poland or they would go to war against Germany. On the Feast of St. Gregory the Great, 03 September, 1939, with Germany’s forces penetrating deeper into Poland, Great Britain and France both declared war on Germany. This meant the start of the Second World War which in one way or another not only interrupted the formation of candidate Lintrud and her companions but the life of everyone in Germany.

Sister Lintrud was a youth of 22 years but she seemed more matured than her age could tell. In the midst of the war she pronounced her First Profession in Tutzing on 26th April, 1941; that same year the Motherhouse was confiscated by the Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo). The Sisters evacuated to the convent farm of Kerschlach, there Sister Lintrud made her Final Profession on 26th April 1944.

Maria Ursula, as her parents gave her the name on her baptismal day of 24th of April 1917, was born on 21st April 1917 in Oberumelsdorf, Bavaria, Diocese of Regensburg, Germany. She was the third child of her parents, Katharina nee Amberger and Lorenz Kiermeier. She grew up surrounded by her four brothers, three sisters, her wonderful parents and about eight employees of whom she often told others that ‘Our employees were counted and treated like belonging to our family instead of just being workers’.

All eight children received a good education and were formed by


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simplicity and strict house-rules, which were rooted in a deep faith and prayer. Their parents set a good example for them of hard work and cared for the poor, as they practiced almsgiving to the Church and its mission, giving with open hands.

As years went by, Maria Ursula realized her call to religious life and she entered Tutzing on the date mentioned above and was given the name Sister M. Lintrud, OSB. After her First Profession, she was assigned as Secretary in the Lazarett in St. Ottilien until June 1945. The New School Year of 1945, which started in September, brought the news of Second World War’s end and Sister Lintrud was assigned to teach the Secondary students at Tutzing. In 1951 she was entrusted with the care of Sisters in Temporal Profession; she became Junior Directress in Tutzing from September 1951 to September 1953, at the same time she was still teaching in the Secondary School.

In June 1953, Mother General Sigillinde WEBER, OSB received the news that the Prioress of Windhoek Priory, Sister Ehrengardis WEHRMEISTER, OSB left Windhoek for South Africa. It was reported early in May of 1953 that Sister Ehrengardis had received exclaustration from the Holy See in an attempt to help Bishop Aurelian BILGERI, OSB of Eshowe in South Africa drafting the Constitutions for his ‘New’ Congregation. The plan could have caused a split in the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Congregation, if all 150 Sisters belonging to the Priories of Windhoek and Inkamana would have joined that ‘new’ congregation of Bishop Aurelian, OSB. Mother Sigillinde OSB had to act as quickly as possible, she had Sister Ehrengardis’ exclaustration retracted and sent a SPECIAL VISITATOR to speak with the Sisters in Namibia and in South Africa. This ‘Special Visitator’ was Sister LINTRUD, OSB53.

She began her Canonical Visitation in the Windhoek Priory, Namibia from January to June 1954 and then proceeded to Inkamana Priory, South Africa, from June to December of the same year. All authority was given to her to bring back the minds of the sheep to the flock and to clarify the matter with each sister. She talked with kindness but firmly with each one. Sister Ehrengardis was asked to write a letter to the Sisters of Windhoek and Inkamana Priories asking their forgiveness

53 Sister Lintrud taught the History of the Congregation to the Novices in Windhoek Priory and as she did so, she never missed to relay to them her visitation journey. The journey which she took all alone to an unknown land, but she had to obey and fulfil the duty assigned to her.


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for the confusion she caused. In all humility and obedience Sister Ehrengardis submitted to the decisions of the Generalate through Sister Lintrud, the Visitator. The next three years found Sister Lintrud in Rome/Grottaferrata as Secretary for the Generalate until December 1957.

When the term of Office of Sister Peregrina STREIN, OSB, the then Prioress of Windhoek, ended, it was Sister Lintrud who was appointed to take over the service as Prioress. On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, 14th of September 1957 she received her Mission Cross for Namibia. During her term of office as Prioress of Windhoek, she visited Cuchi in Angola which was an out-station of the priory of Windhoek. She was also very concerned about the Sisters and Brothers in every Mission Station and helped by supplying them with their basic needs like blankets and other things. She saw to it that the well-being of her Sisters were taken care of. During her term of office in the Windhoek Priory at least seven Sisters were called home to God.

In 1960, the Priory of Windhoek, under the leadership of Sister Lintrud had the following Institutions:

• 3 hospitals for the whites all together with a total of 210 beds. • 1 hospital for the blacks which had 120 beds• 6 clinics for the blacks all together with a total of 85 beds.• 10 schools for girls with boarding houses, all together the schools

cater for 3315 students and a total of 858 boarders.• 2 kindergartens with a total of 100 children• 1 orphanage with 20 children.• Plus 43 Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku 54 with 8 Novices, 12

Postulants and several Candidates.After her five years as Prioress of Windhoek, Sister Lintrud was

appointed Prioress of the Motherhouse, Tutzing/Germany from September 1962 to September 1967. Her term as Prioress of Tutzing experienced a lot of changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council. Changes to the Liturgy were announced and even the Religious attires needed to be improved, inculturation was among the many changes that the Second Vatican Council brought about after its completion in 1965. In 1967, Sister Lintrud ended her term as Prioress of the Motherhouse and she was assigned to the Generalate once again from January 1968 to September 1970; this time she was in the Preparatory Commission for

54 Oshikuku Congregation was still under the guidance of the Tutzing Congregation since it foundation in 1932. In 1952 Sister Herluca Rohrmoser, OSB as Superior of Oshikuku Mission Station, was also the Spiritual Mother of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku Congregation.


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the 5th General Chapter Second Session. There was a lot to be done, especially how to implement the new changes from the Second Vatican Council.

November of 1970 found Sister Lintrud in Kerschlach, the convent where she made her final pledge to the Lord and to the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. There she was doing different works that needed to be done. In 1979, a call came from Windhoek Priory; they needed someone who could help to prepare for the General Chapter of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku Congregation. Sister Lintrud was the appropriate candidate to do that, since she had been in Namibia as Prioress and she knew the needs of the church there. But she needed to learn English Language first and so she was sent to London, Great Britain, to study English; at 62 years old she acquired the new language in three months from October 1979 to January 1980. After that, she arrived in Namibia in July 1980 and stayed with Oshikuku Sisters until December of 1980.

Her next service was given to Swakopmund community as Sister Superior. She faithfully served the community and supported their service in St. Antonius Hospital in Swakopmund. In March 1983, the hospital celebrated its 75 years of foundation and Sister Lintrud as superior gave a touching speech, quite soberly she admitted saying ‘The Hospital today can no longer match the ‘first’ hospital as far as furnishing and programmes are concerned. But in 1978 it became a so-called ‘open’ hospital, admitting and treating sick people of any race, contrary to the apartheid laws still in force in our land. Also our nursing staff is mixed.’ Sister Lintrud served as superior of Swakopmund for three terms from 1981 to 1989. She experienced the decreasing of the number of the sisters in the Windhoek Priory; many were leaving this world and going to the heavenly world, many were getting on well in age and some Stations had to be given over to the growing Oshikuku Congregation. In the middle of the 1990s, the Windhoek Priory had only two Stations, Swakopmund and a new one called Subiaco in the vicinity of Windhoek City, which was opened on the Feast of St. Benedict, 11 July 1990, and Sister Lintrud was assigned there as superior of the new community.

She experienced the dread of hatred of the people against the colonial government and the rebellion of the people against colonialism, as they struggled for their independence. New branches of hope sprouted and things changed drastically; hatred was turned into love, acceptance and hope and a ‘free Namibia soon’ was proclaimed. In 21st March 1990 Namibia celebrated its first Independence Day, and reconciliation was


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decreed for all, no more borders between regions, no more apartheid, but all one Namibians. For many Missionaries as well as the people of good will in Namibia, this was a dream come true!

Two Sisters55 changed their Vow of Stability from Oshikuku Congregation to Tutzing Congregation. In 15 January 1994, they were officially accepted into the Tutzing Congregation. This meant also the opening of a Novitiate in 1994 to which Sister Lintrud was assigned to teach the Novitiate-Members on the History of the Congregation. The Windhoek priory once again renewed its vigour and life seemed coming up afresh. In 1996, a bigger group of Sisters from Oshikuku Congregation decided to become Missionaries, too, and requested to be accepted into the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. Some were still in Temporal Profession and Sister Lintrud was glad and grateful to receive the Namibian Junior Sisters under her. She loved to give a word of wisdom and encouragement and often told them, ‘Together we can make it.’

At 80, sister Lintrud could feel her age and due to arthritis her walking slowed down but she was still able to help here and there in the community. At 84, she celebrated her 60th Anniversary of Profession. It was her great joy to see many Sisters who came to praise God with her. It was amazing that she continued to give lectures to the growing Novitiate. In her lessons she was always Christ-centred. When the Priory transferred its seat to the new St. Benedict Priory House in Nubuamis in the Jubilee year 2000, Sister Lintrud found joy to walk around its wide space and appreciated its picturesque setting. She was a diligent Chronicler of the Priory and updated the Congregation Calendar and the Schematismus. She often thought and talked about her hope for the congregation’s service in China and North-Korea.

In her obituary, she is described as an energetic and firm leader who was a very grateful, appreciative and prayerful person. As a Benedictine Sister she loved silence. She was an epitome of monastic spirituality. She had a special love for the liturgy and encouraged the liturgists by thanking them ever so often. She participated in praying the Divine Office up to the very end of her life. She was very faithful to her apostolate of prayers and she promised to pray for others, too.

She always listened attentively to the readings at table. One day, the

55 Sister Agrippina Ashipala, OSB and Sister Pelagia Evula, OSB were the first to transfer their stability from the Oshikuku Congregation to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, and were integrated on 15 January 1994. The bigger group was in 1999 and the last four were in 2000.


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sister in charge of table reading materials, chose the book of ‘Mother Birgitta KORFF, OSB’ to be read at table. One night after few pages had been read, Sister Lintrud went to the Novice, the table reader and asked for the book as if she wanted to check on something, then she said to the Novice, ‘This book is not true, it tells lies about Mother Birgitta. I know Mother Birgitta very well, what is written here is too much praising her. Besides, the book is not conducive for table reading, they should find a better book.’

As the years went on, she tried to remain fit, but her best days were counted and her legs became weak and she was given a walking-aid. She had to learn more and more to accept all the limitations of her old age. It was only in 2005 that she stopped giving lessons to the Novitiate, but she remained interested in all the happenings of the Church, and liked to read the Church-Newspapers and shared these with others.

She never accepted the offer of sleeping longer in the mornings, but joined the community practices every day. On 31st of March 2009 she got up early as usual but she fell and broke her right shoulder and was admitted in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. She was very confused and it was obvious that she would not leave the hospital again. On 04 April 2009, she breathed her last. God called her home into His Kingdom prepared for her from the beginning. As she once mentioned herself that she had a special love for the Namibian Sisters, it may be accepted that she will forever implore God for more vocations to the Congregation, particularly to the Windhoek Priory, for ‘together, we can make it’.

The life of Sister Lintrud can be recapitulated in the following words: She lived through First World War in her cradle and she experienced the reconstruction of Germany. She had seen the disaster of the Second World War and had seen God ‘blessing her homeland forever’ after the fall of the Berlin wall. She went through the dreadfulness of the apartheid colonial Namibia and she had seen the triumph of a ‘New nation, New Namibia’. She had observed the desire of the Namibian Sisters to be Missionaries some day and likewise she witnessed their ‘dream come true’ when they were integrated into the Missionary Congregation. Seeing Sister Lintrud being laid into the grave, one cannot help but say a chapter of history is buried with her on that DAY in her SPECIAL month of APRIL 2009.

Requiescat In Pace!

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61. NEVER AGAIN SAW MY HOME, AS I WAIVED MY HOME-LEAVESister Mansueta Mayer, OSB

(1905 – 2002)

During the last few years, Sister Mansueta often expressed her desire to go back to Anamulenge Mission, but when she saw that there

is no more chance to return to her beloved mission, she surrendered herself to the one who does not refuse any good. On 15 February 2002, the Lord granted her desire, she could go home to the Father in heaven, and there she could intercede for her beloved Ombalantu and all those dear to her. She served as a Missionary Benedictine Sister for 73 years, and 69 years were spent in the Priory of Windhoek, particularly in Ovamboland. Sister Mansueta was an educator and taught many young people in Anamulenge and Oshikuku.

She loved writing, and she used to write about the missionary works in the northern Namibia; below is part of her autobiography as taken from her obituary:

‘I was born on 19 August 1905, and far too early. I was tiny, and the midwife baptized me immediately. I was baptized later on in the church again and received the names Seraphine, Caecilia, Elizabeth. I was the 7th child of my parents, Mr. Wilhelm and Josephine Mayer. My mother died when I was 7 years old. My father took over the care of the household in addition to his teaching job. He knew everything; he was the soul and the motor of the whole family. I started school in 1912. I was not very gifted, and scared to disappoint my parents with poor marks. Religious instruction was always my favourite subject. My dream was to serve as altar server at Holy Mass. I had a more boyish nature, I loved hiking, sports, woodwork; my


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interest in girls’ occupations was negligible.’‘After High School, I visited a business school, and then

I became an apprentice in the office of a tool manufacturer. Often, on my way to work, I contemplated about my life and my wish to serve God in a special way and this became always stronger in me. Learning to dance helped me to make up my mind. Everything pointed to the one way: ‘Come and follow me’. And He also showed me the way to Tutzing. My siblings told me: just go. There you must do what you are told and you have to keep your mouth shut.’

‘I entered on 6 May 1926. It was Ash Wednesday. I was brought up in a very soft way, having been the youngest, but the material was malleable and eventually a new form was moulded. My family visited me on clothing day and First Profession, but my father died before my Final Profession.’

‘During the General Chapter 1933, the Prioress of Tutzing was looking for a learned efficient teacher to replace a very sick teacher Sister in the mission Station of Anamulenge (Namibia). Her question was: Can you sing? The song which I had to sing was not to my taste, but I sung – that was the only test I had to pass as the next teacher for the mission.’

‘Very soon I left by train to Hamburg with Mother Prioress Walburga SAUER and by ship to Walvis Bay. It was a most beautiful voyage. I never again saw my home, as I waived my home-leave. We arrived in Walvis Bay on 26 October 1933. When I arrived in Windhoek, the news came that the teacher in Anamulenge had died. I could not leave for Ovamboland immediately, because the rainy season had started. I got my first experience as teacher in Swakopmund and then in Windhoek. In September 1934 we could dare travel for Ovamboland. The first part was convenient and safe, by train to Tsumeb. There a man gave us a lift for the four day journey to Anamulenge. There was no road, only bush country, and at one stage we landed in the middle of a bushfire. Around us were only fire, heat and smokes. A burnt out area, still glowing, was the only way out. Thank God the petrol tank did not explode. We arrived in Anamulenge on 04 October 1934.


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I started learning the language immediately. The interest in the people forced me to teach them their faith in their own language.’

‘All in all, Ovamboland was not an easy land for a spoilt European: The climate, the heat, the rainy season, lack of water in dry season, the poor nature, the loneliness. Every type of food, everything needed had to be fetched from hundreds of kilometres away.’

‘I taught at school, looked after the sacristy for ten years and gave religious instruction to adults twice a week and on Sundays. From May to September I taught in the bush, where the children lived with their parents. I covered the 12 km distance usually on foot, sometimes riding on a donkey. From 1945 –1949, I taught in Gobabis, then in Swakopmund for two years.’

‘I returned to Oshikuku in 1952 and eventually, after an absence of ten years, I was back in Anamulenge and stayed there for another 27 years. After I was relieved from my teaching post by Namibian teachers, I took over the garden. I had no knowledge of gardening, but I produced beautiful cabbages.’

The year 1983 was the time for her to bid farewell to her dearly loved Ovamboland. She was transferred to Swakopmund. There, after 50 years had passed, her knowledge of bookkeeping was needed again and she offered to do the year-end balance for the hospital. She was a very creative person and always found something to ease any situation.

As time went on, at 83, her energy got less and she slowed down. In 1988 she broke her leg and she had to come to the Priory House in Windhoek. That was the start of her long suffering and dependence. Nevertheless, she participated in all community exercises as long as possible; even when she was in a wheelchair she still joined the community. After some years she had to stay in the hospital; her eyesight began to fail and her hearing diminished as well. When visited by fellow Sisters, she was often silent, but reacted only when she was addressed in Oshiwambo, the language she spoke for many years as a Missionary in Ovamboland. Although Sister Mansueta did not mention much of her emotional weakness, it is said that she suffered attacks of depression for many years. Oftentimes, she was brought to Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek for treatment on regard of her depression.

Sister Mansueta was a great missionary and was really a shining


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light for everybody who knew her. On the day of her funeral, people from Anamulenge Parish, in Ovamboland came to pay their last tribute to their ‘Mother’. It may be said that the Lord has fulfilled all her desires.

Requiescat In Pace!

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62. SERVING AND SUFFERINGSister Mildburg Merk, OSB

(1920 – 1971)

On 28 June 1920, Anna was born in Westerheim, diocese of Augsburg. She made her First Profession on 06 May 1950 and was missioned

to Windhoek on 04 December 1957. Sr. Mildburg was assigned in Anamulenge and later in Andara. She

was the first full-trained nurse in Andara mission. Upon her arrival in Andara, the hospital was in its completion phase, and soon after, she was fully occupied in the healing service. Whenever help was needed in other Mission Stations, especially in Anamulenge or Oshikuku or when a sister was away for a longer period, Sr. Mildburg would be called in to assist. One time Sr. Sigeburg SEIMERT, OSB went on homeleave and Sr. Mildburg was asked to replace her temporarily in Anamulenge clinic. At another instance, Sr. Benedikta SCHMITT, OSB went on homeleave in 1971 and Sr. Mildburg was again called in to help-out; little did everyone know that this time Sr. Mildburg would not return to her beloved Andara mission.

Sr. Mildburg was a very diligent and generous sister who worked to serve God’s people who were in pain and sickness. It was in the midst of this service that suddenly her work was halted by a strange sickness. She was busy serving the people who were struck by a terrible meningitis epidemic. She tried by all means to take precautions and to transfer the patients


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Oshikuku immediately, but the dear nurse still contract the fatal disease. On Saturday, 15 October 1971, she was not feeling well due to great

pain in the legs and experienced an extreme weakness. The nurses first thought that she might have been infected by Malaria. Instead of getting better, her condition got worse and she was brought to Oshikuku Hospital for proper medical treatment. The pain was unbearable and doctors and Sisters tried their very best day and night with whatever they could possibly provide her with to relieve her from pain and sickness; at times two or even three Sisters had to hold her and pacify her. Very soon, high fever and other symptoms of grave illness weakened her more and more. The diagnosis in Oshikuku pronounced at once a very special case of meningitis, and the doctors ordered a respective treatment. Sr. Mildburg became conscious of the state of life she was in – in clear moments – she compared herself to her patients whom she had treated. In spite of this, she believed firmly in her recovery; but her changed features, her rapid loss of strength, fits of vomiting, her pitiful difficult breathing – signalled that the end was indeed approaching. The next day on Sunday 17 October 1971 she was anointed with the Sacrament of the Sick.

After a scarcely perceptible change for the better, which instilled some hope in her fellow sisters, the end came very fast. Three priests, her fellow Sisters and the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku surrounded her deathbed. Sr. Mildburg was somehow conscious but in few minutes time she became unconscious. At 12:15 the Sisters sang the ‘Suscipe Me Domino’ and at the mention of the ‘Amen’ of the ‘Gloria Patria’, she breathed her last. It was on Wednesday, 20th October 1971, that Sr. Mildburg died in Oshikuku, Ovamboland. Her departure was for the Priory a sudden and painful loss, as at the age of 51 she was in the best years. As a victim of her service to the sick, she sacrificed her life to the Lord.

Towards evening, five priests concelebrated at Holy Mass in the great Church of Oshikuku. Not only the mission personnel and the many Christians of Oshikuku did follow the dear deceased Sister on her last journey, but also trucks full of Christians came from the neighbouring Parishes of Anamulenge and Okatana. On her grave, Easter hymns were sung, confident in Christian hope that “we shall all rise with our Lord and join in the eternal Easter, Alleluia”. Sr. Mildburg was indeed a loving and loved Sister. Now she waits for the Resurrection of the Dead in the cemetery of Oshikuku.

May she now rest with her eternal Creator forever!


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63. EVERYTHING THAT GOD SENDS TO US, IS GOODSister Novata Bohner, OSB

(1909 – 2002)

After a fulfilled life at the age of 93, Sister Novata went home to God after a very short illness. She came to Windhoek Priory as a youthful

Junior Sister of 29 years old and lived for 64 years in Namibia, which had became her second home until she breathed her last on 23 March 2002. She worked in many Stations of the Windhoek Priory with joy and determination.

Sister Novata was born on 24 January 1909 in Osterhofen, in the diocese of Rottenburg, Germany. In baptism she was given the name Anna Maria. She was familiar with tragedy even in her youth. Her father was injured after falling from the loft, after that he never fully recovered. Her mother, Mechtild, had to do more than her fair share of work for the family; and all the children had to help here and there, which kept them rather busy and they had little time for fun and cheerfulness. Her three brothers died during the war and later her sister drowned. All these happened while she was still young, but this did not hinder her to believe in God’s love.

Anna Maria felt called to serve God in religious life and chose to serve Him through the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. At the age of 25 she entered Tutzing in March 1934 and she was sent to Berlin for nursing studies. On 27 April 1938, she and 14 other Novices made their First Profession. Nine of them were announced to be sent to foreign missions that same day of their profession; Sister Novata’s destination was Windhoek, Namibia, the land where she would spend most of her life. After a long sea voyage, she arrived in Walvis Bay on 02 September 1938 and worked in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek until 1949. In 1941 while the Second World War was going on, she had pronounced her Perpetual Profession in the presence of Mother Priska FICHTL OSB, Prioress of Windhoek Priory at that time.


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Sister Novata was transferred from Windhoek after eleven fruitful years to Swakopmund in 1949 where she worked until July 1952. After this she was sent to the north of the country where she helped for ten years to develop St. Martin Hospital in Oshikuku. Her next assignment was Anamulenge in Ombalantu, where she stayed for four years. In 1966, the political situation in Northern Namibia got tense when the Namibian liberation movement called SWAPO56 launched a guerrilla war to free the country from South African power. The war started on 26 August 1966, and many people were killed over the years. Sister Novata did not see these killings because she was already transferred to Swakopmund in June of 1966 where she once again worked in the hospital there. She loved the sick and old people very much, and they in return, loved her greatly.

She experienced the struggle of letting go when the community had to move out of St. Antonius Hospital of Swakopmund in 1986 due to lack of Sisters. The hospital was already under the administration of the Holland team57 since 1984. In 1986 Sister Novata turned 77 years old, but she did not desire to retire, instead she asked again to work in a mission station somewhere. This time she was sent to Bunya, in Kavango where she worked for eight years until that fateful day when she fell from a ladder and needed special treatment for the injury. Consequently, she had to return to Swakopmund once again. From then on she worked more in the house, helping in the sacristy, doing housekeeping, and also serving the poor who came to knock at the convent’s door. Until almost her last days in Swakopmund, she faithfully helped to take care of an older fellow-sister.

Like anyone who works with people, particularly many foreigners in an alien land, she must have known in her long life many disappointments, many difficulties, but she never complained; to her, there was no reason to be unhappy. She was very strong and independent until few days before her death. As a nursing-sister, she knew the blessing of medicine, and had helped many patients with that, but for herself she refused all ‘chemicals’; even a fractured arm was no reason for her to take pain tablets.

In her introduction at the funeral Mass for Sister Novata, on Wednesday,

56 SWAPO stands for South-West African People’s Organisation.

57 The team from Holland that took over St. Antonius Hospital worked only for three years. Today the hospital is turned into an Old Age Home and Guest House also the residence of the priests.


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of Easter week of 2002, Sister Augusta KUNZ, OSB describe Sister Novata, thus: ‘We know her by name, most of us know a little about her, and yet, she worked 63 years in the Vicariate of Windhoek, what is now Archdiocese of Windhoek and Vicariate of Rundu… She was one of the first Sisters to start in Oshikuku in 1952. Can we imagine how difficult the beginning must have been? The founding Sisters laid a solid foundation to what later developed in to the well-know institution. She worked in many Stations of the Priory; her skills and dedication were always given for the best of the people. She was transferred often; her name did not stick with a certain Station. During her last years of life in Swakopmund, whenever she was asked ‘How are you?’ she always replied ‘Everything that God sends us is good’. The way she said this revealed a deep faith and a long history of walking under God’s guidance and of accepting His decisions’. She was always content and never complaining.

Sister Novata taught us with her examples that everything that God sends us in our way is always good. A few days before her death, when she was very ill in the Roman Catholic Hospital, she impressed the personnel with her great sense of thankfulness. This thankfulness was so genuine; it could only come from a profound humility of heart like that of Sister Novata.

She must have walked her way in close contact with God, and it can be certain that she heard, ‘Come, my beloved, take the crown, which has been prepared for you from all eternity.’ and she responded by letting go of this earthly life and be united with her God in spirit. Deep gratitude goes to Sister Novata for her lifelong service in Namibia; may she intercede for Windhoek Priory and the whole Congregation!

Requiescat In Pace!


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64. WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT…; ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTERSister Oswalda Clement, OSB

(1886 – 1970)

Katharina was born on 23 April 1886 in Bartelberg, diocese of Regensburg. Her parents were very simple and very faithful. This

spirit permeated in the whole house and in the childhood years of Katharina. She lived with her siblings in a happy family. They grew up in a genuine religious atmosphere; proof of this is the fact that four of them chose religious life. Two of her sisters entered the Poor Clare Sisters of the Child Jesus and one brother, Fr. Mauro’s, became a Benedictine Monk who served in Brazil.

Katharina wanted to enter the convent, but she had to postpone her wish to serve the Lord as a religious for a long time because she had to look after a sick uncle who was a priest. Only after her uncle’s death could Katharina fulfil her wish. In 1922 at the age of 36, the age which at that time was considered late vocation, she entered in Tutzing and on 15 August 1924. On the Feast of the Assumption of Mary she could sing her first Suscipe Me Domine. Katharina, now Sr. Oswalda was assigned in the house and garden in Tutzing and Switzerland respectively until 1927.

Then on 30 June 1927, she had to pay heed to the call in the vineyard of the Lord in South West Africa, which she joyfully followed. Her first place of service was in St. Antonius Hospital, Swakopmund, in the Laundry for 43 year. The service she did for decades with great love, humility and unequalled availability until her physical and mental strength could no more allow her to give what she was expected to give. She met many challenges, especially the humid weather, primitive working conditions and unskilled workers. She had to practice utmost patience and perseverance without getting tired and complaining. She was aware that this was the only way to achieving her goal well, which is a life-long close connection with God.

St. Benedict exhorts his novices to have zeal for the work of God for


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them to be considered worthy of the monastic way of life; and this too was epitomized by Sr. Oswalda. She was zealous for prayer which was obvious, especially during the last years, months and days of her life.

As the work in the hospital laundry increased, the physical strength of Sr. Oswalda was slowly decreasing. Age had also taken its effect. She was then over 70 years. A younger Sister was needed to relieve her. She did not become idle, though, she tried to find something to keep her busy and part of the community. She tried to help in the kitchen, but soon her increasing dementia made it impossible and eventually she joined the sisters’ work through the apostolate of prayer. Time came that Sr. Oswalda lost all her mental faculties; she became helpless and depended on nursing care. She did not forget to pray though, essential to her life. She always had a rosary in her hands; but if she did not really pray it, it can be believed that the intention for prayer was there. She also had a prayer: “Virgin, Mother of my God ...”– this prayer she prayed with an intensity which deeply touched the people who were with her. She must have really prayed it very often because she could recite it completely without omission or a mistake.

Some weeks before her death, she collapsed and the very difficult nursing care demanded even more patience and dedication from the staff. But who would not serve this helpless sister with love and patience, of whom her fellow-sisters said: “She never refused to help”?

Due to her dementia, Sr. Oswalda could not receive the Holy Communion during her last year. The priest could only give her his repeated blessing and a few days before her death the Sacrament of the Sick and the absolution were administrated to her.

On 15 July 1970 the sisters came together to the room of the dying sister to stay with her and sing the Suscipe. Shortly before 14H00, Sr. Oswalda gave her soul peacefully back into the hands of her Creator. We are convinced that He said these welcoming words in Matthew’s Gospel to her: “Well done, good and faithful servant…; enter into the joy of your master.”

She died in Swakopmund and her remains were brought to Windhoek to be buried in the Mission Cemetery of Döbra.

May this exemplary, faithful and simple sister be an intercessor for all at God’s throne!

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65. A PERSON OF FREQUENT AND FAITHFUL PRAYERSSister Peregrina Strein, OSB

(1892 – 1967)

Aloysia STREIN was born on 14 June 1892 in Zwette, Diocese of Poelten. Approximately at the age of 23 she had heard God’s call

to religious life and responded. She might have been inspired by the example of her patron saint Aloysius that she joined a Benedictine Order, the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, on 06 October 1915. On the 03 June 1917 she became a Novice and was given the name Sister Peregrina. On 04 June 1918 she pronounced her First Profession and three years later on 29 May 1921, she made her Perpetual Profession.

Early in 1922, the list of new missionaries was released in the Motherhouse, and Sister Peregrina was among them. She and five others Sisters arrived in their mission country on 16 March 1922. Since she was a teacher, she was oftentimes assigned to teaching apostolate in different places, mainly Swakopmund Werft, Klein Windhoek and Windhoek Werft. She was known among her fellow Sisters in the community as a person of frequent and faithful prayers. No one knows what lit the flame of Sister Peregrina’s love for prayer, not even her members in the community understood how she managed to keep her monastic obligations in spite of her hectic duties. When she was appointed as Superior of Gobabis community in 1952 – 1953, she still radically observed the rules and remained faithful to her prayer life. For her, prayer seemed to be the hallmark of her spirituality.

In 1953, her duty as superior of Gobabis ended as she was appointed 5th Prioress of Windhoek, succeeding Mother Ehrengardis WEHRMEISTER OSB, who had received exclaustration from the Holy See due to her involvement in the formation of a new congregation with Bishop Aurelian BILGERI OSB, of Eshowe in Zululand, South Africa. It must have been a hard beginning for Mother Peregrina as Prioress; considering the issue


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of the ‘New Congregation58’ which would have been resulted into a split from the Congregation, a situation which brought confusion among the Sisters. Besides, the poverty of Second World War led the Sisters in foreign mission to depend entirely on the local bishops, who seemed to have hindered the growth and self-reliance of the Sisters’ Congregations particularly in Namibia. Nevertheless, Mother Peregrina served the Priory through its ups and downs.

The 4th General Chapter of 1957 found Mother Peregrina very weak after having had a massive gastric bleed in the early months if 1957. This sapped her energy and she had to end her office as Prioress that same year. Sister Lintrud KIERMEIER, OSB was appointed to replace her. As years went on, Mother Peregrina got better but was not really well. In the late 1966 she again had gastric bleeding. She never really recovered and her life slowly ran out. She died in the afternoon of 17th of February 1967, following Sister Aurelia HAAG who had died the previous day, with whom she arrived in Namibia. They both were buried on the same day at Dobra. Like many other missionaries of her time, it seems she never saw her homeland anymore.

Requiescat In Pace!

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66. A PRAYERFUL SERVICE BORNE IN PATIENCE AND PERSEVERENCE

Sister Philippine Steinhauser OSB(1903 – 1978)

Anna was born in Wolpertswende, diocese of Rottenburg, on 17 February 1903 to Mr. Friedrich and Mrs. Genovefa. She entered

Tutzing in 01 March 1925 and was clothed in August 1926 and became

58 Read more under Sister Ehrengardis Wehrmeister, OSB.


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Sr. Philippine. She made her First Profession on 25 February 1928 in Tutzing.

She was missioned to Windhoek on 25 May 1928. She worked in many different Mission Stations of the Priory. She pronounced her final Profession on 25 February 1937 in Windhoek and never saw her homeland again from the day she set foot on the Namibian soil. Namibia became her home while the Namibian became her people. She worked in Windhoek and then went to Ovamboland as a founding member of Anamulenge community. From 1950 to 1955 she worked in Swakopmund and was overjoyed to take another call to Kavango in Andara Mission. During her 23 years of service in Andara she travelled to Windhoek only once because at that time the journey was too difficult. Her annual holidays were always spent in a neighbouring Mission Station.

Sr. Philippine came to love Andara and its people and they in turn loved her. The beauty of Andara Mission attracted many visitors throughout the year. It is the most beautiful and romantic station along the Kavango River. The wide river divides just before Andara and washes around hundreds of small islands, covered with lush vegetation. The river flows into the Zambezi River into Caprivi and slowly disappears into the Botswana swamps. Many people came to see this area especially at the time when the borders were opened between the neighbouring countries of Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

All the visitors who ever knocked at the kitchen door were welcomed by Sr. Philippine. They surely remembered the friendly and helpful sister for whom nothing was ever too much to ask; not only was she helpful to visitors, but to the poor people as well. She welcomed them with open arms and with a compassionate heart.

When she was getting older and weaker, she felt that, when time is up, she will need to step down and let others take over; thus, a year before she died Sr. Philippine trained a Benedictine sister of Oshikuku to run the kitchen together with a helper who was a refugee girl from Angola. When Sr. Philippine left the kitchen she supervised the gardeners and those who worked with the animals. She was a stand-in and an advisor who made herself available to the needs of others. She was a prayerful sister and the source of her strength was in God. Twenty three years of faithful and dedicated service in the kitchen in Andara, altogether 50 years in South West Africa are indeed years borne in prayerful service and perseverance.

Sr. Philippine suffered for many years from severe angina and had had several frightening attacks. On numerous occasions she received


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the Sacrament of the Sick even twice from the bishop as he visited the station. After the anointing she would feel slightly better and could be seen in the garden, kitchen or stable. The curved spine caused Sr. Philippine become stooped, caused probably by many long walks around the village and the hard work she performed. She was very persistent in her work which was met with admiration by many.

On Christmas Eve, 24 December 1978, Sr. Philippine met one of her sisters on her way to the room and smiled at her friendly; after about 15 minutes the sisters needed her help and they looked for her and they were shocked to find her dead in her room. A cardiac arrest had ended her life suddenly.

The young sisters in the Priory House did not know Sr. Philippine because she spent all her life in the Outstations and she never came to the Priory House; but although known to few, her name is surely written in the Book of Life and the Christ child, whose feast they celebrated as she lay dead in the coffin, is her reward for her goodness and kindness.

Sr. Philippine died in Andara and was buried there alongside the other missionaries.


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67. INDUSTRIOUS NATURE HAD A GOOD INFLUENCESister Pirmina Fleck, OSB

(1894 – 1966)

Maria was born on 17 December 1894 in Grombach, diocese of Freiburg. One of her brothers became a Benedictine Monk of St.

Ottilien and later he was sent to foreign missions in Tanzania. Maria might have been stirred by her brother monk, and she too entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing at the age of 27 on 01 March 1921. Maria became a Novice with other companions on St. Agnes’ Day of 1922 and was given the name Sister Pirmina, the


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same patron saint of her Brother-Monk Father Pirmin, OSB.The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord of 1923 brought joy to

Novice Pirmina and her fellow 28 novices when they pronounced their First Profession. That same day, six of them received their mission crosses and were destined for Namibia, the then South West Africa and set out the following day 03 February.

Few months after her arrival in Windhoek, Sister Pirmina was sent to the new foundation of Andara Station in July of 1923. She spent five years working hard and offering up many sacrifices to build up the new station. Then she was transferred to another new foundation in Bunya. She was a superior for three terms in different Communities. Wherever she was, her quietness, zeal for prayer, faithfulness to the Holy Rule and her industrious nature had a good influence on all whom she worked with.

In 1957 she went on home-leave because she needed some treatment and rest due to a heart problem. After some rest in her home country she was able to return once again to Namibia in February 1958 and to continue her service in Kavango Region. Two years later in 1960 she came to the Priory House for treatment because of her cardiac problems; she was still filled with the hope of returning to Kavango when she would feel better. When she was in a better condition, she prepared herself to go back to her community; unfortunately, she suffered a stroke on the evening before her departure. This changed her route, instead to go back to Kavango, she was transferred to Swakopmund. While she was in Swakopmund she suffered one more stroke in 1965 which made her dependent on her fellow Sisters for assistance.

Although she had been very sick, no one expected her to breathe her last breath abruptly on the morning of 10th of March 1966 before Holy Mass. Her funeral Mass was held that same day and her body was brought to Windhoek for the interment at Döbra cemetery.

Requiescat In Pace!


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68. YES LORD, YOUR WILL BE DONESister Priska Fichtl, OSB

(1892 – 1961)

On the day of St. Elizabeth in 1892, the little Afra was born into a respectable family at Dettenschwang, diocese of Augusburg.

Amidst her brothers and sisters, under the loving care of her mother, and under the eyes of her more serious father, she grew up into a pious, excellent girl with sound moral principle. When time came to choose a vocation, she decided to become a nurse. Until the age of thirty she devoted herself to the care of the sick. This kind of life demanded self forgetfulness and ready service to one’s neighbour. Afra’s God-seeking soul wanted to complete the sacrifice, and give herself entirely to the Lord.

On 1st March 1921 she asked admission into the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictines in Tutzing. One year later Afra was clothed and received the name Maria Priska. The zealous novice made proper use of the year of her novitiate. In all seriousness and with great conscientiousness she spent this year of religious formation very fruitfully. On the Feast of the Purification 1923, she was allowed to pronounce her First Profession with 22 other companions, who joyfully pledged their lives to the Lord. The following day, a big number of Sisters received the Mission Cross and the liturgical blessing for the voyage across the ocean. Sr. Priska was among them. Her destination was South-West Africa, today Namibia. The days were busy with preparation for the long journey. Full of joyous expectation and completely ready to follow the call, she embarked for her mission with six more new missionaries.

The Feast of the Resurrection 1923 was already celebrated on Namibian soil, in the Windhoek, which had just been raised to the status of a Priory. This is Sr. Priska’s first field of missionary activity. The hospital which up to then had been under the administration of the Franciscans from Nonnenwerth was turned over to Missionary Benedictines. Sr. Priska was given charge of the hospital, a post for


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which she was well suited given her long standing experience in nursing. It was a hard beginning full of privations and nearly void of success. When the Missionary Benedictines took over there was only the most necessary equipment to be found in the hospital. In addition to this it proved necessary to reduce expenses to a minimum due to the poor economic condition on the country. Again and again St. Joseph was invoked to help secure benefactors, who would provide means to cover the absolute necessary expenses of the hospital’s administration, to save the charitable enterprise from bankruptcy. For this hard pioneer-work, Sr. Priska was just the right person. She knew how to get along with little and to adjust herself to the pressing state.

The Superiors could count on her in every situation. To new arrivals, Sr. Priska imparted maternal advice and she helped them by words and deeds so that they could easily be rooted in Namibian soil. Very soon, the doctors, too, learned to appreciate her. She was an expert nurse. She was a very conscientious and obliging assistant in the operation room. She was entirely forgetful of herself when rendering services to the bed-ridden ones. The patients were very fond of her and remained life-long grateful and appreciative for the unselfish charity with which the Sister nursed and cared for them. To a large extent, it was due to Sr. Priska’s exemplary work, her planning and keen interest that the Roman Catholic hospital could gradually be enlarged and improved.

She obtained her strength from the tabernacle to pursue the ideal life. Sr. Priska was and remained throughout her religious life a great soul given to prayer. Whenever she started her work she always prayed, exemplifying the Rule of St. Benedict where he reminds us to pray every time we begin a good work so that God may bring it to perfection. She believed that prayer helped her to surmount the inevitable difficulties of life. It is through praying that she bore her personal grief and sorrow; through praying she helped to bear the worries and troubles of the community. She was possessed by the right zeal and fervour for the Opus Dei – the Divine Office in choir, which our Holy Father St. Benedict in his Rule regards as a sign of a genuine vocation. Her Superiors could entrust to her great responsibilities, knowing quite well that the solid interior life of Sr. Priska would not suffer.

In 1937, the St. Anthony’s Hospital in Swakopmund needed a new Superior. Sr. Priska was appointed. During her 7 years stay there, she gained the confidence and love of the Sisters and of the patients. Her sincere motherly concern prompted her to be of service to everybody. Her Christ-like charity embraced all who came in contact with her. In


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1944 to 1949, a great responsibility was placed on her shoulders when she was appointed as the 3rd Prioress of Windhoek Priory. She carried this responsibility with a heavy heart. It was her spirit of faith and her unlimited great confidence in God that made her take up the cross in obedience.

During Second World Was and some years after it had ended, immigration to Namibia was entirely interrupted; and the Mission stations in the country felt the shortage of Sisters, a dire need that could not be filled. Some of the Sisters had died in their best years. The number of affiliated houses had increased and besides, in those days, there was no Novitiate of the Congregation in the country. The activities of some individual houses had increased and the field of missionary labour was greatly enlarged. There was a crying need for more labourers in the Lord’s vineyard. With strength from on high and with a courageous heart Mother Priska bore the cross of her office. How glad she was when returning from the General Chapter in 1947, she knew that the Congregation would do everything possible to send new missionaries to her Priory. The immigration regulations had changed and already in the following year the Priory of Windhoek could welcome eight new missionary sisters for its twelve stations. The real missionary work, to gain souls for Christ’s Kingdom, was her life-long greatest concern. She never hesitated to visit the sisters in the remotest places and often hardly accessible stations. Her visits brought help and comfort and joy to the sisters. As far as conditions permitted, she supported the schools and dispensaries for the natives financially.

After her term of office had elapsed, she found ample work again in the Windhoek hospital; which in the course of years had expanded considerably. In 1950 Sr. Priska was appointed for the second time Superior in Swakopmund. It was her active practical mind, and her initiative that were responsible for the additional wing and some minor constructions plus the general renovation of St. Antonius Hospital and the convent. Sisters and patients regretted that Sr. Priska was called away after five years. She was to become Sub-prioress in the Priory, a post which she held until death called her away.

During the 39 years of her Convent life Sr. Priska had to shoulder heavy responsibilities most of the time. It was harder for her than for many Sisters because she was extremely conscientious and greatly inclined to be over-serious. She did everything she could possibly do for the communities entrusted to her. Her true and remarkable character was “loving service.” No task was too small or too difficult for her. The sisters


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could count on her at any time. She was always ready to be of service. Her heart was full of motherly solicitude for every individual under her care. She was deeply concerned about the genuine, sterling religious spirit in the houses. She herself was an exemplary religious, treasuring monastic obedience above all else. The Lord had laid His hand on her in quite special manner. An obstinate, painful earache troubled her for decades. When she was in Germany in 1955, she consulted several specialists but none could help her. Her hearing abilities decreased continuously because the auditory nerve had started decaying. Often she had to pass through long periods of acute pain; but she was so unassuming, so full of the spirit of penance, that she abstained from any dispensation and abhorred any exceptions to the regular life. She was present at all community exercises until shortly before her death and she disregarded her ailing condition entirely.

Her last efforts were exerted in caring for the proper diet of the patients. She supervised the distribution of meals and did not rest until every patient got what suited him or her.

Unexpectedly the Lord put an end to her life’s activities. In the last days of July, Sr. Priska had to go in bed on account of flu. The doctor’s diagnosis did not reveal any cause for alarm. She complained about difficulties in breathing and she was troubled by a strong cough which affected her heart. The following Sunday, she was not able to attend Holy Mass. On Monday, however, she felt somewhat better. But to her consternation she suffered from a stroke and a few hours later she was paralyzed on the right side. She recovered her consciousness once more, but was unable to talk since the speech organs were affected. The priest was called for and he immediately gave her the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. During the anointing Sr. Priska opened her left hand and extended it to the priest. She was fully conscious during the administration of the last sacrament. Surely a great consolation! One Sister stayed with the dear patient. Towards evening, she reacted whenever she was addressed by means of the healthy eye and the left hand. On Tuesday, 1st August 1961, she was sinking rapidly. Some Sisters kept vigil at her bedside. They kept praying, seeing that death was approaching. In the afternoon at four, the sisters started the prayers for the dying. It was shortly after six when Sr. Sub-prioress Priska breathed her last and returned her beautiful soul to her Creator. It was a very peaceful going home to the Father. Her much longed for desire to die quietly was fulfilled; even though this desire seemed to have been granted very quick and unexpected, it is for certain that the call of God did not find her unprepared.


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Her excellent, religious life bears witness to it. In grief and yet, with gratitude the sisters kept vigil at the coffin that contained her mortal remains. She was put to rest in the mission cemetery in Döbra amidst the mission personnel of Namibia, who had gone before her to their eternal reward.


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69. MISJUDGMENT AND INJUSTICE SHE BORE WITHOUT EVER SPEAKING ABOUT THEM

Sister Reginalda Weis, OSB(1895 – 1983)

Among the four Pioneer Sisters of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing who arrived in Oshikuku on 30 September 1927, was

Sister Reginalda WEIS, OSB. She came as a Junior Sister, a fully qualified teacher, full of love and enthusiasm for mission service. She made her Final Profession in a very simple church of Oshikuku.

After their arrival, the sisters began visiting families and developed a love for teaching children. Soon young girls who observed the Sisters’ way of living, wanted to become Sisters as well, wishing to follow the examples of the Sisters. Before long, many girls knocked at the door of the Sisters’ convent; some had not even been baptized yet, but they applied and asked for admission to the monastic life. For some years, their request was denied them by the Superior of the Mission. But the girls were very persistent and did not give up their aspirations. Amidst the greatest difficulties and oppositions, it was Sister Reginalda WEIS, OSB who took the challenge and prepared the girls for a religious life. She first taught them to become good Christians and then to be Religious. Obstacles were placed in Sister Reginalda’s way for training these girls


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to follow the Lord in religious life. She received refusals and criticisms from both sides: Priests and fellow Sisters, but she did not lose courage or give up.

After a long period of trouble and self-sacrificing labour, a beginning was made possible in 1932: the Ovambo girls were finally permitted tentatively to begin their monastic journey. On the Solemnity of the Assumption, 15 August 1936, the first admission to Postulancy took place. The following year, on 15 August 1937, the first Clothing occurred, and on 16 August 1939, the persevering girls made their First Profession. What days of joy these must have been for Sister Reginalda and her girls now Religious Sisters! One of the first Ovambo Sisters, Sister Cecilia IIYAMBO TOMANGA, OSB, was still living in Döbra when Sister Reginalda passed away in 1983. She looked back to her religious life of almost 45 years and after the funeral of Sister Reginalda she commented: ‘Sister Reginalda loved us.’ With this love Sister Reginalda laid the cornerstone of the today flourishing Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku.

Anna, as Sister Reginalda was called before her monastic profession, was born in Attaching, Diocese of Munich-Freising, on 05 March 1895. There is no account of her childhood as she never shared about her early years of life to others. It is known that she had one brother and her father was head-teacher; from him she inherited the love for teaching and became a qualified teacher prior to her entrance in Tutzing.

With a group of 13 other companions, she made her First Profession on 12 February 1926. On 07 June 1927 she received her Mission Cross for South West Africa, today Namibia. On 24 September 1927 she was sent to the new Foundation of Oshikuku; already 2 months after her arrival in Ovamboland she became an active teacher in Oshikuku Mission. From the time she obtained the permission to found the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1932, she directed the Community of the Namibian Sisters in the Novitiate and trained the young girls mostly from Ovambo and Kavango to be religious women, until she was transferred to Tondoro in 1952. Ever since the founding of Oshikuku Congregation, all young girls59 who wished to become religious were told by all means to enter only in the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku and no other congregations were allowed to accept them. This went on for many years.

59 This applied only to Kavango and Ovambo girls in Northern Namibia who were aspiring to become religious sisters. Even their respective parish priests discouraged them from joining other congregations rather than Oshikuku; this was motivated by the colonization and segregation between blacks and whites.


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From 1952 Sister Reginalda taught at the Mission school in Tondoro, Kavango Region and took care of the boarders. It was not an easy work due to language barrier; but she did her very best. After the Tondoro community was handed over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1977, Sister Reginalda retired to the neighbouring Station of Bunya. There in her silent way she helped in the house and chicken-yard as far as her strength permitted her.

She developed a wound on her foot and in September 1982 she went to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek for treatment. In spite of an intensive care, her wound would not heal and further caused her much pain. She prayed much and occupied herself with reading. On the afternoon of 19 January 1983 she suddenly became seriously ill with an embolus in her lungs. Yet, the Lord did not call her; He rather gave her some few bonus days of life. She was given Holy Anointing of the Sick to strengthen her spirit and the oxygen gave her some relief in breathing. Day and night her fellow Sisters watched at her bedside and she was only calm when she knew that someone was with her. Day by day she grew weaker and her strength left her.

On Sunday, 30 January 1983, at 13:55 PM she gave her life back into the hands of her Creator. She brought to her grave all the misjudgement and injustice which she bore on earth without ever speaking about them. In this way, she grew in love for the Lord who, after a life of 87 years, called her to join him into the eternal union. The most beautiful and mature fruit of her life is the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku, which she with her love and sacrifices had founded and which is today a great hope of the Local Church of Namibia.

Sister Reginalda is an intercessor for Namibian Mission before the Lord. May she now forever see His face!

Requiescat In Pace!


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70. SEARCH FOR THE LORD AND HIS MIGHT,SEARCH FOR HIS FACE

Sister Regula Fuchs, OSB(1900 – 1978)

On 24 October 1900 Sr. Regula was born in Schoenau and received the name of the mother of God as patroness for her life. She

venerated Maria all her life. She loved to tell her fellow sisters about Schoenenberg, a place of pilgrimage near her home, which she visited often in her youth. Maria grew up in a good Christian family, where two vocations to the religious life came up: Maria herself and her sister Aloysia, who became Sr. Gonzaga FUCHS, OSB and was sent to serve in the Philippines for many years; she was a general counsellor, too, and later worked in Rome as guest sister and house superior.

Not only did these two girls in the family desire to go into foreign countries, but they also by entered a missionary congregation together. Their brother Anton, too, tried his luck in America. He started as a simple shoe-maker, but with energy and zeal he built up a good shoe-business. Sr. Regula never went home again, seeing her brother and his wife visiting her in Windhoek from San Francisco, USA, gave her very great joy.

Maria arrived in Tutzing in 1923 and was clothed as a Novice on 15 August 1924 and became Sr. Regula. During her novitiate period the superiors were worried about her lung problems and she was sent to Munich for an examination. The result was not frightening although she was still weak. She made her First Profession on 15 August 1924; five days later she left for South West Africa, now Namibia. On 18 September 1925 the ship docked in Walvis Bay with Sr. Regula and she began a 20 years kitchen duty in Antonius Hospital, Swakopmund and in other Mission Stations of the Priory. She made her Final Profession on 15 August 1928 in Namibia.

Sr. Regula was soon known as an excellent cook, well acquainted with sewing and other house chores. She was always concerned to deliver a careful and quality work. Her hard work and capabilities in various works took her from Swakopmund to Windhoek, Windhoek Werft, Gobabis and


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then back to Windhoek. After some years in Swakopmund she was diagnosed with serious

Tuberculosis which was cured by a good treatment and rest. She was advised to eat well and also to eat rich food; not long after that, she gained weight; this was a handicap from which she never fully recovered until her death.

She liked it in Windhoek Werft; she, along with the superior, would visit families in their miserable huts and sometimes she would go alone. She supported the community in twofold ways; looking after the spiritual and the physical wellbeing of the sisters. She more or less did the same service in Gobabis as superior from 1953 until the handing-over of the station in 1962 to another congregation. Back to Windhoek she worked in the sewing room and later became sub-prioress. God alone knows the pain Sr. Regula endured during the last years of her life. He put his cross on her shoulders; a severe arthritis caused stiffness in her hips and walking became almost impossible. Eventually she could only go to the chapel and the refectory in a wheelchair with the assistance of another sister. She also developed over the years, kidney stones, gastric bleeding, cardiac insufficiency and high blood pressure. She had to take strong pain killers for her chronic pain which had side effects in her whole body.

In spite of all this she still managed to spare some hours to do something in the sewing room. Although she became bedridden for some weeks before she died, nobody thought of her dying as fast as she did. She received the anointing of the sick several times over the past years but when she had to be anointed again she finally said; “I am not scared of dying, I would love to die.” Her wish was granted. As she laid in bed, a sister called her name, she opened her eyes and nodded as if to say: “I do not have pain anymore”. Quietly without any struggle or agony she slipped into God’s eternal peace. On Sunday, 29 October 1978, at 05H30 she finally left in peace to our God for whom she longed for with all her senses; she died in Windhoek. Although she was sick and suffered for many years, her death came as a surprise to many.

She fulfilled the most important and first commandment “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind”; this being the reading of the day she died. The Prioress wrote; ‘May she have an overflowing reward and the vision of God for all that she had been. This is our grateful intercession for our dear fellow Sister, who preceded us into the eternal home.’



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71. JESUS AND MARY I LOVE THEE, SAVE SOULS Sister Reinharda Schwer, OSB

(1906 – 1961)

From a very pious family, Luise was born, on 13 July 1906 in Schonach in the Black Forest. The family was very faithful to their religious duties. Her father was a wood-carver and Luise Schwer inherited something of his art. She studied dress cutting and could make good use of this special talent. Calmness and steadiness are characteristics of the people living in the Dark Forest and Luise possessed them all her life.

Since childhood Luise felt an inclination to enter the convent. Her mother got sick and Luise had to nurse her. She had only one sister who died very young. When Luise was 25 years old she entered Tutzing. She was of a delicate constitution, but she did not shun hard and difficult work. She knew that she had vocation and that the Lord would strengthen her. For the Lord and for the souls nothing was too hard for her throughout her whole life. On 08 September 1933 she was clothed as a Novice and received the name, Sr. Reinharda. After her First Profession she was missioned to South-West Africa, now Namibia, on 13 October 1935.

The first three years she stayed in the Priory House, Windhoek and in 1938, she was sent to Oshikuku in Ovamboland to her great joy. Poverty and sickness were constantly felt. For years there was great scarcity of water, and the sisters suffered very much. Malaria was very common. Sr. Reinharda was very brave and firm. She found strength in her intimate union with God. She loved to spend her free time before the tabernacle.

From the first hour of her arrival at her mission station, she was devoted to the natives. In order to come in close contact with them she studied zealously the native language. In a rather short time she was able to speak it quite well. She often visited the people in their huts and they soon felt that she meant it well with them and had great confidence in her, especially the poor, the sick and the mothers, who were like children to her; she could teach and help them. They came and knocked at her door, never in vain, because Sr. Reinharda had for each one of them a kind and consoling word. She was simple and modest and this


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attracted the natives who opened their hearts to her.From 1945 up to 1949 she was stationed in Anamulenge. Her health

failed and she was sent for two years to Gobabis for recovery. With great joy she returned to Oshikuku in 1951, and worked for her dear Ovambo people until her death.

Of her 26 years in the mission fields, she spent 17 years in Oshikuku where she devoted all her strength and ability for the welfare of the people. A novitiate was erected in Oshikuku for the Namibian sisters. Sr. Reinharda was in charge of the sewing room and was able to teach the sisters how to sew. But what she had more at heart was teaching them solid piety and a real monastic spirit. With great patience and consideration she tried to teach them the necessity of silence, union with God, and zeal for prayer. She taught, however, more by example than by words. She herself was very conscientious in fulfilling her monastic duties and the monastic regulations and prescriptions.

The care of the church and sacristy was also entrusted to her. She loved this office in a very special way because the tabernacle had a great attraction to her. She was always a faithful, prayerful soul. For her, the Divine Office was always “Number One”. It was a great delight for her to attend Vespers which is always sung. She had a childlike devotion to Our Lady and no feast of Our Blessed Mother escaped her notice, even those which did not appear in the Directorium. She had a special gift to instil in the sisters and lay people with enthusiasm the Marian Cult. During the last months of her life she became an apostle of the so-called “Acts of Love” and prayed countlessly, “Jesus and Mary I love Thee, save souls.” She had pictures pasted and wrote these words below in the local language. Every Sunday after Mass a big crowd waited for her: children and mothers listened to her instructions. Those who were zealous received a holy picture which they carried home with joy and pride. Her aim was that in every Ovambo family the Blessed Virgin should have a special place; by experience she learned that a special blessing was attached to this.

All of a sudden a great change came to Sr. Reinharda; on 25 September 1961 she contracted malaria. As she had already several times overcome such high-fever-malaria attacks, nobody suspected serious consequence. In the night, from 30 September to 1st October, her condition became alarming and two lady doctors felt very anxious about her. The Sacrament of the Sick was administered to her. She could no longer talk but answered by signs the questions that were put to her. She got pneumonia and very high fever. On 2nd October, feast of


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Holy Angels, the sisters could sense that her end was near. Rev. Fr. Karl KREES, OMI recited the prayers for the dying and gave her General Absolution. All the Sisters were present and interns and the sick in the hospital were praying for her in the yard. At 21H00 she fell asleep in the Lord’s embrace without any agony, just like a candle slowly burning down.

The following morning, feast of St. Theresia60, Patroness of the Missions, the coffin was brought to the church and the sisters, the Christians, and the children kept vigil. All were in deep mourning because the departure of the dear Sr. Reinharda was so unexpected and quick. Toward noon she was brought to the cemetery. The funeral procession was very long because the Christians and the children followed their beloved Missionary Sister in large numbers. All wanted to show a proof of gratitude. Rev. Fr. Kress spoke some words of gratitude in acknowledgement for her faithful prayer and work for the mission. To her Sisters, she was a good, helpful co-sister in joy and in sorrow! All honour and thanks to Almighty God who guided her as His loving child. That is, what she wanted to be in the eyes of God and people – a child!

Now she rests near Sr. Wighardis WEISS, OSB, who also departed very quickly the previous year. There is hope that she continues her mission at the throne of God for her dear Ovamboland.


60 The Feast of the Little Flower was moved to Sunday October 3rd so that the Faithful who do not attend the weekday Masses could also attend.


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72. LITTLE THINGS WHICH ACTUALLY MEAN A LOTSister Rhabana Josef Haushiku, OSB

(1946 – 2009)

Not so long ago the Catholic Faith reached Shambyu. It was in June 1930, when the Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI) spearheaded

by Father Josef GOTTHARDT, OMI, founded the mission Station at Utokota/Shambyu. Seven years later on 16 August 1937 the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing also arrived. The first Sisters who came to Shambyu were: Sister Bonita WOHLMANNSTETTER, OSB and Sister Erwina DIET, OSB and later, on 05 October, Sister Leopoldine MÜHLBAUER, OSB followed, too. With the service of the Sisters, many young people in Shambyu were drawn to seek religious life.

On the feast of St. Paul on 29th June 1966 Shambyu Parish witnessed the presbytery ordination61 of a young man who became the First Namibian Catholic Bishop in the late 1970s. Two years later after this priestly ordination experience of 1966, many youth, especially young girls aspired to follow Christ in Religious life. At that time, Oshikuku Congregation was the only referral congregation where the church authority recommended the young girls who wanted to become Religious. Consequently, Rhabana was likewise encouraged to join the local congregation, where other girls had already been told to enter year after year since its foundation Day in 1932. Among the aspirants of 1968 was Sister Rhabana HAUSHIKU, OSB.

Sister Rhabana was born on the 14th of March 1946 in Tjeye, Kavango Region, in the Vicariate of Rundu, Namibia. The year 1946 was also a Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Church’s presence in Namibia which

61 The Late Archbishop Bonifatius Haushiku, ICP was ordained a priest at Shambyu on 29 June 1966. He became the First Namibian Bishop, then Archbishop of Windhoek on 27 January 1979. He passed away on 12 June 2002. R.I.P.


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came with the arrival of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate missionaries in 1896. This was also the year Bishop Joseph Gotthardt62 was appointed Archbishop of the Apostolic Prefect of Namibia. Shambyu was founded only 16 years ago, and the mission was struggling to spread the Gospel to all the villages due to few personnel, poor roads and long distances in the region. Thus, Sister Rhabana was only able to be baptized two years after her birth on the 09th of August 1948 and was given the name Rhabana.

She once wrote about herself: ‘I grew up with my parents. My Father’s name was Josef and my Mother’s name was Maria. I am the fourth child and I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. My parents were not rich but they had some cattle. My father died already, my mother is still alive.’

As a young girl she was an active member of the Legion of Mary movement and that might have led her to choose religious life. At the age of 22, in 1968, Rhabana entered the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku. After her novitiate, she gave her life to God in First Profession on the 06 January 1972 as the Catholic Church in Namibia closed its 75th Jubilee, which had been celebrated in the year 1971. Since the Vatican II new impetuses were brought about in the church, it was also said that the change of names during profession is optional; Sister Rhabana opted to retain her baptismal name. The year 1980 brought the day of Sister Rhabana’s Final Profession, as she pronounced her perpetual commitment to the Lord on the 06 January 1980 in the beautiful church of Oshikuku Mission.

Rhabana’s services had been in the kitchen and she cooked tirelessly for priests, brothers and her sisters in the mission stations to which she was assigned. She had a lovely and caring spirit for others especially those who would come late to eat; she always saw to it that they got something to eat. She constantly had something to offer to others. In all simplicity, her life told others, that little things do actually mean a lot. For sisters who were studying in the community, Sister Rhabana made life easier for them by faithfully keeping food for them.

She was one of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku who wished to be in the Missionary Congregation; and so when the designated time came, she was among the 58 Namibian Sisters who were integrated into the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing on the 29th of August 1999, the

62 Archbishop Joseph Gotthardt, OMI was the first Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Windhoek; he passed away on 03 Aug 1963 and is buried in the Windhoek Cathedral. R.I.P.


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Year of God the Father63. Subsequently, she was assigned to Bunya and Shambyu doing her expert work as a cook. She cooked with dedication and love for the community as well as enjoying teaching others about her culinary art. She is well remembered as a Religious who walked the path of silence. When she did her work, she did it without many words at all times. Once in a while she was assigned to assist in taking care of the hostels; this too she did very humbly.

Much about Sister Rhabana’s life is not known, because she hardly shared personal stories. Even when she was faced with difficulty of her old mother living alone in a far village, even as she was dealing with some tragedies in her family, she did not talk much about them but silently gave all to the Most High in prayers.

She had been strong and healthy, but in 2006 she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. She underwent several surgical and medical treatments, yet her condition deteriorated during her last two years of life. She experienced pain and discomfort due to her illness but she never complaint. She bore all in silence just as she did her daily work. She loved the Lord’s Day, Sunday, very much; thus on Sunday morning, 02 August 2009, while the faithful sang the entrance song for Holy Mass in St. Mary’s Cathedral of Windhoek, she breathed her last, she died very peacefully in the presence of the Sisters gathered around her sickbed in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek.

Sister Marita HAARMANN, OSB, Prioress at that time, announced Sister Rhabana’s passing on in the Cathedral and Mass for the dead was offered for Sister Rhabana. The priory house community and many friends laid Sister Rhabana to rest as they thanked her for the witness of her life to the church through the values of LOVING SERVICE, SILENCE, SIMPLICITY and FORTITUDE IN SUFFERING. And also they thanked God for faithfully staying with Sister Rhabana to the end.

Requiescat In Pace!

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63 The year 1999 was dedicated to God the Father in preparation for the Great Jubilee Year 2000.


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73. DESIRE TO WORK IN THE VINEYARD OF THE LORDSister Rhabana Stehle, OSB

(1901 – 1981)

The Feast of St. Boniface of the year 1981 brought the death of Sister Rhabana STEHLE, OSB, in Swakopmund. She was in her 81-years

of life and in her 54-years of profession all of which she spent in mission work in Namibia.

Sister Rhabana was born on 28 March 1901 in Hochberg in the diocese of Rottenburg. On her baptism day she received the name Aloysia. She grew up in a cheerful group of 10 siblings and their loving parents. Her father was manager of the property of the duke of Hochberg.

Aloysia was educated as a teacher in the Convent of Siessen, and upon completing the teaching course, she entered Tutzing in 1924. Her only desire was to work in the vineyard of the Lord in order to build up His Kingdom. This wish was fulfilled soon when she pronounced her First Profession on 26 February 1927 and few months later on 02 October 1927, she received her Mission Cross to go to the then called South West Africa, now Namibia.

Though Namibia was a previous German colony, the German teacher qualifications were invalid at the time Sister Rhabana came to the country. She therefore had to go to Mariann Hill in South Africa, to do some more studies and write South African examinations that would permit her to teach in Namibia. She passed her examinations well and was sent to Andara, an Eastern Station on the Kavango Region. There she had to seriously study the language of the people of the area. Looking back, Sister Rhabana sometimes said: ‘the Hambukushu’s language was the most difficult point’, but even this obstacle she overcame with love and perseverance.


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In those days, the members of the villages lived mainly beside the Kavango river-bank due to the superstition of the spirits of the forests and above all for the easy access to water. It was hard for parents at first to be convinced of the necessity to send their children to school. In the beginning Sister Rhabana had to go and pick up the children every morning with her ‘schoolbus’, a ‘wato’, a small boat or canoe made out of a hollowed tree, but first she had to convince the parents why was it important for their children to go to school. She had to repeat this travelling daily; she had to travel up to 60km sometimes.

After she had adjusted to the people in Andara, she was transferred to Nyangana, 100 km west of Andara. There she met the same conditions as in Andara: the language obstruction. The new school demanded her to learn another language. The language of the Gciriku people in Nyangana is totally different from the one she had learnt earlier in Andara community, but she was determined and won.

She had a difficult beginning on how to teach the children, since they grew up in freedom of bush and river and were not used to sit still and listen in class for long hours. Besides, she did not have teaching aids or any materials available. She had to make the children write on the ground which served as chalkboard. Some parents even complaint that their children were being tortured by the Sister for making them sit in class for long in order to learn, for they did not see the fruits of learning easily.

She worked for over 40 years at Nyangana and the school developed over time. Meanwhile, the ones who were once her students had grown up and had become teachers too; through them she could multiply her educational mission. Later, the growing lack of personnel in the Congregation led the community of Nyangana to be handed over to the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku in 1976. With a heavy heart Sister Rhabana moved to Swakopmund. In many ways she helped in the community but her strength was slowly decreasing. The biggest suffering was her loss of hearing. As long as she lived she was homesick for the Kavango, particularly her children at Andara and Nyangana.

She was overjoyed to get a last home leave in 1978; but then she got very ill while in Germany. She recovered sufficiently and came back to her foreign mission country, Namibia, and continued her service of prayer and presence. On 13 December 1980 she suffered a stroke but she recovered very quickly and she was able to celebrate her 80th birthday with joy and good health in the following year.

On 05 June 1981 she suffered another stroke which paralyzed her left


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side and would bring her to eternal home. That same day she received the Sacrament of the Sick fully conscious, and patiently she waited for her Lord to come and take her home soon. The Sisters assembled in her room for prayer and at 23:30 she quietly went home to her Eternal Father. On 06 June her body was brought to Windhoek from Swakopmund and she was buried in the Mission Cemetery of Döbra. She was laid to rest on 08 June 1981; there with other fellow Missionary Sisters and Brothers she waits for the resurrection of the dead.

Requiescat In Pace!

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74. SHE LIVED AS A HANDMAID OF THE LORDSister Richmundis Kösel, OSB

(1905 - 1995)

Sister Richmundis might have had a special love for Our Lady that she peacefully and well-prepared died on the feast of the Nativity of Mary,

08 September 1995, in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. She went home to the Kingdom of the Heavenly Father with the community singing with her the SUSCIPE ME DOMINE and the Salve Regina.

Sister Richmundis was born on 04 November 1905, in Geblastried, diocese of Augsburg, Germany and was baptized in her parish church and given the name Walburga. She grew up with seven siblings in a deeply Christian and hardworking family that owned a farm and a mill. Already in her youth, she received the tools needed for living the Benedictine Ora et Labora, as she was not spared from working in their farm as well as praying with the family.

It was no surprise that Walburga entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing in April 1930. She received her religious habit on the 3rd of October 1931, and since there was already a


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Sister who carries the name Walburga and it was also a custom that new members receive new names, the new Novice Walburga was given the name Sister Richmundis. On 21 April 1933 Sister Richmundis, together with ten companions made her First Profession. As a Junior Sister, she received her Mission Cross on 30th September 1934 for South-West Africa, now Namibia; she with Sister Berlindis BITTL, OSB arrived in Windhoek on 05 October 1934. On 21 April 1936, Sister Richmundis pronounced her Final Profession in Windhoek Priory together with Sister Hertlinde HÜTTMANN, one of her companion in First Profession, who had arrived a few months earlier than her. It was a joy for both of them that they have to accompany each other in their foreign mission.

She was assigned in various Stations and in the priory house’s kitchen and also housekeeping. For many years she looked after the refectory, and when she noticed a sister was absent, she was lovingly concerned about her. She experienced the difficulties and poverty that went along with pioneering times, but she accepted all with courage and audacity. She was assiduous, zealous and faithful in prayer, and celebrated the liturgy with joy. She spent many hours in the chapel daily. The rosary was her faithful companion.

Sister Richmundis was not particularly strong, but the Lord sustained her health until at the age of 90. She was characteristically serious, energetic but very understanding. She nurtured her love of silence and her faithfulness to prayer even in her old age. By nature it was difficult for her to accept being helped and served by others; she would rather only care for others. She helped herself with the support of a cane as she could. From time to time she would use a wheelchair. With advancing age, especially during her last ten years, her strength continued to decline more and more.

Her last years of life she spent willingly and accurately folding gauze sponges in the hospital for surgery, and she was happy that in this way she could still make herself useful to the community. During her last weeks, she was weakened several times by an extremely painful blockage of an artery in the right leg. Then she suffered a fractured pelvis due to a fall, but due to her physical weakness a surgery was not possible. Pneumonia and heart failure followed; quiet and composed, she spent her last days with one of the sisters always at her side.

Sister Richmundis was buried on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on 14 September 1995 in the mission cemetery in Dobra.


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Rev. Father Bernhard NORDKAMP, OMI64, Vicar General was the main celebrant; at the open grave of Sister Richmundis, he said very appropriately, ‘SHE lived as a handmaid of the Lord.’ Sister Richmundis is thanked for her service and for her prayers and sacrifices for the Kingdom of God in Namibian Church.

Requiescat In Pace!

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75. AN INCREASING DESIRE TO SERVE GOD AS A MISSIONARYSister Sigibalda Kraus, OSB

(1912 – 1999)

In a letter of thanks on the occasion of her 60 years of religious life on 27 April 1999, Sister Sigbalda wrote: ‘The gentle call of God in my

childhood; an increasing desire to serve God as a Missionary; God’s guidance and care; and parents deeply rooted in faith – all these were responsible for my life in and for the Church.’

Further, she wrote about how her parents, Georg and Maria KRAUS-ANGSTL, knew how to transmit the faith to her sisters and herself. Her parents did this through good example and training as they moulded their children in body, mind and soul. Her one and only brother had died soon after birth.

Sister Sigibalda was born on the 12 February 1912 in Deggendorf in the Diocese of Regensburg, Germany. Maria, her baptismal name, entered the convent in Tutzing on 04 November 1936 as a fully trained teacher. Right at her First Profession on 27 April 1939, she received the

64 Father Bernhard Nordkamp, OMI served the Namibian nation with sincere love and worked in solidarity with the oppressed, the voiceless and the exploited people. He is considered as co-freedom fighter and human rights defender during the Namibian independence struggle. He passed away on the 25th of July 2009. R.I.P.


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Mission Cross for Bulgaria. There she worked both in the Kindergarten and in the School. She played the organ in church and she was in-charge of the liturgical music. After 9 years of service in Bulgaria, adverse political circumstances forced her and some fellow Sisters to return to the Motherhouse in Tutzing. She wrote about her one-year experience in the concentration camp in Bulgaria which, to a certain extent, was made tolerable because of the visits of the Bulgarian Sisters and the food supplies they brought along. The most taxing thing for her was the complete inactivity in the camp.

Two years later after her return to the Motherhouse, Sister Sigibalda received a new call to foreign missions, this time to Cuchi in Angola. On her journey she had the opportunity to stay in Lisbon, Portugal in order to learn some Portuguese, the official language of Angola. In those days, Angola was a Portuguese colony and the travelling expenses of the missionaries were paid by the government. Sister Sigibalda enjoyed her stay in an isolated Station of Cuchi where she worked again in the school and in the hostel. She also taught catechism and helped wherever she was needed in the parish. However, after 14 years in Angola she had again to bid farewell to Cuchi mission. The parting must have pained her much, but she overcame it with time.

After Angolan mission, Sister Sigibalda’s next and last foreign mission assignment was in Namibia. Here, she first spent 3 years at Windhoek Werft as Superior of the community, then 5 years in Tondoro and the last 27 years in Swakopmund. At this point, she also generously and wholeheartedly used many of her pastoral talents. In her last years, she gradually delegated some of her activities on to other sisters. On the Sunday preceding her death, she still played the organ at Holy Mass in the Parish Church, as she usually did. A day before, she also attended to her duty in the parish library.

On her 60th Jubilee of Profession which was attended by many people including a native Sister from Angola, who was assigned to Windhoek Priory as a Missionary, was present; which seemed a fitting symbolic representation of her years of work in Angola.

Sister Sigibalda wrote her speech of thanks and read it herself during the event. Below is the copy of her speech:

Thanksgiving to the Lord on the day of my Diamond Jubilee

Today when I look on the 60 years of my life as a Missionary Benedictine Sister of Tutzing I can only say: THANK YOU, O LORD!


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Thank you for calling me into your service of even more than 60 years. I was only a child when I first felt the soft call to become a Missionary Sister. It was you, O Lord, who awakened in me the desire to dedicate my life to you and you, O Lord, kept it awake and strengthened it throughout the years. I thank you for my parents, who gave me a good education and a good example, not only in words but deeds. You, Lord, fostered my vocation during the hard years of my training as a teacher. I was accepted in Tutzing in 1936 and by your grace was allowed to make my First Profession in 1939…

You guided me in your loving care through many countries where I was sent to work for you. You gave me new impulse when I was tired and slackening in fervour and wanted to go my own ways.

I want to thank you with my whole heart for all the graces, love and inspirations I received during all this time. I would like to invite all here present to join me in thanksgiving.

Dear Jesus, bless all those who have given me their help – my teachers, priests, fellow Sisters and friends. I also want to thank my Fellow sisters for accepting me and assisting me during my Convent Life.

May God bless you all! Sister Sigibalda KRAUS, OSB

In the morning of 09 June 1999 she did not feel well during Holy Mass. She therefore went to rest and told the sisters that she had experienced before what she felt that day and a ‘warm bed is the best cure’. Later, she took an early lunch in the refectory and went to the chapel and she still intoned the psalms for Community Midday Prayer. At 4:30PM in the afternoon, as the Sister infirmarian went to check on her, she found Sister Sigibalda dead in bed. She still had her spectacles on and a Church Bulletin of Münich was lying on the bed cover, which showed that she might have been reading...

It is fitting to say that as she lived, so she died… she was a person who could positively integrate the happenings and events in life with her prayers. Her death was certainly unexpected, yet one could feel that she surely met the Lord well-prepared. The series of events before her death seemed to have paved the way for her: her diamond jubilee of profession in April, which she celebrated with great joy and sincerity;


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the annual retreat on 05-09 May wherein she received the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick together with other elderly retreatants could also be said that this had prepared her for the DAY of her death.

She was a missionary deep down in her very being. She liked the people she served and in particular she loved the poor. It was significant, therefore, that she was buried in Swakopmund, where she had been working untiringly for many years until the day of her death, instead of bringing her body to the mission cemetery in Döbra. People in Swakopmund paid their last respect and bid Sister Sigibalda farewell at a Eucharistic celebration which was concelebrated by four Priests. The Mass was attended by many fellow Sisters from Windhoek, Friends, co-workers and a dozen children from Mondesa Kindergarten. This Kindergarten was financially supported by her through her benefactors. The little ones surrounded her coffin and enthusiastically sang a farewell song to her. She surely rejoiced this token and gesture of loyalty, appreciation and love from her little ones. At the cemetery, one little boy who was supposed to place a wreath of flowers at the grave, did not seem want to let go of the bouquet – maybe rightly so to believe that Sister Sigibalda will receive a more precious and everlasting wreath which will never fade.

His Excellency Archbishop Bonifatius HAUSHIKU of the Archdiocese of Windhoek wrote in his circular letter about the two missionaries in Windhoek who died only five days apart from each other: ‘On the 04 June 1999, we received the message that Sister Maria Gottfried BONATH, OSB who worked for many years as a medical doctor in Oshikuku, passed away in Rome in the Generalate of the Tutzing Benedictine Sisters. On the 09 June, Sister Sigibalda Kraus, OSB died in Swakopmund. These two Sisters worked for many years as missionaries in Namibia. They were good and dedicated missionaries. They were very well-known and loved by those with whom they worked.’

May she intercede for all the countries she served!

Requiescat In Pace!


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76 STORIES OF THE LIVES OF THE SAINTSSister Solana Huber, OSB

(1915 – 2003)

On the feast of St. Clement I, 23rd November 1915, Sister Solana HUBER, OSB was born in Gaulzhofen, the Diocese of Augsburg,

Germany. In baptism, she was given the name Therese. She grew up together with her parents, brothers and sisters on their farm. They were 9 children in their house and the mother fed them with many stories about the lives of the saints. The children listened attentively, which might have been the first seed of missionary vocation for some of the Huber children.

As years went by, the eldest daughter of the family set out and entered one of the Congregations in Germany called the English Ladies. This might had inspired the other children in the family, and the father became anxious about his children. He once told the family: ‘I will not allow anymore one of my daughters to join any other convent!’ But the desire to serve in the mission was getting stronger and stronger in young Therese’s heart. After her basic schooling, her mother helped her to talk to her father about her longing to be a missionary. Finally, the father gave his blessing to Therese and on March 1935 she entered the convent in Tutzing. Before her entrance, she had to do household work for three years in order to earn money for buying the things required to bring along to the convent.

On the day she became a Novice, Therese received the name Sister Solana and 03 December, the feast of St. Francis Xavier, patron of Mission became her Name-day. On 24 April 1937, fourteen Novices made their First Profession and among them, was Sister Solana Huber, OSB. That same year seven were sent to foreign mission and seven had to wait for the right time. Sister Solana was one of those who waited, and after her Final Profession, she was assigned to Wessobrunn Convent


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and worked in the laundry and in the garden.After World War II, the Motherhouse was again ready to sent new

missionaries to different parts of the world. Sister Solana received her Mission Cross on 29 October 1948 and set out for her new mission assignment. After a long sea voyage, she arrived in Walvis Bay, South-West Africa, on 13 November 1948.

For nine years, from 1948 to 1957 she worked in Kavango Region in the Stations of Nyangana and Bunya. She was also assigned in Klein Windhoek in 1958 and she transferred to Swakopmund in 1960. Swakopmund became her longest destination she was assigned to. For 43 years she served the community in Swakopmund; she worked in the laundry of Antonius Hospital until the hospital was given over to a team from Holland in 1984. Subsequently, she was in charge of the laundry of the community from 1986 until a few months before her death. She loved Swakopmund and its quiet atmosphere. On Sundays, she would often go for solitary walks along the beach. She was a woman of few words; she would move swiftly and silently, but she was always interested in the community. For her, a community is a very conducive place for prayer. Prayer, work and community life, which are the essentials of the Missionary Benedictine life, were her goals each new day. She always updated herself with the events in the world and in the country by daily listening to the radio news. She was well and strong until about three years preceding her death; when she had to slow down because of her age. From her 66 years she spent in the Congregation, 55 years were given to Namibian Mission.

In the morning of Our Lady of the Rosary feast, 07 October 2003, Sister Solana got up early for lauds, as she always did; but then she fell in her room. The fall might have been the result of a cerebral bleeding; because she died that same day. On 10 October 2003 a Requiem Mass was concelebrated by three priests in the parish church of the Holy Rosary, Swakopmund followed by the burial in the cemetery at Swakopmund. Many of the Sisters from the Priory House in Windhoek and from other Stations as well as from different Congregations living in Swakopmund joined in the celebration and the burial rites of bidding farewell to Sister Solana. She has gone ahead of us as quietly as she lived.

Requiescat In Pace!

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77. A MODEL OF GOOD ZEALSister Suitberta Aberle, OSB

(1897 - 1959)

Announcing her death, the Prioress writes: On the Second Sunday of Lent holy Church leads us every year to the mountain of the Transfiguration to show us Christ in his glory. He is the well-beloved of the Father, and for His sake we are to partake of the glory of the divine life. Like the Apostles the Lord called on this day our dear Sr. Suitberta Aberle to the eternal Tabor after a most fruitful and yet sorrowful life.

Cordia was born on 02 February 1897 in Lauterbach, in the diocese of Rottenburg. Her parents were a respected and pious couple. There were 6 children in the family and the delicate child grew up diligent, a happy girl in the Aberle family. God and His law were held sacred. After finishing her studies she held the office of a Telephone Operator for several years. She was greatly appreciated because of her efficiency and reliability. Cordia was very much attached to her brother, the eldest son of the Aberle family who entered in St. Ottilien.

Not long afterwards she also could follow her heart’s desire. On 02 March 1922 she entered in Tutzing. With energy she tried to overcome the difficulties of the entering the convent. She was ready for whatever she set her eyes on and did it with a strong will. Her companions in the novitiate remember her as a model of good zeal and one who did not take much consideration of her health and nerves. On the feast of St. Scholastica 1924, she made her First Profession and a week later she was destined for South-West Africa, now Namibia. To be able to effectively render her service in the mission fields, especially with children, Sr. Suitberta had to study for 3 years in Marianhill, South Africa.

At the end of 1927, she passed the examination; much of her strength was already spent when she had to start her real life’s work. To her great


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joy she was still allowed to make Perpetual Profession in the Priory of Windhoek on 02 February 1928. Then she went to Gobabis, her first and last station. With great joy and interest she started her work. Soon she had won the affection and confidence of her charges. The little natives felt that Sr. Suitberta wanted to be all to them. She required thorough work, and soon the school at Gobabis was at the head of all the district schools in discipline and efficiency. The Home Economics Course especially had a high standard, a sign that Sr. Suitberta paid much attention to the education of the girls. With her big and small darlings she tried to celebrate the feasts of the Church in a dignified manner, and also to the feasts and celebrations in the community she always contributed her share. In spite of her work load she still found time to give religious instruction to the children of Europeans in order to lead them to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to our heavenly Mother.

The school years in Gobabis taxed Sr. Suitberta’s strength almost too much. Because of her conscientiousness she never spared herself. In early 1942 she collapsed, and never fully recovered again. She had to overcome malaria, kidney stones and an operation of the gall bladder.

A longer vacation in Swakopmund helped her to recover for a time; though the spirit was willing, the flesh could not keep up with her zealous heart. The more her strength failed as the more she lost courage, but not her hope. Repeated heart attacks and high blood pressure tied her to the sick-bed for a long time. She recovered once more so far that she could do some light manual work. Responsible mental work was out of question. In spite of the relief, her bodily and mental strength ebbed away, and she was confined in the infirmary. What Sr. Suitberta went through for 17 long years of being bedridden, God alone knows. It seemed like it was not always easy to say “yes” to the will of God, when He asked hardest things from her. She was no more master of her nerves and senses, but clear enough to know about her pitiable condition. In the last years, she could hardly make herself understood, which made it difficult to care for her. At times, her convulsive crying turned into bitter convulsive laughing.

Sr. Suitberta had suffered much, but as she expressed it in clear hours, she accepted all her sufferings willingly from the hand of God to save souls, for she wanted to sacrifice herself. Her sickroom joined to the chapel, so she was always near her Eucharistic Lord. Until the last days she received Holy Communion, which benefited both her body and soul according to the opinion of the priest and the doctor. Repeatedly, she received the last sacrament as she seemed often in danger of


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death. She had a special joy when Mother Prioress General Maria Lucas RAUCH, OSB, visited her. With regard to the Congregation Sr. Suitberta manifested that she was aware that her suffering was for her superiors and Sisters. With the beginning of the year, her strength waned. The blood pressure went very high. Then there came pneumonia. The doctor saw the end was near as her emaciated body could no more resist. The dear Sister could no more express herself, but on the last day, she was conscious. She repeated aspirations, though hardly audible, joined her hands and with her last strength tried to make the sign of the cross. The priest and the sisters took turns to keep vigil at her bedside. On Friday, 20 February 1959 she received once more the Viaticum at which she herself held the candle; after that she became very silent and quiet.

On Sunday afternoon of 22 February, at 15H00, Sr. Suitberta could no longer resist the voice of the Lord calling her to join Him. She quietly and peacefully entered eternity in Swakopmund, in the presence of the priest and the community of Swakopmund. Reverend Mother Prioress Lintrud KIERMEIER, OSB (1957 – 1962), found Sr. Suitberta already dead. A long life of suffering borne in patience had ended. All that she has been is only to be commended into God’s own hand to reward her accordingly.

On the following morning her body was brought to the mission cemetery in Döbra, 380 km away; there she rests at the side of her deceased Sisters. His Excellency, Archbishop Joseph Gotthardt, blessed the grave; Fathers, Brother, Sisters and more than 200 students from St. Joseph School, Döbra attended the burial. In his short sermon the Archbishop said: “Sr. Suitberta was destined according to God’s unsearchable decree to suffer and to sacrifice for the mission in South-West Africa; to call God’s blessing down upon the active members of the mission.”

We ask and pray to God that from heaven above she may still be a blessing for our missions! And thank God unceasingly for the person she had been.

May she rest eternally with Him!


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78. LAST JOURNEY TO THE LORDSister Sylvia Wagner, OSB

(1895 – 1980)

Sister Sylvia WAGNER was in her 86 years of life, the 57 years of her profession; she had worked for 56 years in Windhoek Priory after

setting her foot on Namibian soil on 23rd December 1923. She was born on 01 March 1895 in Utting /Ammersee and was baptized as Krescentia. Being the only girl among her brothers she had to learn to do all the house chores. Later she learnt sewing and became a well known good dressmaker.

Krescentia entered in Tutzing in 01 September 1921; soon after she received her religious habit during the initiation into the Novitiate and was given the name Sister Sylvia. She made her First Profession on 26th July 1922. A year later she received her Mission Cross for South West Africa/Namibia on 28th October 1923. She celebrated Christmas that year in the foreign mission field, true to what the Constitutions of the Congregation advise: ‘In his gratuitous love Jesus Christ has called us to follow him in religious life. Responding to the call we set out in faith to walk his way under his guidance.’

The next 14 years found her working in Windhoek-Werft and Klein Windhoek alternatively. Under difficult and very poor circumstances of the beginnings she had to care for the house and the sewing room, at times as Superior. Later she alternated between Windhoek, Swakopmund and then back to Klein Windhoek convent. In 1953 she was again transferred to Swakopmund. All those years she worked as dressmaker; supplying clothes for the whole mission personnel, cassock for the Priests and the Brothers as well as habits for her fellow Sisters; she even made vestments and altar linens. One time she had an experience of being transported in a basket in order to reach her community after her pastoral visits, when the Swakop River over flowed and the bridge across had


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been washed away.At the beginning of 1979 Sister Sylvia’s strength failed rapidly and

she had to go to the hospital regularly. As days went on, she could only participate in community practices on a wheelchair and joined the Holy Mass only when it was celebrated in the Sisters’ chapel. On the 06 March 1980, she fractured her left femur and was transferred to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek. Unfortunately it was not possible to put a nail into the bone and so she had to suffer from her fractured bone. After some weeks she had good formation of a new bone, but there was no hope of her getting up again. Slowly her energies left her and she prepared herself for her last journey to the Lord. Her pains and sufferings made many in the community realize that those whom the Lord loves need to taste in Christ’s many sufferings for the love of the world. Accordingly, Sister Sylvia waited patiently, quietly and gratefully for the Lord’s coming.

Finally, on 17 June 1980 at four o’clock in the afternoon she peacefully went home to her Heavenly Father in the company of the prayers of the priest and many of her fellow Sisters, who had come to Windhoek for retreat that week. The following day she was buried in Döbra. May the Lord reward Sister Sylvia for her untiring toils in His service!

Requiescat In Pace!

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79. NEARER MY GOD TO THEESister Thaddäa Popp, OSB

(1879 – 1964)

Sr. Thaddäa65 was born in Gessenheim, Diocese Würzburg, on 12 February 1879. She was the third of nine children. The following day

she was baptized and received St. Ottilia as her Patron Saint. When

65 Thaddaea for Thaddäa is also accepted.


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Ottilia was five years old her father died in an accident. At that time the family was blessed with four children. They were all small and the mother was obliged to marry again. Ottilia received a simple but very religious education at home. When she had completed her schooling, she was sent to Würzburg to a relative. At the age of 19 she applied in a Congregation in Würzburg, but was told to wait still two years more. When she was 20, she wrote to St. Ottilien and was admitted. On 30 October 1899, she entered. On 8 July 1900, she was clothed and received the name Sr. Thaddäa. On 08 September 1902, she pronounced her First Vows in Tutzing, and in the same year she received the Mission Cross for East Africa, which was at that time the only Mission-field of the congregation.

With three other Sisters, Sr. Thaddäa arrived shortly before Christmas in Dar es Salaam. Malaria fever and other tropical diseases demanded many sacrifices at that time. The Mission work was very difficult due to the slave trade which still existed at that time. After two years Sr. Thaddäa suffered from a tropical disease and had to return to the motherhouse. In November 1907 she was allowed to go back to East Africa. She had studied nursing in Münich and devoted herself chiefly to the care of the sick. She visited the poor and the sick in their huts on a small vehicle drawn by a donkey or she would ride on a donkey; in that way she was also able to visit the lepers in different stations. The First World War broke out and Sr. Thaddäa had to go back to the Motherhouse, after two captivities and many difficulties. She had to travel through different countries. In her old age she related gladly about that time and remembered the smallest details.

During her stay in the Motherhouse she was in Schellenberg for a long time, and then in Hammelburg where the Sisters ran a home for the recovery of children. In 1922 she was sent again to the foreign mission, but this time to South West Africa. For many years she worked in the hospital of Gobabis and cared for both Europeans and Namibians. For a short time she was in Windhoek where she looked after the sick with great love. In Swakopmund she also looked after the sick. In 1949, when she suffered from heart problems she was assigned in the Priory house, there she could do light duties. Until her old age she enjoyed an exceptionally fresh and clear mind and showed great interest in everything that happened in the world, in the church, in the mission, in the Congregation and in her family. At the time of her death, only her youngest brother was still alive. Her niece, a Dominican Sister in East London, was allowed to visit Sr. Thaddäa fourteen days before she died. The Sister was happy to spend her vacation with her old Venerable Aunt


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in the convent. Sr. Thaddäa was already very weak and could not enjoy her visitor to the full.

A Hernia caused Sr. Thaddäa very great pain, but she did not want to be operated on. In May 1964, she developed a bad ulcer on the temple which could not be cured. Her condition deteriorated slowly and in August 1964 she was given the Sacrament of the Sick. The evening before her death she asked the Sister, who watched her, to turn off the lights. As Sr. Thaddäa was very quiet the Sister fulfilled her wish. Soon she got very calm and the nurse turned on the lights again and noticed that Sr. Thaddäa was dying. She had expired before the Sisters could be awakened. Mother Prioress Alypia SCHROETTKE, OSB (1962-1968) still recited the prayers for the dying. Sr. Thaddäa had often recited these prayers for herself during her sickness. The Lord did not disappoint His servant. She often related about God’s protection and help in her many journeys, during her captivity and at the beginning of new mission-work. She could look back to a very active mission life.

She passed to another life on 18 August 1964 in Windhoek. On the Sunday before her death, the Church prayed: “In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped: I said, thou art my God, my times are in Thy hands.” The following day she was buried in the mission cemetery in Döbra. Rev. Bishop Rudolf Johannes Maria KOPPMANN, many priests, brothers and sisters accompanied her to her last resting place.

The pupils of Döbra sang “Nearer my God to Thee.” With prayers we will help our dear deceased Sister to be very near to God.

May she rest in eternal peace free from all pains!


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80. AS YOU LIVE, SO YOU DIESister Theodula Mühlbauer, OSB

(1907- 1975)

After the Second Vatican Council, missionaries in foreign lands were allowed to go on home-leaves and visit their families and/or

relatives. Sister Theodula, too, had planned to go once more on home leave in 1975 and hoped to have some treatment in her homeland, but God had other plans. At the beginning of March 1975 Sister Theodula developed jaundice, although it seemed to be a minor attack, she was confined to bed for some time. After a few weeks she got up again and did some light duties while still looking forward to her home leave in June of that same year. In mid-April the doctor diagnosed that her liver and her pancreas were not functioning as they should and her laboratory results indicated a carcinoma of the pancreas. In spite of all the treatment she went through there was no improvement on her condition, it worsened instead. Sister Theodula was ordered bed-rest and she stayed in bed very quiet and peaceful until the morning of 28 April 1975, her condition deteriorated rapidly and one could see that her end was very near. She received the Anointing of the Sick in the afternoon that day from Bishop Rudolf Johannes Maria KOPPMANN, OMI and from then on she could not talk any more, but she did follow the procedure with great attention and could still try to make the sign of the cross with a big effort when the Bishop blessed her. This made the text of the Constitutions of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing came true, ‘Our surrender to God which was begun in baptism and intensified in religious profession reaches its perfection in our death.’

On 28 April at nine o’clock in the evening, the Sisters were hurriedly called to the room of Sister Theodula to accompany her on her way to Eternity. The Sisters prayed the prayers of the dying and the rosary while the sick Sister Theodula was very still and serene, so much so that only the Nursing Sister was able to notice the moment of her death. Some Sisters around her could not believe when they were told that


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she had found her eternal rest. One of the Sisters exclaimed ‘So quiet, humble and peaceful as she had lived among us she went away from us – without any fight. It was a beautiful death and we almost envy her for that. How you live, so you die.’

On the following day Sister Theodula was laid to rest at Döbra cemetery. The funeral was celebrated by the Bishop with eight priests concelebrating; many Brothers and Sisters also attended.

Sister Theodula was born on the feast of St. Thomas 03 July 1907 in Rottham near Seeon on the Chiemsee, Archdiocese of Munich-Freising. She was baptized Bertha. There are no details about her childhood and during her convent life she was very quiet and calm person, she never shared about it. Having grown up in the period of the First World War it can be inferred that she might have had a hard time in her youth, although she never talked about it.

Her parents were pious and had a deep faith; God blessed the marriage with 16 children. Some of the children were given to families in order to bring them up and Bertha was one of them. She grew up with Untermaier family, from whom one of their daughters entered in Tutzing before Sister Theodula and this daughter became Sister Fridoline UNTERMAIER, OSB. Sister Theodula was always very grateful and had fond memories of her foster-parents and their children. On 01 August 1929 she entered in Tutzing, and became a Novice on 25 March 1931. She made her First Profession on 04 April 1932 and three years later she pronounced her Perpetual Profession on 04 April 1935. She had always wanted to go to foreign missions, but Second World War delayed her departure. During the war she worked in St. Ottilien, mostly in the kitchen but due to the demands of the war she learnt some skills in nursing with other Sisters in Münich. After the war she used her nursing knowledge in Wessobrunn until she received her Mission Cross for Windhoek Priory, Namibia in 1948.

She set her foot on the Namibian Soil in December 1948 with three other Sisters. From her arrival until her departure for heaven she served as a nurse in different communities mainly Bunya, Gobabis, Swakopmund and Tondoro. The longest period of her service was spent in Tondoro where she stayed for ten consecutive years. She also practiced her shoemaking skills; mending shoes for mission personnel. In those epochs the connection to civilization was very poor, and the whole mission personnel were lucky and happy to have their shoes repaired by Sister Theodula. Missionaries from other neighbouring Stations also brought their shoes to her for repair.


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Prior to her transfer to the Priory House, she worked for two years in St. Martin Hospital in Oshikuku in Omusati Region. Despite the fact that she was not trained in midwifery, she assisted many mothers to safely bring their babies to see the light of life for the first time; and due to her conscientiousness she became quite skilled in this work. Unfortunately, as she was getting on in age, her nerves could not stand up any longer to too much pressure, consequently, she was transferred to the Priory House community in 1968.

In the Priory House, she helped in the hospital, especially in the children’s ward. She also looked after the refectory. This was a welcome job for her as a balance for her hectic work in the hospital. In 1969 Sister Theodula went on home-leave for the first time; she was very happy to meet with her family and especially with Sister Fridoline, of whom she had always been in contact. In early 1970s Sister Theodula was diagnosed with an illness in her adrenal glands which seemed to have made her prone to several illnesses.

Since then she was no longer well; her death taught many who knew her that our life is a preparation for the meeting with the Lord at the end of everything where the celebration of Easter has no end.

Requiescat In Pace!


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81. LORD JESUS, DO NOT BE MY JUDGE BUT MY INTERCESSORSister Udalrike Wiedemann OSB

(1923 – 2009)

While 27 January of 2009 was a ‘First’ day of life for some and a new beginning for others, for Sister Udalrike the day was her ‘LAST’

on earth. The community had just prayed the Responsorial psalm at Lauds, thus, ‘The Lord has loved her and adorned her. He clothed her with magnificent garments. The Lord has satisfied the longing of her heart.’ One hour later, the Lord came and clothed Sister Udalrike ‘with magnificent garments’ while she fell asleep in that cool morning hours of 27 January. No one noticed that she was already departing to the next world because there was no struggle and she gave no sound, but in silence as she lived her life so she left. God took her up into his heavenly glory...

In the night of 25th January 2009, one Sister in the Windhoek Priory had a dream about Sister Udalrike. In her dream, she saw Sister Udalrike walking dressed in her white habit and a black veil. The face of Sister Udalrike appeared crystal radiant. The sister dreaming was surprised and asked her in a dream: ‘Sister Udalrike, I thought you were bedridden? How come you are now walking here? How did this happen?’ Sister Udalrike with a smile on her face answered as calmly as always: ‘I prayed that I may come back again to Namibia and the Lord heard my prayer.’ That answer awakened the dreaming sister.

Sister Udalrike had gone on home-leave in Germany in 2003 from Namibia. During her stay in her homeland, she experienced a serious stroke that it was impossible for her to return to her beloved Namibian Mission. She was paralyzed at her right side and could not talk nor swallow. Since then she was bedridden and was being fed through a tube. Despite her severe handicap and dependency, she remained


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amiable, contented and grateful. She manifested great joy during the daily rosary and many visits from her fellow sisters, especially those who came from Windhoek Priory for the International Weeks of Encounter. Sister Udalrike gave a special testimony of her abandonment and trust in God. She faithfully lived her Missionary Benedictine vocation to the full and had borne her sufferings without complaint.

The day she was laid to rest, the community sang a hymn for her: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, born of the Virgin, you are the eternal reward for all who sought you alone. They follow you to glory, dressed in white robes, and joyfully sing the new song, the hymn of praise to the honour of God.

It will be good to backtrack from the beginning Sister Udalrike’s life and put bits under a microscope; to trace some lines and see the forces that gave rise to this Sister we call Sister Udalrike. It all started with Maria married to a Master Shoemaker Johann Wiedemann of Augsburg, Germany. They were blessed with five children. Their third child Anna, as she came to be known after her baptism, was born on the Feast of St. Gregory the great, 03 September 1923. The month of September became a special month in Anna’s life. In 1930, Anna started her elementary education in a public school; she was seven years old at that time. Already at the age of nine she experienced the loss of her beloved mother who passed away in 1932. Her father had to re-marry; in the following year 1933 he married Franziska OBERHAUSER, anticipating that his five little children will be taken good care of by a step-mother, what she rightly did.

The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, 12 September 1934, saw Anna receiving Jesus for the First time in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. She once wrote, ‘After school, I worked at home where I was needed, and attended a home economics vocational school, and in my free time, I attended sewing classes in the English Institute in Augsburg’. Such vocational trainings were a great help for Anna in her future mission work.

Her teenage stage was interrupted by the Second World War; her brothers were drafted to military service and she was left to help out in the store of her parents. In her autobiography, before she entered the convent she wrote, ‘In October 1944, our house was destroyed in a bombing attack. Thereby I was injured at my head. Because of my long unconsciousness, I received Holy Unction at the First Aid Emergency Centre; but after three weeks I was well and could be dismissed from the hospital’. Anna could not die in the bombing because her mission


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was not yet accomplished. Her future mission convent was elevated to the status of a Priory on the same year Anna was born; therefore, God saved her until she entered the convent. But before she entered the convent, she had to help in the reconstruction of their house, which took them six years of great difficulties and hard work. It was only completed in 1950.

Three years later, when the family was settled and happy once again, Anna set out and knocked at the convent door of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. It was once again in her favourite month of 15 September 1953, when Anna entered in Tutzing. The following year, she and 17 other candidates became Postulants. The Formation House of the Motherhouse was getting fuller and fuller each year, as new candidates came knocking at the door. That year, three of their companions were sent to foreign missions to Norfolk Priory on 30 March 1954. The remaining group of fifteen Postulants became Novices on 04 February 1955. As it has been a custom in the Congregation, the Novices were given new names, ‘Which the mouth of the Lord had given’ Anna was then given the name Sister Udalrike. The following year found her and fourteen other Novices preparing for their First Profession which was on 07 February 1956 in Bernried. It was a touching day for all of them indeed; especially for their two companions who went for foreign mission the following year to the Philippines. The length of the Juniorate was only three years at that time, and so Sister Udalrike together with her 12 companions, perhaps depicting the 12 apostles, made their Perpetual Profession in 1959.

Sister Udalrike’s first years were spent working in different areas such as sewing rooms in Tutzing, in Olpe and in Bernried. She had to wait for two more years when finally her hope to go to foreign missions was fulfilled. On 14 March 1962 the Mass was celebrated with the rite of mission sending of two sisters going to Namibia. After profession of their faith and renewing their vows, they received their Mission Cross. These two sisters were Sister Ingrid Schmitt, OSB and of course Sister Udalrike Wiedemann, OSB. Reverent Mother Amadea BEßLER, OSB, Prioress of Tutzing at that time, gave them her blessing as the 172 members of the Priory House community bade their farewell to the two sisters with a Benedictine Pax plus a ‘see you in heaven’, as foreign mission in those days meant ‘mission for life’. The two sisters set out at once for Namibia, ‘the Land of the Brave’66. On 18 March of the same year, Reverent Mother

66 After Namibia gained Independence in 1990, a competition was held for a new national


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Lintrud KIERMEIER, OSB, Prioress of Windhoek and the community had a great joy of welcoming their new missionaries to Namibia. The two Sisters were all given their new assigned mission Stations; Sister Ingrid was assigned in the Priory House while Sister Udalrike was assigned to Oshikuku community, but she stayed in the Priory House for two and a half months before she could go to Oshikuku, North of Namibia. Sister Udalrike arrived in Oshikuku on 11 June 1962. Since she was a seamstress, Sister Herluca ROHRMOSER, OSB, Superior of Oshikuku community, assigned her to no other work than the Sewing Room. There she worked until 1992 when Oshikuku Station was handed over to the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku.

‘Personal dialogue with God is continued throughout the day. We value creating an atmosphere of recollection and silence in order to perceive the call of God and to achieve a fruitful harmony of contemplation and action.’ The aforesaid text from the Constitutions of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing Congregation Chapter 2:4 seemed to have taken roots in Sister Udalrike, for she loved personal prayer. She regularly visited her Eucharistic Saviour in the Tabernacle during tea break and after siesta she would again go to the chapel to ask for new blessing before she would resume her afternoon work. She never started her daily work without praying before the sewing machine in the sewing room. Likewise, she taught the Sisters who were assigned to work with her to do the same. She also loved silence and did not tolerate much talking. When the sisters started talking while at work, she constantly told them to pray the Rosary instead; then she would start either praying the Rosary or sing a song which the rest in sewing room might know. She was very kind and was loved by many Sisters.

She had a favourite prayer which was: ‘Lord Jesus, do not be my judge but my intercessor.’ This indeed reflected in her because she never judged anyone; when she happened to be in a group with others, she would prefer to listen to them rather than give her opinion or judgment. She was a peace-loving person, whose life was deeply-rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict and the Congregation’s Constitutions. When she was displeased with a Sister, as stated in her obituary, ‘she called that sister to a quiet corner of the room, looked at her lovingly and silently until the Sister responded with a smile’. She had words of encouragement for

anthem. The winning anthem, written and composed by Axali Doeseb, is called Namibia, Land of the Braves. The anthem describes the will of the Namibian people to survive amid hardship and suffering and, most importantly, their love for their country and their nation and also its contrasting beauty displayed through nature and diverse people.


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every Sister, whom she talked to, and oftentimes would advise them to never take revenge toward anyone but pray for those who hurt them. She was never irritable or impatient. She participated in all community practices, never absenting herself from any exercise.

Sundays were her days to visit the sick in the hospital and pray the rosary with them. For a change, she visited old people in nearby houses especially those who could no longer come to church for one reason or another. She loved particularly the poor people and helped them in whatever way she could. When she went for home-visits in the villages, she always carried a Bible with her and the Oshiwambo Hymn Book so that she could sing with the people she was visiting. She encouraged the people to help one another and place everything into God’s hands. From time to time she went to the cemetery to decorate the graves with flowers and removed the weeds. She never lacked work, but continually found something to do. At recreation, she always brought something for knitting.

In 1992, her time came when she had to be transferred from her beloved Oshikuku Mission. She was transferred to the Priory House in Windhoek where she worked in the hospital sewing room as well as making new habits for the Sisters. In 2000, she once again transferred with the community to the newly built Priory House in Nubuamis and she continued working in the sewing room. On Sundays, she would join the Postulants in their apostolate of visiting people in the neighbouring slum area of ‘Okahandja-Park’ and to pray with the people there. In the community, she loved to give joy to other sisters in the community by writing a ‘Happy Feastday’ card and would attach to it a Medal or a one decade Rosary.

Sister Udalrike kept contact with her family back home in Germany. In 2003, she went for home-leave which was requested by her family because her brother was celebrating his Golden Jubilee of ordination. She excitedly went with hope of ‘returning soon’ as she bid farewell to Windhoek Priory not knowing that that was her last ‘farewell’ to Namibia and its people. While in Germany, she got a stroke which made it impossible for her to come back to Namibia. May the good Lord, reward Sister Udalrike for all she did for Windhoek Priory!

Requiescat In Pace!

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82. INTO YOUR HANDS LOND, I COMMEND MY SPIRITSister Urbana Rauch, OSB

(1900 – 1973)

Nothing much is kept about Sr. Urbana’s life. What can be put on this page is what can be drawn from her brief obituary.

Franziska was born on 06 December 1900 in Mauggen, Diocese of München u. Freising. She made her First Profession with 13 other Novices on 30 August 1926. On 11 April 1927, a year after her profession, she received her mission assignment to Windhoek. She arrived in South West Africa, now Namibia on 25th May 1927. In February 1973, Sr. Urbana was found to have melanoma67 and was operated on. She recovered fairly well and after some weeks of rest she was able to return to her work in the kitchen. In March 1973, her strength failed and at times her right hand trembled so strongly that she could no longer work. It was a long period of waiting. Eventually her mental powers slowly stopped functioning. She was lying there very quietly and it was hardly noticeable when she died on 7th August 1973 in Windhoek. The Sacrament of the Sick, the blessing of visiting priests, and the prayers of her fellow Sisters strengthened her on her way to eternal home. She died at the age of 73, after giving 47 years to the Mission in Southwest-Africa, now Namibia.

May she rest in peace!

67 Melanoma is a tumour containing dark pigments.


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83. A BIG SACRIFICESister Ursula Lülsdorff, OSB

(1893 – 1977)

Sister Ursula was born on 27 February 1893 in Cologne/Rhine, Germany. As a genuine girl from the Rhine-country she was always

proud to be born in Cologne and told everyone with special emphasis that she was born near the Cathedral and grew up in its shadow.

On 05 May 1893 she was baptized and was called Maria Katharina Klara. She grew up in a genuine Christian family. Her father took over the vineyard and wine shop of his father. Sister Ursula loved to tell jokes of her childhood and youth which she played with her six brothers.

Her pious parents always preferred convent schools for the education of their children; they sent their oldest daughter Maria Katharina Klara to study with the St. Ursula’s Sisters for elementary schooling. For High School they sent her to the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus. After her High School she added one more year of Commercial Studies; after finishing it, she applied for a job at the Post and Telephone Office. She would have good chances because she already knew English by then, however she could not be accepted on the job because she was too short. Nevertheless, she got a job at the Bank instead, which was connected to the town’s pawn shop. She oftentimes told many interesting, cheerful and sad stories about this department.

Maria desired to serve others and wanted to become a missionary in Africa. Her first choice fell to the Community of the White Sisters, a French Congregation, and she entered there. During her probation period, which was the aftermath of First World War, the Congregation worried about political implications and due to the revolution in Germany, all German Postulants and Aspirants were dismissed. Nevertheless, the Superiors helped them to find German Mission Houses and that was how Sister Ursula together with a fellow Postulant, who later became


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Sister Jutta HAFNER, OSB,68 found their way to Tutzing Congregation. Before the two were admitted, they took up a one year Nursing Course; Sister Ursula had the firm hope that she would one day work in Africa.

She began her Postulancy on 14 October 1920 and on 16 July 1921 she became a Novice and received her religious Name as Sister Ursula; the following year she made her First Profession on the Feast of St. James, 25th July 1922 in Tutzing and received her Mission Cross thereafter. On 07 July 1923 her dream to work in Africa came true when she arrived in the harbour of Walvis Bay for her foreign mission assignment to Namibia. She was preparing herself with excitement and enthusiasm to go to Bunya in Kavango Region, but to her great disappointment the Windhoek hospital received an English Doctor who needed more of Sister Ursula’s help because she was the only sister with a good knowledge of the English language at that time. Thus, her dream to serve in the remotest area of ‘Africa’ never came true, which was a big sacrifice for her. She remained in Windhoek Community where she made her Perpetual Profession on 25th July 1925. Although it was surely a big sacrifice for her, she accepted it in obedience. She had an opportunity to see Windhoek rise to the level of a Priory in 1926 and she stayed in the Priory until 1944 working as a nurse and also in the operating theatre. In 1944 she was transferred to Swakopmund as Sister Superior of the community and at the same time she was Hospital administrator of St. Antonius Hospital. After her term of office as Superior she returned to Windhoek in 1950. She was entrusted with the duty of a Sub-prioress for some years in Windhoek.

In 1951 her job-description changed and she became a full-time administrator of the Roman Catholic Hospital which was also growing and developing. In this growing institution she worked untiringly day and night and always with the same spirit of calmness. She also worked in the dispensary part of the hospital. Strong and enduring as she was, she interrupted her work one day in 1952 but only after her appendix had already perforated. A few days later, after the first difficult operation was done she had an intestinal obstruction. In this situation nobody believed healing could take place for her. But God had a plan for her that another complication would only occur after 20 years, when she was 71 years of age. She survived another two abdominal operations; after these operations she slowly withdrew with a heavy heart from her favourite job, the administrative work, in 1973, and became helpful in

68 Sister Jutta HAFNER, OSB was also a missionary to Namibia.


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other work. She helped Sister Hermana HEBESBERGER, OSB in her mobile clinic for the local people. She sorted the spare things which the hospital could send to the mission stations. However, walking up and down the staircases became a burden for her. She was helped by one of the domestic Namibian girls who always took her by the arm and supported her.

It had been noted that Sister Ursula was always available to all who needed her help day and night; she never gave an unfriendly or short answer. Her good upbringing at home helped her to respect everybody. She was always modest and unassuming.

Then came 06 January 1977 when dramatically, Sister Ursula slid on the floor outside the chapel, fell down and fractured both her wrists. She could not recover any more but prepared herself for her last hour. Her strength diminished daily like a burning candle; her memory faded and about one week before her death she could not remember her fellow sisters any more. The nurses talked of her as an immensely grateful, satisfied and serene patient.

On Friday, 22nd April 1977 she said: ‘O Saviour, O Saviour!’ and these were her last words; from then on she reacted no longer. She received the Sacrament of the Sick, and priests together with her fellow Sisters prayed in her room. Sister Ursula departed for heaven and gave her soul back to God whom she had served faithfully all her life on the 24th April 1977. During her funeral at Döbra one of the priests said: ‘Should you put up a memorial for modesty, it would have to be for Sister Ursula.’ May God in his mercy, goodness and love admit her in His glory just as in her life she met every person with love and mercy.

Requiescat In Pace!


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84. FRIENDLY, CARING AND LOVINGSister Veremunda Fürst, OSB

(1896 – 1979)

On 15 March 1896 a baby girl was born in Baernreuth, diocese of Passau to Mr. Johann and Mrs. Maria. She was given the name

Franziska in baptism. She grew up with many brothers and sisters, the cradle of her community life. She desired to give herself totally to God, thus on 15 January 1924 she entered Tutzing and received the name Sr. Veremunda.

Sr. Veremunda made her First Profession on 30 August 1926 and on 22 September 1926 she received her call to foreign mission in Olinda Priory, Brazil. She worked there for three years from October 1926 to February 1929 and was called away and sent to another mission, Galangue in Angola in 1931, presumably due to the climate that was not suitable for her health. After seven years of presence and service in Angola from March 1931 to December 1938, she had to say good-bye and cross the border to the neighbouring South West Africa, now Namibia. It is here that she served all her life, 40 years altogether, cooking for her fellow sisters. Big things cannot be told about Sr. Veremunda but it is convincing that she did big things known to God alone.

Her first assignment in Namibia was in the Northern part of the country; from June 1939 to June 1954 in Oshikuku and from June 1954 to May 1973 in Anamulenge. Eventually, she moved on to the coastal region in Swakopmund where she continued her whole life-service in the kitchen with loving dedication until a few weeks before the Lord called her for His Own. Even when she was weak and frail she tried to do the little she could as far as her strength could allow.

Slowly her strength ebbed until she quietly put her life back into her Father’s hands on 23 July 1979 shortly after midday in Swakopmund. She was well prepared and went home happily. Two days later Sr. Vermunda’s body was transported to Windhoek and now rests in the Mission cemetery of Döbra among her fellow sisters whom she loved, cared for and served during her life time.


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Friendly, caring, loving that is how the Sisters knew Sr. Veremunda. She went her “little way” with a cheerful heart as St. Theresia of Lisieux knew it to be genuine missionary.

May she rest in everlasting peace!

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85. PAID THEIR LAST FAREWELL TO THEIR BELOVED MOTHERSister Viatrix Weber, OSB

(1911 – 1971)

The Vatican II brought new thrust which many Religious Congregations had to apply. The Missionary Benedictine Sisters Congregation, too,

implemented the ‘Home-leaves’ for all the Sisters. At first it permitted home-leave every 10 years in foreign missions and then it was revised to eight, six and five years, lately home-leave is every four years. Since then many sisters took their home-leaves regularly, some others renounced theirs.

Sister Viatrix WEBER, OSB, embraced the idea of taking a vacation, and visited her homeland a few time. Her last home visit was in 1970. Few weeks after her return from her homeland in early August, she was brought by an ambulance from Kavango to Windhoek. A preliminary diagnosis was a vertebral fracture after a fall she had. The specialists helped her very much and with more treatment a remarkable improvement came upon her; but this was short lived. . With all the medication she had to take, she developed a very painful allergy all over her body.

Her Christmas that year was spent in pain and misery, but after Christmas, she finally seemed to be improving and the doctor allowed her to return to Tondoro community at the beginning of April 1971. She was delighted to at long last return to her beloved Kavango after eight months in the hospital. She had lived in Kavango for many years where


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she served the Kavango people with love and zeal. After two weeks’ time she had to put up with a terrible back pain, this made her to consult a physician in the state hospital in Rundu. Two sisters who were working in that hospital attended to her with love and care for several weeks. The sisters from the nearby mission stations, even the fathers and brothers came to Rundu Hospital to visit her.

Her condition worsened rapidly so that a Priest, Father Doctor Romanus KAMPUNGU69, who was based in Rundu, was called to give her the Anointing of the Sick. It was a joy for her for she felt well prepared for her journey to eternity. On Thursday evening, 29 April 1971, she asked her nurses to go and res; she fell asleep shortly after eight o’clock in the evening and quietly without any agony she departed for Heaven.

On Saturday 01 May 1971, her remains were transferred to the Mission station of Tondoro, where she was buried with a large participation of youth and many Christians who came to pay their last farewell to their beloved mother. There were also many missionaries from other mission stations in Kavango who prayed in worship at the grave for the deceased Sister Viatrix.

Josephine WEBER as she was called by her parents after baptism was born on 23 March 1911 in Hintermoos, Diocese of Rottenburg in Germany. She entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and made her First Profession on 20 April 1936. She had to wait for 13 years before her desire to go to foreign missions was fulfilled. She was sent to foreign mission in South West Africa, Namibia in 03 March 1949. She worked in Windhoek and lastly in Tondoro mission where she was buried among her loved Kavango people.

Requiescat In Pace!

69 Dr. Romanus Kampungu was the first African priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Namibia to receive a doctorate in theology and the first Priest of Kavango Region. His unpublished thesis was on marriage practices in the Kavango”.


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86. SUSCIPE ME DOMINESister Walburga Sauer, OSB

(1883 – 1963)

Would you like to go to Asia or Africa? Sr. Walburga chose the latter. Rosa was born on 24 January 1883 in Ufhausen, diocese of

Fulda. A deep religious education and the example of her brother, Rev. Father Boniface SAUER, OSB, who was ordained in the Mission Convent of St. Ottilien in 1903, contributed to the desire of Rosa to serve God in a Missionary Benedictine way of life. She followed the call of God and her brother brought her to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in Tutzing in November 1904 at the age of 21.

This was the period when the sisters had just transferred to Tutzing and the motherhouse was under construction. Funds were exhausted, the sisters had to live very simple, and debts were increasing. Rosa was not spared from all these experiences; she had to join in the austere life of the convent. Three years later on 10 February 1907, was she clothed as a Novice and received the name Sr. Walburga. On 16 February1908 she pronounced her First Profession and in the same year she received her Mission Cross. In the mean-time her brother, Rev. Fr. Boniface, was sent to Korea. Sr. Walburga was asked if she would like to follow her brother to Korea or to go to Africa. She chose Africa – Tanzania, because she knew that each sacrifice united her closer to God and that the conversion of souls demanded her sacrifices. With great interest she followed up the mission work in Korea, even when her brother was appointed Abbot and Bishop. She shared joys and sorrows with him, especially when North-Korea was occupied by the Russians and the convents and the seminary were confiscated. She suffered much when she learned that her brother Abbot-Bishop was captured and could, due to old age, not make the strenuous way to the camp, but died on the way, far away from his mission-field. On 26 April 1941 her niece Sr. Sigram


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Sauer made her First Profession in Tutzing; this gave Sr. Walburga great joy.

Before Sr. Walburga left for the Mission she was allowed to visit her mother who was very sick. Soon after her arrival in Tanzania she received the news that her good mother had died.

In Dar es-Salam, Sr. Walburga was in charge of the kitchen. With great love and consideration, she tried to serve the community. She was an expert in cooking and she could easily instruct the Tanzanian girls to cook; so that she could attend to many other affairs. During First World War, (1914 -1918), the Sisters had to evacuate from Dar es Salam to the interior of the region and after the war they had to return to the motherhouse. Only in 1919 could Sr. Walburga make her Perpetual Profession in the motherhouse in Tutzing. There she nursed Mother Prioress Thekla who had returned from Tanzania with cancer. In 1920 Sr. Walburga was in Hammelburg where the Sisters had taken over the care for the recovery of children.

In 1922 she was permitted to go to Southwest Africa, now Namibia. She was appointed superior of Swakopmund and remained there until 1928. The Lord asked her to extend her service to the Kavango Missions and became Superior in Nyangana, from 1928 to 1933. She had a special gift in training the native girls in house-work and she had more time for real mission work. She was appointed Second Prioress of Windhoek in 1933, and cared for the Sisters with great love and prudence until 1944. During the Second World War, she had no connection with the Motherhouse or with home. This was a special cross for her. Towards the last years of her office as Prioress it was found out that she had diabetes and community life became hard for her. Sometimes she fell into a coma. She often retired to the infirmary and tried to make herself useful by doing secretarial work. Soon, however, she could do no more any kind of work and she devoted her time to prayer. She often visited our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and when her feet did not carry her any longer, she considered this her great sacrifice. For Holy Mass she was brought to the Chapel in a wheel-chair and to the refectory for dinner because she wanted still to be with the community at least sometimes. On 24 January, she celebrated her 80th birthday and enjoyed this still with a very clear mind. She always had great interest for everything that happened in the community and in the Congregation.

Colds and influenza always increased her diabetes and this also occurred the week before her death. Some days before, she complained about pain in the liver, but did not mind it. She could still attended Holy


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Mass in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Windhoek, but the Sisters observed that she had difficulties in breathing. She found the way to the church too strenuous and remained in bed with the remark, “Tomorrow it will be better again.” In the same afternoon she got high fever and was no more confused. The then Mother Prioress Alypia SCHRÖTTKE, OSB (1962-1968), was afraid that Sr. Walburga might soon fall into a coma again and so she was asked to receive Sacrament of the Sick. At first she hesitated a little, but then she said, “If I am really very sick, I am willing to receive it.” She followed the community horarium and joined all the chanting of the prayers with a loud and strong voice. The following morning she felt better and as she did not like to give work to the nurse she got up alone, but fell and broke her arm. When the arm was placed into a cast, she tried at once to use it. The fever remained high. The Sisters later remarked that she had jaundice. Sr. Walburga felt very unhappy and miserable about her condition and could follow only short prayers, but could receive Holy Communion daily.

Sunday, 01 September 1963, her condition got worse. In the afternoon the priest gave her general absolution, the sisters recited the prayers for dying and sung the Suscipe Me Domine. During the renewal of vows she gave signs that she, too, followed, but she could no more speak. She recovered a little and just when it was time for Compline the bell rang and the sisters were called to the bedside of our Sister. While the priest was giving the blessing and the sisters were praying, her soul departed from this world.

The following day, she was accompanied to her resting place in the Mission Cemetery of Döbra. May she now intercede at the throne of God for the different Mission Stations of Windhoek Priory and the whole Congregation!

And may the eternal life be her reward!


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87. MEET HER LORD WITH A BURNING LAMPSister Wiborada Funk, OSB

(1884 – 1968)

Sister Wiborada FUNK was born on the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, on 18 October 1884 Münchenreute, Diocese of Rottenburg. In Holy

baptism, she was given the name of St. Agnes as her Patroness Saint. Her parents were blessed with 10 children, eight girls and two boys; they lived in their happy and deeply religious family. At a very young age, the 10 Funk children became orphans and Agnes had to take care of her younger brothers and sisters.

Three of the eight girls entered the convent. Maria was the first to enter in Tutzing and made her First Profession on 09 July 1911. She received the name Sister M. Clotilde and she was sent to foreign mission to Olinda Priory in Brazil in December 1912; that same year Agnes became a Novice and was given the name Sister M. Wiborada. Their younger sister also entered the convent and became a contemplative Benedictine Nun in Habsthal.

Sister M. Wiborada made her First Profession on 27 April 1913. In 1914, the First World War broke out and she was sent to St. Ottilien to help out in the kitchen. After the War ended she was sent to the monastery in Kerschlach to gain some knowledge in agriculture work. In December 1929 she received her Mission Cross to South West Africa, today Namibia. She was first assigned at Klein Windhoek; and later she was transferred to Swakopmund, where the climate was favourable to her health. With much love, care and great diligence, she took care of the sacristy and at the same time she was a teacher; she performed all her duties well. The celebration of the liturgy, Holy mass and Divine Office were her delight. She was prayerful and would always bring before the Lord in her prayers everything that happening in the Church of Namibia as well as in the Congregation.

In 1962, she received the news that her blood sister, our Sister Clotilde, OSB, had died on 07 January 1962 in Olinda at the age of 76. Her sister who went before her to the convent likewise went to heaven


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before her. It was a painful experience for her but she brought all to the Lord.

As Sister Wiborada got older she suffered from much pain and had severe seizures from time to time. As the attacks became more frequent, she herself asked for the Anointing of the Sick, and received this sacrament fully conscious. In the morning of her death she still went to Holy Mass and prayed ‘Lord, let my prayer come before your face and incline your ear to my request.’ After breakfast, she went in her room to rest and the Lord answered her request; she was called home to heaven on 09 March 1969 at half-past nine in the morning.

A sister came to her in her cell; she missed the joyful response of greeting which Sister Wiborada always gave to everyone who came to see her. When the sister came closer to find out why, she noticed that Sister Wiborada was giving her last breath of love to her Creator. It was a quick and unexpected transition from life to death, but it was not an unprepared death. She had hoped to meet her Lord with a burning lamp. She lived her religious commitment to the full and did not fear death; for life has changed not ended.

Requiescat In Pace!

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88. I KNOW THAT I MUST EVER BE READY, FOR I SHALL DIE SUDDENLY

Sister Wighardis Weiss, OSB(1909 – 1960)

On that day, 24 July 1909, the Church celebrated the 19th Sunday after Pentecost with the scripture text: “Behold, my supper is prepared.

Come to the wedding.” Such invitation to join Him first came to Sr. Wighardis on her Baptism day in her parish church at Tauberbischofsheim. Twenty-nine years later, Anne, again at the invitation of the Lord, entered the congregation of the Missionary Benedictines. On 10th January 1940


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she pronounced her First Profession. During the following years, she was trained as a nurse and worked in the military hospital and in the infirmary of the motherhouse.

After the war, Sr. Wighardis was one of the first missionaries that were sent out. She was destined for Cuchi, a small station in Angola, fitted well for her simple mind and her kind heart. She could do much good among the sick Chokwe people: she soothed much pain, healed many bodily and mental wounds during the nine years of her stay there. Not only did she see others suffer, but she too was not spared, she was in solidarity with them. Her weak heart could not stand the climate, medicines and vacations brought only passing relief. It was thought that a change of climate could be of help to Sr. Wighardis.

South-West Africa was to become Sr. Wighardis second foreign mission field. First she recuperated in Kavango, then in Swakopmund, the health resort for weak hearts. She could take charge of an easier post in the hospital. With her little strength she did what she could for the patients, and they appreciated their quiet understanding nurse; though attacks of weakness forced her at times to take an extra rest. She suffered so much to the point that she was no longer able to help the Sisters, on the contrary she was a burden to them; her confidence in God however held up her courage and enthusiasm.

Sr. Wighardis was a true missionary and her heart and mind were still turned to the people, whom she had served during her first years in the mission. Her health had improved somewhat, and her ardent petition could be fulfilled by a temporary transfer to Anamulenge in April 1960. With great joy and zeal she prepared for the transfer but was quiet conscious of the limitations of her strength. She said, “I consider it a great grace that our Lord calls me once more into His real vineyard, and gladly I accept all that He sent me.” And she also said, “I know that I must always be ready, for I shall die suddenly.” With indefatigable zeal she set out to work in Anamulenge and all were astonished how her health kept up. There she worked as a substitute in the clinic. The clinic was “overrun” because Sr. Wighardis devoted her knowledge and strength to the people, especially during the malaria epidemic. To many she opened the gates of church by administering the Sacrament of Baptism in the case of danger. She greatly improved the primitive clinic for the benefit of the local people.

Then came 13 October 1960! She made her evening round through the hospital, and prepared a deceased young mother for the burial; upon entering the clausura, she had a stroke and was paralyzed on her right


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side and she was unconscious. That same night she was brought to the nearby hospital of Oshikuku for medical observation. The Sacrament of the Sick was administered to her in the presence of all the mission personnel, while she remained unconsciousness. After three days in the hospital, on 16 October 1960, Sr. Wighardis died peacefully in Oshikuku, Ovamboland. A Sister writes: “There was nothing special about her deathbed, but there was a great peace and confidence about her, that could not be explained, but it was there.” Another writes: “We are glad to have the dear deceased in our cemetery. The Ovambo mission needed this sacrifice.”

As the first of our Sisters, she rests now in the Oshikuku mission cemetery, in the midst of many deceased laity and fellow religious. Humanly speaking, Sr. Wighardis died unexpectedly and too early, but surely not unprepared. She had a great devotion to Our Lady, and Our Heavenly Mother will not have left her child in those last solitary hours without assistance and consolation. Some Sisters were constantly praying at her bedside for a good hour of death. Sr. Wighardis was a prayerful person, a devoted Sister, who diligently worked to control and to improve the weaknesses and defects of her character as our Holy Father St. Benedict proposes to those who strive after perfection.

A lively faith and a steadfast confidence in God were her support in difficult moments of her life, and with a firm hope she expected all from the goodness of God. We thank our Lord for all the graces He bestowed on the dear deceased and through her on the mission in Namibia.

May God be her eternal reward and everlasting peace!


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89. LIKE A CANDLE IN THE WINDSister Wilhelmine Josef, OSB

(1936 – 1998)

Naapopye, as she was called by her parents, was born on 20th of September 1936 in Onampila, Omusati Region in Namibia. Like

many of her contemporaries, she was an adult when she was baptized and had a privilege of receiving all the sacraments in the same year. She was baptized and received her First Holy Communion on the 31st of March, 1950, the same year she was confirmed. She was the youngest daughter of Mrs. Priska ERAGO and Mr. Josef NKOME. They were six children, three sons and three daughters.

Seven years later after she received the Sacraments, Naapopye started her Novitiate in the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku and received the name Sister Wilhelmine in 1957. On the 06 January 1959 she made her First Profession in the presence of Sister Herluca ROHRMOSER, OSB, superior of Oshikuku community of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing at that time. Sister Wilhelmine pronounced her Final Profession in 1968 at Oshikuku.

Sister Wilhelmine had love for the sick and suffering, she was given opportunity for a practical nursing training in Oshikuku hospital, and then she was sent to Ombalantu to work as an assistant nurse to Sister Novata BOHNER, OSB in the hospital. Later she did the same work in Okatana. She was a gentle Sister and did her work quietly with love.

In 1969, a year after her Perpetual Profession, she fell ill; her legs started to get lame and it got so bad that she needed a wheelchair for about two years. After several treatments she learned to walk again, supported by calipers on both legs. She carried her cross silently, but since then she was never in full possession of her strength and health again. In addition to that, she often had severe attacks of headache. However, she was ready for any work she could do for the community.


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She was gifted with needlework and sewed many clothes for poor children. She helped in many different areas such as Oshikuku parish office, the novitiate as well as praying with the sick people in the hospital.

In 1981 she went to Epukiro to study a one year Catechetical Course. She was very eager to learn and be of better help in pastoral work. The Course increased her love for Liturgy and Scripture. When she finished her Course and came back to Oshikuku, she helped to train leaders for the communion services in the out-station of Oshikuku Parish and she also translated liturgical texts into Oshikwambi.

Longing for a closer relationship with the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, she, with other Sisters started their probation period in June of 1996, for transferring into the Missionary Congregation. The group was first known as the Region of Namibia and Sister Agrippina ASHIPALA, OSB70, became their Regional Superior. Sister Wilhelmine’s last assignment was at St. Michael in Outjo where she taught Catechism to children.

In May of 1997 she suffered from heart problem; from then on her life was like a candle in the wind: flickering, looking like going out; but when the wind would stop, the flame would once again burn brightly and quietly, because of that, no one expected her death to come soon. On 23rd May 1998 she was admitted in the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek due to numbness in her arm and had difficult to keeping food down. With treatment she was recovering well even to the extent of enjoying short walks around the hospital.

In the morning of 27th May 1998, the nurse who brought her breakfast found Sister Wilhelmine in a semi-conscious state. The diagnosis of cerebral stroke and congestion of the lungs was made; but her condition deteriorated rapidly. Father Herman KLEINHITPASS, OMI, was asked to come and anointed her with the Sacrament of the sick. From 10:00 AM until her death at 12:45 PM she was surrounded by many of her fellow Sisters. Father Johannes NIENHAUS, OMI71, brought the Sisters from Döbra community and they stayed with Sister Wilhelmine until she breathed her last. The Sisters kept praying and singing alternating between English and Oshikwambi. Father Hubert

70 Sister Agrippina had already transferred her Stability earlier in 1994 from the Benedictine Sisters of Oshikuku Congregation to the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

71 Father Johannes Nienhaus, OMI worked in Okatana Parish for many years; he passed away on 12 August 2002. R.I.P.


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Knuf, OMI72, also came in to give her a blessing. At 12:45, 27 May 1998 the Sisters sang the last ‘Suscipe Me Domine’ as Sister Wilhelmine departed for her heavenly Home to meet her Lord.

The Requiem Mass and the burial rite were in Döbra on 30 May 1998. She was a happy person, peaceful, kind to everyone and she was prayerful.

Requiescat In Pace!

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90. BLESSED MOTHER, I INVITE YOU TO MY HOUR OF DEATHSister Zita Lutz, OSB

(1899 – 1985)

On Sunday 01 December 1985 Sister Zita LUTZ, OSB, passed away peacefully and went home to God into the eternal peace.

Since 23rd February 1923 Sister Zita had prayed and worked without interruption in her foreign mission country Namibia. She never saw her homeland again after her arrival in Namibia; yet she was closely connected to her family through correspondence. Her niece, Dr. Zita ZIEGLER, who worked for many years in the hospital in Nongoma, Zululand, South Africa, visited her several times in Namibia, even after her return to Germany.

Sister Zita was born on the 01 August 1899 in Kirchdorf, diocese Augsburg. On the third day of her life she was baptized and received the name Anna. She was the fourth child of her family; she had two brothers and six sisters of whom three children died at infancy.

In the pious atmosphere of her home the call to religious and missionary life was awakened in two children of Lutz family. One daughter went to

72 Father Hubert Knuf, OMI was known as Father Sheetekela by Ovambo people. He served the church in Namibia at Okatana Parish for many years. He passed away on 06 August 2006. R.I.P.


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the Dominican Sisters in Switzerland and Anna chose the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing and entered on 01 March 1921. She was clothed as a Novice on 22nd January 1922 and was then given her religious name as Sister M. Zita. The following year 1923, she pronounced her First Profession and few days later set out for her new foreign mission assignment. They were four of them who arrived in Walvis Bay on 02 February 1923 for the new mission, Sister Eremberta SCHNEIDER, OSB; Sister Priska FICHTL, OSB; Sister Pirmina FLECK, OSB and Sister Zita LUTZ, OSB.

Since her parents owned a farm she was used to work in the house, the field and in the garden from her childhood and this prepared her to be ready to do any kind of work in the mission.

In Windhoek Priory, she was assigned to work in the kitchen, garden, laundry, and also nursing the sick in different communities such as Roman Catholic Hospital, Windhoek Werft and Klein Windhoek73.

In 1931 she took over the sacristy of the Cathedral of Windhoek in addition to her nursing. To look after the cathedral was a big job for her, because it was a big church and a residence of the Bishop, but she did her service well with dedication for full 52 years until 1983. She was also assigned as an infirmarian for the Sisters for many years.

In June 1983, when she was almost 84 years old, there came another call for her to help take care of Sister Herluca ROHRMOSER, OSB in Oshikuku, who needed full time nursing care. Sister Zita, after having lived for 60 years in Windhoek, said yes lovingly and willingly and went to Oshikuku community in the northern part of Namibia. When Sister Herluca passed away on 25 July 1984, Sister Zita was with her. After the death of Sister Herluca she asked to stay for a bit longer in Oshikuku, the request was granted her; and with great joy and amazement she participated in different parish activities in Oshikuku. She often walked to the hospital to visit the patients and to feed the children, who were not able to eat by themselves. Though she did not know the language of the people, she was welcomed by the patients and they were happy for her visits because love knows every language.

Slowly Sister Zita’s strength lessened; her heart troubled her so much and the wound on her leg, which she had for over 30 years, got worse. She thought it was time to go back to the Priory House in Windhoek and on 25 June 1985, she returned to the Priory House community again.

73 The two latter communities were given over to the diocese.


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During her last five months of life, she kept herself busy with knitting for poor children whenever she could and spent much time in prayer.

On Sunday 08 September 1985 she did not feel well and she lay down. Her condition worsened and she received the Sacrament of the Sick and thought, she could now go home but her day had not yet come. She asked for a certain candle, which she had in her room for a long time to be burned on her sickbed in the hospital. On the candle, there was a small note wrapped around it which tells how Sister Zita’s love for Our Blessed Mother and her readiness to fulfil God’s will always. The little paper read: ‘Mary, dearest Mother of mine, I invite you to the hour of my death.’ The candle was kept burning day and night in her sick room. She indicated her wish and hope, that she would not have to suffer that long. But God had other plans.

Sister Zita had a stroke which paralyzed her right side, but against all hopes and expectations her condition improved and she could even at times sit in a chair again. She was fully conscious and could talk well. Every day was a bonus for her that totally prepared her and always made her more ready to wait for the coming of her Saviour. She received Holy Communion daily which to her was the highest point of her day.

On 26 November she was in a very poor state; the Bishop visited her and prayed with her and gave her his blessing. In the evening of 01 December came the long awaited hour for Sister Zita when she softly and quietly went to eternity. On Tuesday, 03 December 1985 she was laid to rest in Döbra among other Missionaries.

The priest who blessed her grave said about Sister Zita: ‘Three words were missing in Sister Zita’s vocabulary: She had never a NO; she never said: I HAVE NO TIME; and if one asked something or gave her an order, she never said: THIS IS NOT MY WORK.’

Her whole life was an uninterrupted service. The One, who came into this world to serve, surely has taken her up with love into his eternal joy. Sister Zita is remembered with thankfulness and love.

Requiescat In Pace!

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FOUNDATION PLAY:COMMEMORATING LIFE AND SERVICE

INTRODUCTION

We are nourished from our roots… Fr. Andreas Amrhein’s heart was burning for a Congregation of Missionary Benedictines. He was aware that he was not starting something new but he wanted to revive what was already begun in the 7th Century. His dream to become a priest and a missionary lasted over a span of 17 long years before it could be concretized, that is from 1867 to 1883.

We were conceived in our founder’s mind and heart, a life nurtured by prayers, exercises, labours and suffering; setbacks, rejections and disappointments, yet determined for the future we commemorate today.

But before we review our founder and the development of our Congregation, let us draw our attention to the cradle of everything that has been and that is. Let us look back at what inspired this young man Amrhein at the age of 23 to seek to establish the foundation we celebrate today afterv125 years of development.

__________________________________________________

Narrator 1: Benedict was born to Euproprious, his father, and Abundancia, his mother in Nursia with twin sister Scholastica. (Parent and twins enter the stage, show care to them). Benedict was then sent to study in Rome with his nurse-Cyrilla, while Scholastica was sent to the convent to be instructed by the Sisters. (Parents instruct Benedict and Scholastica and call his Nurse. They all exit the stage for Rome) Together with his nurse they left for Rome but his heart was not for the world’s possession, but for that which lasts forever. Therefore, he left Rome for Enfide. (They go from one end of the stage to another). It is in Enfide that Benedict performed his first miracle of mending a broken sieve that his nurse had broken; this miracle drew many people to him. (Nurse kneels with a sieve in front of Benedict while crying and Benedict mends it and pats the nurse to stand up).

Not wanting to be in the limelight-to be praised and honoured as a saint, he secretly escaped his nurse and went to Subiaco/Sacro-Speco. (Benedict sits in the cave reading) For 3 years he lived in this cave, devoting his time to prayer and reading from abbots and other books, among them being the rule of Abbot Adeodata. Thanks be to Romanus, who fed him occasionally with a loaf of bread. From Subiaco he went to


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Vicovaro where he was asked persistently by a group of monks whose Abbot had died. It is here that he was almost poisoned. (Monks come kneeling in front of him pleading..)

Benedict: ALMIGHTY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOU, BROTHERS! WHY DID YOU WISH TO DO THIS TO ME? DID I NOT SAY TO YOU: ‘YOUR WAY OF LIFE IS NOT IN HARMONY WITH MINE’? GO LOOK FOR A FATHER WHO IS IN AGGREEMENT WITH YOUR WAYS. AFTER WHAT HAD HAPPENED YOU CANNOT HAVE ME.

Narrator 2: Benedict decided to live alone, cultivating a life of prayer and fasting while seeking and listening to the will of God. (He walks away going to Monte Cassino.) From this place, he went to Monte Cassino to establish a monastery. Here he performed many more miracles and converted many pagans to Christianity. Followers came to him and young boys were entrusted to his care to learn from his wisdom, among them were Maurus and Placid. (Young Maurus and Placid enter the stage sit somewhere and devote themselves to prayer and reading together with Benedict). INTERLUDE: (Music in the background.)

Narrator 1: Could we say that this was no mission at all? After all Benedict moved from one place to another? He was not only praying and reading all alone in the cave of Subiaco. He gave Spiritual direction to those who came to him, and heard from them the concerns of the outside world.

Narrator 2: After years of receiving instructions in the school of the Lord’s service, Benedict saw the boys Maurus and Placid, fit for missionary endeavours. Thus, on the 5th day of the octave of the Epiphany in the year 543 the farewell of St. Maurus and a group of monks for Gaul took place.

Benedict: “SINCE THE APOSTLE SAYS CHARITY IS KIND, WE SHOULD EXTEND OUR LOVING KINDNESS BY ALL WAYS AND IN EVERY MANNER AND WAY TO THOSE WHOM WE THINK NEED IT, SEEKING NOT ONLY OUR OWN SALVATION, BUT ALSO THAT OF OTHERS. YOU, HOWEVER, MY DEARLY BELOVED BROTHERS, WHOM WE ARE SENDING INTO THAT LAND FOR BUILDING UP THE WORK OF THE LORD, ACT MANLY! LET YOUR HEART BE STRONG IN YOUR HOLY GOAL AND IN THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT! BE SURE


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BEYOND DOUBT: THE GREATER THE HARDSHIPS YOU WILL BEAR FOR THE SALVATION OF OTHERS, THE GREATER SHALL BE YOUR REWARD OF HEAVENLY JOYS AWAITING YOU. LET NOT THE IMPENDING DISSOLUTION OF MY BODY SADDEN YOU IN ANY WAY.; FOR ONCE I SHALL BE FREED FROM THE BURDEN OF THE FLESH, I SHALL, WITH GOD’S GRACE, BE AND REMAIN YOUR CONSTANT CO-WORKER.” (They all exit the stage)

Narrator 2: St. Maurus with a group of monks left for Gaul, to complete the Christianization of the country which was started by St. Martin of Tours; and St. Placid went to Sicily with a group of monks and was martyred there. After the death of our Holy Father Benedict, the seed sprouted and flourished. His sons and daughters continued to carry on his mission, mindful that he is indeed our “Constant co-worker”. Pope Gregory the Great was one of these sons who carried on sending missionaries to the heathen land, he sent St. Augustine and companions to England. From England St. Boniface, patron of Germany, together with his relatives Saints Walburga, Lioba and Thekla went on to Germany with the purpose of founding monasteries to serve as nurseries of Christian culture, as centres of preparation for the missions, and as training schools for native clergy. (Sisters and Monks walk on the stage). The Benedictines had spread all over Europe and many convents and monasteries were established to keep the flame aglow. Among these monasteries was Beuron Abbey, re-founded by Abbot Maurus Wolter. Then, came a young man called Josef Georg Amrhein (Pause for Amrhein to enter the stage. He sits at a desk) knocking at the door of Beuron Abbey, destined to be Benedict’s son to carry on the work of Christianization and Civilization to the pagan lands. It all started on the night before Pentecost day of 9 June 1867. He had a call in a dream to (Slowly and louder than before) “Leave everything!”(Back to normal voice) This dream he shared with his friend in a letter. (Amrhein writes and read aloud):

Amrhein: “YOU NEED NOT TO THINK OF ANYTHING MIRACULOUS. IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DREAM, HALLUCINATION, OR JUST CHANCE. THE WONDERFUL FACT IS THAT ALL MY UNCERTAINTIES HAD VANISHED AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN, UNSHAKEABLE, CALM RESOLVE WHICH HAD BEEN ELUDING ME DURING THE PREVIOUS YEARS OF MY INNER CONFLICT.”

Narrator 1: Thus, in 1870, Amrhein left everything, to find everything.


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He made his First Profession, was ordained to priesthood and finally made his Solemn Profession. (He raises hands as in Profession while a Suscipe music is played). He encountered difficulties in his vocation striving for the ideal combination of monastic life and apostolic activity. Since his novitiate time, he had considered his monastic life in the abbey as“training for apostolic work”; in fact before his profession he wanted to leave the monastery for he saw no chance for apostolic service, the Abbot gravely and resolutely dissuaded him. (Sits and thinks, then writes)

Amrhein: “SINCE MY PROFESSION I HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED MY SUPERIOR’S PERMISSION TO BE SENT TO THE FOREIGN MISSIONS … WERE I LESS DETERMINED TO DO GOD’S WILL, EVEN TO RESIST FROM MY MOST CHERISHED DESIRE FOR HIS SAKE, I MIGHT CONSIDER THIS CALL A TEMPTATION. WERE I LESS CONVINCED, DESPITE MY SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL, OF MY MISSIONARY VOCATION, I MIGHT SEE IT AS A SOURCE OF DISQUIET, AS SHEER TEMPTATION; AND HAD I NOT KNOWN AND DESIRED MISSION AS MY VOCATION EVEN BEFORE ENTERING MONASTIC LIFE, I MIGHT CONSIDER IT A TEMPTATION AGAINST STABILITY ….”

Narrator 2: Through the struggle of health and rejections, he was still adamant to follow the voice within. He had to prove himself through long years of patient, tenacious perseverance. The taste of mission came when he was sent to Maredsous with the other monks to found a new foundation in Belgium, where he stayed for 4 years. He still continued asking for a Benedictine that is Missionary but the answer was always “No”. Hope peeped in when in 1879 Abbot Maurus after much hesitation, had promised his consent for mission work if Fr. Amrhein would prove his obedience through a 3 years probation period, and if his health were good and his longing for the mission continued. He prepared himself for missionary life through immersions in mission houses such as the Mill Hill Mission house. Finally, on 29th June 1884 the foundation of St. Ottilien partially became a reality of his dream. This however, was not the end of it all. He wanted Sisters too just like in the 7th and 8th centuries St. Boniface with Sts. Lioba, Thekla and Walburga. He didn’t see any difference between the need of these centuries and the need of his 19th century.

Amrhein: “WHERE EVER A PROMISING MISSION CENTER OF OUR


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CONGREGATION IS FOUNDED IN A WELL-POPULATED AREA FOR OUR MISSIONARIES TO CONVERT AND EDUCATE BOYS AND MEN, CONVENT OF MISSIONARY SISTERS SHOULD BE FOUNDED SIMULTANEOUSLY OR SOON THEREAFTER, TO CARE FOR THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN CHRISTIAN LIVING …THESE MISSION HELPERS WILL ALSO CARE FOR THE SICK ….I HOPE OUR HOLY MOTHER SCHOLASTICA WILL BRING ABOUT A MOTHERHOUSE OF BENEDICITNE SISTERS FOR THE FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Narrator 1: The dream for Missionary Benedictine Sisters was then realized when 4 candidates were introduced to him by Rector Joseph Ehring, the head of former American College. This man did not only recommend vocations to him but also became a friend and benefactor. Thus, on 24 September 1885, four women began our foundation. The candidates were: Johanna Katharina Scheyns, Elisabeth Sivering, Auguste Smedding, and Gertrud Reckers. They arrived in Reichenbach on 24th September, 1885. (They enter the stage as they are mentioned).

Amrhein: WELCOME MY DAUGHTERS, BE BLESSED BY THE LORD AND PERSEVERE IN PRAYER AND SERVICE.

Narrator 2: When writing to his benefactors, the Ringseis Sister, Amrhein refers to this foundation as “an important branch of the Missionary Sisters! God’s providence is marvellous!” (They converse with Fr. Amrhein; one by one they exit the stage except Elizabeth Sivering).

Amrhein: ELIZABETH SIVERING, FROM NOW ON YOU WILL BE CALLED SR. BENEDIKTA SIVERING, OSB.

Narrator 2: The beginnings were not easy; there were disappointments at time but they never lost hope. They met great crises but never shattered. They trusted very much in the maternal help of our Lady and the divine providence of St. Joseph. The mission quest was still going on; on 11 November 1887, the first group of Missionaries was ready for their mission expedition. Sr. Benedikta Sivering, Raphaela Kampaus, Sr. Lioba Ellwanger, Sr. Martha Wansing and 9 brothers set out for East Africa via Rome.

Crowd: Adieu brother! Farewell Sister! (Walking holding Rosaries)


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Missionaries: “Farewell, till we meet again in heaven.”

Narrator 1: After their profession in Rome they left for Africa. Weather conditions, diseases, difficulties were met with courage and strength. But there was also the joy of community life and service for God’s Kingdom. Their deaths produced a harvest of vocations, for among the candidates, who entered after reading the destruction of Pugu and the death of the Brothers and the Sisters, was Gertrud Korff, who became the 1st Superior in Lukuledi and 16months later was elected as the 1st Prioress General. (Pause) Later on, Fr. Amrhein resigned from the Congregations.

Interlude

Narrator 2: Are we aware that there was a time when Sr. Benedikta was the only remaining sister in our Congregation? The only professed sister among novices. She was dragged, pointed at with a gun, almost shot at. She had suffered imprisonment, physical and emotional pain. But she together with her fellow sisters had accepted the red cincture as a symbol of readiness to shed their blood for the holy faith. (With Music in the background)

Narrator 1: 10 years later Fr. Amrhein would write:

Amrhein: “IN RETROSPECT I SEE CLEARLY THAT THE FOUNDATION WAS GOD’S WORK, ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD DESPITE ALL HUMAN WEAKNESSES, -- WILLED, INSPIRED, AND COMPLETED BY THE GOD OF WHOM ST. PAUL SAYS ‘HE CHOSE THE WORLD’S LOWBORN AND DESPISED, THOSE WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING, TO REDUCE TO NOTHING THOSE WHO WERE SOMETHING; SO THAT MANKIND CAN DO NO BOASTING BEFORE GOD’. THUS I CAN BOAST OF NOTHING BUT MY COUNTLESS AND GREAT SUFFERINGS AND LABOURS FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS’NAME, WHOM I INTENDED SINCERELY TO HONOUR AND GLORIFY DESPITE ALL MY LATER FAILURES. MY REPUTATION HAS BEEN LOST IN THE PROCESS, -- FOR THIS WORLD AND AGE. NOW I REJOICE, FILLED WITH CONSOLATION, SINCE I KNOW THE NAME OF THE LORD IS PROCLAIMED AND GLORIFIED. THUS COMFORTED, I AWAIT THE LORD’S DAY FOR ME. (Pause) And years later our founder died on 29 December 1927. (Curtain closed with music in the background)


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Narrator 2: What can a 28 year old do? Is she competent enough to lead the initial development of a community of Sisters? Young as she was, she was unanimously chosen as a superior to lead the Congregation. Can she sustain the life-force of a growing community in its tender stage? (Pause)Jeremiah says: “Ah, Lord Yahweh! I do not know how to speak; I am still young” But Yahweh replied, “Do not say “I am still young, ‘for now you will go to whatever be the mission I am entrusting to you, and you will speak of whatever I command you to say.” God’s way and choices can never be underestimated, he chose her to lead the congregation for 25 long years. When the time came for her to pass on the leadership to others, she stepped back giving her blessings to her successor.

Ildefons Schober, abbot of Seckau, who was a novitiate companion of Fr. Amrhein in Beuron, was chosen to be the Superior General for the two Congregations of Monks and Sisters that were like sheep without a Shepherd. It was not easy to accept this task and add it to his already weighty load of responsibilities. But, somewhere in a distant country the Lord was at work through his servant Sr. Maria of the Divine Heart Droste zu Fischering, a mystic of the Good Shepherd convent, whom he consulted for spiritual advice. (Sr. Maria and abbot Ildefons converse)

Abbot Ildefons: I AM ALREADY ENTRUSTED WITH A RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF MY ABBEY, SECKAU HOW COULD I ADD TO IT? “BUT, I AM PREPARED TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR ST. OTTILIEN’S SAKE PROVIDED THAT ROME WOULD APPROVE OF ME, ACCEPTING BOTH THE ABBOT PRIMATE AND THE ARCHABBOT OF BEURON….”

Sr. Maria Droste: “….I AM PRAYING FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR ST. OTTILIEN TASK, OFFERING THE PAIN OF MY GRAVE ILLNESS FOR YOUR INTENTION. “DO NOT EVADE THE CROSS; GOD WILL REWARD SECKAU FOR IT. THERE … THE DIVINE HEART WILL TAKE YOUR PLACE WHILE YOU WILL BE ABSENT FOR A FEW WEEKS FOR HIS HONOUR AND FOR THE COMFORT OF THOSE WHO NEED YOU AT ST. OTTILIEN. IF YOU PLACE ALL YOUR … CONFIDENCE IN HIS DIVINE HEART, HE WILL WATCH OVER SECKAU IN HIS ABUNDANT LOVE AND NOTHING WILL BE LACKING …. THE SAME DIVINE SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS LOOKS UPON YOU WITH LOVE, HIS COUNTENANCE FULL OF PEACE, FROM HIS HEART GREAT GRACES AND BLESSINGS ARE STREAMING


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TO YOU, AND THE SUN OF GRACE IS SHINING BRIGHTLY ON ST. OTTILIEN AS WELL…. TELL THE GOOD SISTER BIRGITTA KORFF OF MY CONCERN, MY PRAYER, AND MY SUFFERINGS AND THANK HER FOR HER PRAYERS ON MY BEHALF….” “REMEMBER THAT OUR DIVINE SAVIOUR BUILT HIS CHURCH ON PETER WHO HAD DENIED HIM THREE TIMES.”

Narrator 1: Sr. Maria of the Divine Heart was indeed a God sent instrument at the time when our foundation could fall apart. God intervened through her that the work that was begun by Amrhein was through Him and He was to bring it to its journey’s end. The Lord spoke to Sr. Maria on many different occasions and this he assured Abbot Ildefons:

Sr. Maria: Dear Abbot; the Lord told me these: “TELL ABBOT ILDEFONS THAT MY HEART IS HIS; HE CAN DRAW FROM IT ABUNDANT STREAMS OF GRACE AND BLESSING WITH UNLIMITED CONFIDENCE. I LOOK ON HIM WITH LOVE. I KEEP MY EYES ON HIM IN ALL HIS LABOURS, TRAVELS, TOILS, AND SUFFERINGS; I BLESS HIM, AND I BLESS HIS SPIRITUAL SONS AND DAUGHTERS….”

Narrator 2: Finally, it was deemed better that the two Congregations become independent from one another. (They both exit the stage) Thus, Abbot Ildefons and his seniors; Mother Birgitta and her seniors began to look for a suitable place to be the Motherhouse of the Sisters; among many choices Tutzing became one. “…. For the sisters, the thought of parting from St. Ottlien, their cradle and spiritual birthplace, was quite painful.” But they had to move on, to continue the life that has been; under the leadership of Mother Birgitta Korff. It was during the time of Mother Birgitta Korff that the Foundation in South West Africa, now Namibia was underway. In 1920, she wrote to the Bishop in Windhoek of her yes to send Sisters to Namibia.

Narrator 1: On 18th December 1920, Mother Birgitta Korff’s term office ceased, and Mother Melania Vollmer’s term commenced on the same day. Two days later, 8 Sisters arrived in South West Africa, now Namibia: Sr. Beatrix Biefel 1st Superior, Sr. Anselma Schnitzbauer, Sr. Constantia Mayr, Sr. Gabriela Reiter, Sr. Ingridis Meiller, Sr. Franziska Mövenkamp, Sr. Relindis Bessinger, Sr. Sophia Ohnmacht. (The sisters enter the stage)

There were a number of foundations before us (earlier foundations


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enter the stage) and many more after us (Foundations after us enter) who went to many different parts of the world, and all these define our characteristic, from different parts of the world we had gathered to relive our history of over 125 years (Logo enters) MISSIONARY BENEDICITNE SISTERS OF TUTZING. LIVING OUT WHAT WAS BEGUN BEFORE, ADAPTING IT TO THE SIGNS AND CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. WE ARE BLESSED BY DIVINE INTERVENTION TO BLOOM WHEREVER WE ARE PLANTED. (All characters come on the stage, bow and then exit with music.) 74

74 The script was written by Sr. Scholastica Kaliki, OSB, on the occasion of the 125th Jubilee Celebration of the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing on 24th September 2010, also in preparation for the 90th Years Jubilee of the Windhoek Priory Foundation later on 20 December of that same year.

Novices portraying the first eight Sisters to Namibia - 2010

Formandees depicting Father Andreas Amrhein, OSB with the first four candidates in Reichenbach - 2010


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EPILOGUE

It helps to know to be on a permanent assignment, and that the place you are sent to would most probably be the place where you will be

working your whole life long. You dig your heels in and grow roots and connections with the people; you learn the language and the customs - you no doubt make many mistakes, - but the direction is clear: here you build the kingdom of God. You have to have an unlimited trust in God; there would just be no other help. Home-leave is not invented yet, so this distraction is non-existing. And I take my hat off to those, who even later said: “No, thank you, I shall not take back my total dedication”. Their greatness shames me.

I came to Windhoek at the end of 1963 and started working in the hospital in March 1965. At that time we were a community of 20 to 25 Sisters, most of them were already above 60 or 70 and each one of them had many years of hard work and a hard life behind her back. They were the first and second generation missionaries on Namibian soil and that included hard physical work, poor living conditions as far as food and accommodation was concerned, primitive working conditions, of course no home-leave. I also had a chance to go to Kavango for 4 days (one day per station) and that really opened my eyes to the efforts of our sisters. What they had done on this undeveloped stretch of land! Gardens, schools, water, and clinics – it was all there in a very good state. Of course the Brothers of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) helped them with the buildings and pumping water and supplies, but my admiration for the Sisters there is endless – still today. And no complains, no moans, no ifs and buts – they worked there and were satisfied, happy. Each of them was an original, no copies, and there was no time or place to be a follower, they had to take the lead and show how work is done. Most of them were strong personalities – with all their weak and strong points-, but without them neither the mission nor the people along the Kavango would be where they are now. It is difficult to point out one sister as very special, because even Sr. Leopoldine could not have done what she did with the schools if she would not have had a good supportive community.

I knew Sr. Ursula; she worked in the dispensary at that time. She was sent out because during one visitation it was found out that the kitchen sister had to give anaesthesia in theatre when there was an operation. I knew Sr. Hermana; she was a nursing sister and was taught dentistry before she left Tutzing. She did all the dental work for the entire mission


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personnel in the diocese, including dentures. Every year during the cold season she packed her tools and her mobile dental unit and went from place to place along the Kavango to repair teeth. People did not need to come to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek, because at that time travelling was very difficult and time consuming. I knew Sr. Marcellina. For 40 years, she was a teacher at that time in Windhoek Werft School, what is today Pioneerspark. She spoke Nama. When the school was closed, she came to the Priory House in Windhoek; she helped in the administration and played the organ in the church even after 40 years break without any hitches and glitches. You could go through the whole list of sisters that worked here between 1920 and 1970 and you would ask yourself: would I be prepared to work like them?

We, the late missionaries do not fit into their shoes, and that is also not necessary. We take our own steps, with the same direction: “Where I stand, I am building the Kingdom of God.” I am to bloom wherever I am planted. That is our order; that is our goal. We are most grateful to our first missionaries; their solid foundation makes it easier for us to build further. We do hope that they intercede for us in heaven, that we all may reach our final destination with them.

Sister Augusta Kunz, OSB

Sisters and children in Anamulenge - Ombalantu community


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Name Page1. Aberle Suitberta ..................................................................................... 1922. Ballweg Amarina ...................................................................................... 333. Baudenbacher Herigar .......................................................................... 1004. Bessinger Relindis ................................................................................... 205. Biefel Beatrix ............................................................................................. 36. Bittl Berlindis ............................................................................................ 447. Bohner Novata ....................................................................................... 1578. Buggle Ignatia ........................................................................................ 1239. Clement Oswalda .................................................................................. 16010. Diet Erwina ............................................................................................. 7311. Drees Gabriele ........................................................................................ 8312. Fichtl Priska .......................................................................................... 16713. Fisch Germana ....................................................................................... 8714. Fischer Harwarda ................................................................................... 9715. Fischer Herta .........................................................................................11316. Fleck Pirmina ........................................................................................ 16517. Fuchs Regula ........................................................................................ 17418. Funk Wiborada ..................................................................................... 21719. Fürst Veremunda ...................................................................................21120. Gerhard Hermine ...................................................................................11021. Grammer Eckharda ................................................................................ 6122. Gröbl Gisberta ........................................................................................ 9223. Gruber Isberga ...................................................................................... 13624. Haag Aurelia ........................................................................................... 3625. Hafner Jutta .......................................................................................... 13826. Hausiku Rhabana ................................................................................. 17927. Hebesberger Hermana ......................................................................... 10628. Herrmann Gerwina ................................................................................. 9029. Hilpert Frankhilde .................................................................................... 8030. Huber Solana ........................................................................................ 19031. Hüttmann Hertlinde ................................................................................11632. Jakob Chrysantha ................................................................................... 5733. Josef Wilhelmine ................................................................................... 22134. Kienle Edmunda ..................................................................................... 6235. Kiermeier Lintrud .................................................................................. 146

List of Sisters according to Family Name


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36. Kindl Anthusa .......................................................................................... 3437. Kindl Hiltrudis .........................................................................................11938. Kösel Richmundis ................................................................................. 18439. Kraus Sigibalda ..................................................................................... 18640. Lechner Dosithea .................................................................................... 5941. Leimgruber Gerolda ................................................................................ 8842. Leser Berthild .......................................................................................... 5243. Löber Imma ........................................................................................... 12644. Lohmüller Friederike ............................................................................... 8145. Lohr Emidia ............................................................................................. 6946. Lülsdorff Ursula ..................................................................................... 20847. Lummel Katharina ................................................................................. 13948. Lutz Ethelreda ......................................................................................... 7649. Lutz Zita ................................................................................................ 22350. Lyambayi Baptista ................................................................................... 3751. Mayer Mansueta ................................................................................... 15252. Mayr Constantia ........................................................................................ 853. Meiller Ingridis ......................................................................................... 1654. Merk Mildburg ...................................................................................... 15555. Meyer Genovefa ..................................................................................... 8656. Mittermeier Hadelina ............................................................................... 9457. Mövenkamp Franziska ............................................................................ 1058. Mühlbauer Leopoldine .......................................................................... 14259. Mühlbauer Theodula ............................................................................. 19960. Ohnmacht Sophia ................................................................................... 2261. Pauly Irmina .......................................................................................... 13362. Popp Thaddäa ...................................................................................... 19663. Preiss Bartholomäa ................................................................................ 4164. Rauch Urbana ....................................................................................... 20765. Reiter Gabriela ........................................................................................ 1366. Riedl Bernolda ........................................................................................ 4667. Rohrmoser Adelinde ............................................................................... 2568. Rohrmoser Herluka ............................................................................... 10269. Sauer Walburga .................................................................................... 21470. Schmitt Ingrid ........................................................................................ 12971. Schneider Eremberta .............................................................................. 7172. Schnitzbauer Anselma .............................................................................. 1


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73. Schröttke Alypia ...................................................................................... 3074. Schwer Reinharda ................................................................................ 17675. Schwerd Herifrieda ................................................................................. 9976. Stehle Rhabana .................................................................................... 18277. Steinhauser Philippine .......................................................................... 16378. Stiegler Adula .......................................................................................... 2879. Stocker Honorata .................................................................................. 12180. Strein Peregrina .................................................................................... 16281. Tshavuka Nakale Irene ......................................................................... 13182. Vogel Adeline .......................................................................................... 2783. Wagner Sylvia ....................................................................................... 19584. Weber Viatrix ........................................................................................ 21285. Wehrmeister Ehrengardis ....................................................................... 6486. Weis Reginalda ..................................................................................... 17187. Weiss Wighardis ................................................................................... 21888. Wiedemann Udalrike ............................................................................ 20289. Wirthmann Florentine ............................................................................. 7790. Wohlmannstetter Bonita ......................................................................... 55

Sr. Bernhardine Halene, OSB and Sr. Mildburg Merk, OSB with young leopards in Andara


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List of Sisters according to Year of Death

YEAR OF DEATH NAME OF SISTER MONTH OF

DEATHPLACE OF DEATH

1925 Sr. Beatrix Biefel 04 Sep Gobabis1941 Sr. Gabriela Reiter 12 Jan Nyangana1946 Sr. Constantia Mayr 15 May Peramiho1952 Sr. Sophia Ohnmacht 25 Mar Gobabis1954 Sr. Franziska Mövenkamp 20 Jun Windhoek1955 Sr. Eremberta Schneider 09 Mar Windhoek1957 Sr. Amarina Ballweg 06 Jul Windhoek1959 Sr. Suitberta Aberle 22 Feb Swakopmund1960 Sr. Wighardis Weiss 16 Oct Oshikuku1961 Sr. Priska Fichtl 01 Aug Windhoek1961 Sr. Reinharda Schwer 02 Oct Oshikuku1962 Sr. Florentine Wirthmann 15 May Swakopmund1963 Sr. Walburga Sauer 01 Sep Windhoek1963 Sr. Anselma Schnitzbauer 21 Oct Swakopmund1964 Sr. Adula Stiegler 02 Feb Windhoek1964 Sr. Thaddäa Popp 18 Aug Windhoek1966 Sr. Pirmina Fleck 10 Mar Swakopmund1967 Sr. Aurelia Haag 16 Feb Klein Windhoek 1967 Sr. Peregrina Strein 17 Feb Windhoek1968 Sr. Wiborada Funk 09 Mar Swakopmund1968 Sr. Germana Fisch 16 Aug Windhoek1969 Sr. Chrysantha Jakob 10 Feb Swakopmund1969 Sr. Irmina Pauly 18 Oct Nyangana1970 Sr. Adeline Vogel 07 Jan Swakopmund1970 Sr. Oswalda Clement 15 Jul Swakopmund1971 Sr. Viatrix Weber 29 Apr Rundu1971 Sr. Edmunda Kienle 02 May Swakopmund1971 Sr. Dosithea Lechner 21 Aug Windhoek1971 Sr. Mildburg Merk 20 Oct Oshikuku1972 Sr. Eckharda Grammer 12 Feb Windhoek1972 Sr. Relindis Bessinger 27 Dec Peramiho1973 Sr. Genovefa Meyer 28 Mar Tondoro1973 Sr. Anthusa Kindl 26 May Windhoek


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1973 Sr. Urbana Rauch 07 Aug Windhoek1974 Sr. Ignatia Buggle 05 Feb Windhoek1975 Sr. Theodula Mühlbauer 28 Apr Windhoek1975 Sr. Honorata Stocker 24 May Windhoek1977 Sr. Ursula Lüsdorff 24 Apr Windhoek1978 Sr. Ehrengardis Wehrmeister 23 Feb Swakopmund1978 Sr. Isberga Gruber 03 Jul Swakopmund1978 Sr. Regula Fuchs 29 Oct Windhoek1978 Sr. Philippine Steinhauser 24 Dec Andara1979 Sr. Veremunda Fürst 23 Jul Swakopmund1979 Sr. Herifrieda Schwerd 03 Aug Windhoek1979 Sr. Ethelreda Lutz 06 Sep Windhoek1980 Sr. Gerolda Leimgruber 02 Jan Windhoek1980 Sr. Sylvia Wagner 17 Jun Windhoek1980 Sr. Frankhilde Hilpert 10 July Windhoek1980 Sr. Jutta Hafner 15 Aug Windhoek1981 Sr. Rhabana Stehle 05 Jun Swakopmund1981 Sr. Ingrdis Meiller 21 Nov Baguio1983 Sr. Reginalda Weis 30 Jan Windhoek1983 Sr. Bonita Wohlmannstetter 30 Dec Swakopmund1984 Sr. Katharina Lummel 07 Feb Andara1984 Sr. Herluka Rohrmoser 25 Jul Oshikuku 1985 Sr. Erwina Diet 18 Mar Swakopmund1985 Sr. Zita Lutz 01 Dec Windhoek1986 Sr. Harwarda Fischer 10 Jan Windhoek1987 Sr. Ingrid Schmitt 09 Sep Tutzing1988 Sr. Hermana Hebesberger 17 Jun Windhoek1988 Sr. Herta Fischer 29 Jul Windhoek1988 Sr. Adelinde Rohrmoser 19 Aug Windhoek1989 Sr. Friederike Lohmüller 31 May Windhoek1989 Sr. Bartholomäa Preiss 08 Oct Bunya1991 Sr. Berthild Leser 30 Aug Windhoek1993 Sr. Leopoldine Mühlbauer 05 Aug Andara1994 Sr. Gabriele Drees 10 Dec Windhoek1995 Sr. Richmundis Kösel 08 Sep Windhoek1996 Sr. Hadelina Mittermeier 07 Nov Windhoek


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1998 Sr. Imma Löber 27 Jan Swakopmund1998 Sr. Gisberta Gröbl 10 Feb Tutzing1998 Sr. Wilhelmine Josef 27 May Windhoek1998 Sr. Hermine Gerhard 18 Jun Windhoek1999 Sr. Sigibalda Kraus 09 Jun Swakopmund2000 Sr. Emidia Lohr 25 Aug Nubuamis-WHK2001 Sr. Gerwina Herrmann 12 May Windhoek2002 Sr. Mansueta Mayer 15 Feb Windhoek2002 Sr. Novata Bohner 23 Mar Windhoek2002 Sr. Hiltrudis Kindl 14 Sep Swakopmund2003 Sr. Berlindis Bittl 27 Aug Windhoek2003 Sr. Alypia Schröttke 01 Oct Windhoek2003 Sr. Solana Huber 07 Oct Swakopmund2004 Sr. Baptista Lyambayi 29 May Nubuamis-WHK2009 Sr. Udalrike Wiedemann 27 Jan Tutzing2009 Sr. Lintrud Kiermeier 04 Apr Windhoek2009 Sr. Rhabana Hausiku 02 Aug Windhoek2009 Sr. Irene Tshavuka Nakale 20 Aug Windhoek2009 Sr. Bernolda Riedl 12 Nov Windhoek2009 Sr. Herigar Baudenbacher 28 Dec Windhoek

Some formandees during the Foundation Play in 2010

Döbra Mission Cemetery

Andara

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