Theodosia 2018, 1
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Theodosia 2018 / 1 Quarterly of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross Institute Ingenbohl CH-6440 Brunnen 133 Volume 2018 / 1 Editorial Team: Sister Christiane Jungo Sister Edelgund Kuhn Sister Anna Affolter Sister Elsit J. Ampattu Sister Dorothee Halbach English version: Sr. Roseline Kujur, India 2 Contents Theodosia 2018, 1 Picture 4 My Stone as Spiritual 42 Thought-Provoking Editorial 5 Impulse Sr. Christiane Jungo Sr. Wiltrud List, Convent Graz, Province Europa Mitte Sr. M.Sigrid Voggel 7 1919-2001 Art as Proclamation 43 Facilitator of the Process "Ordeifer" - Outside of Transition in the Indian Space and Time Mission Sr. Gielia Degonda, Theresianum, Sr. Shashi Pakki, Hazaribag, Central Ingenbohl, Motherprovince Province, India and Sr. Elsit Ampattu, Switzerland General Leadership, Ingenbohl Meeting of the General 44 Education of Women and 12 Leaderships of Ingenbohl its Impact on Indian Society and Menzingen Sr. Tessy Churanadu, Hazaribag, Sr. Dorothee Halbach, General Central Province India Leadership, Ingenbohl 10 Years of Province 31 Europa Mitte Among Refugees in Sicily 47 Sr. Magdalena Walcher, Wels, Sr. Veera Bara from Vicariate Province Europa Mitte Uganda, in Caltanissetta, Sicily Art as a Spiritual Place 35 Information from the General 51 Leadership Sr. Regina Lehmann, Hegne, Province Baden-Württemberg My Image “Free Flight to God” 39 Entered into Eternal Life 52 Sr. Regina Lehmann, convent Hegne, in 2017 Province Baden Württemberg 3 Verena de Nève, passion and resurrection 4 Editorial The past few years have been marked by profound changes at all levels. Whether in ecclesiastical or secular circles, the theme has been that, "Nothing is as constant as transition", as the philosopher Heraclitus had intuited in 500 BC. Today we are gradually learning to accept change as constant. We also learn to see an opportunity in every change. Every change makes us learn something new. In each province, in each vicariate, therefore, "Vision" and action plans are formulated and initiated. We will hear about the changes again and again. The "Theodosia" commemorates Sr. M. Sigrid Voggel, who for more than 50 years initiated and accompanied changes in various fields in India. She was a true "Facilitator of the Process of Transition in the Indian Mission." Sr. Shashi Pakki and Sr. Elsit have written on her visionary work. Basic thoughts on “Education of Women and its Impact on Indian Society”, was presented by Sr. Tessy Churanadu at the L.U.C.Y. - Foundation. When Sr. Magdalena Walcher looks back on "10 Years of Province Europa Mitte", then, inevitably, there is talk of experiences with changes. Our Vision 2020 is not just about changes, but also about "Spiritual Places". Three sisters, who are artists approach this topic in rather unexpected ways: first with personal reflections on "Art as Spiritual Place", then with a favorite image "Free Flight to God" by Sr. Regina Lehmann, "My Stone as Thought Provoking Impulse" by Sr. Wiltrud List and "Art as Proclamation” with the image "Ordeifer" (translated from Romansh into German: "Outside Space and Time ") by Sr. Gielia Degonda. At regular intervals there occurs "Meetings of the General Leaderships of Ingenbohl and Menzingen" as a forum for the exchange of ideas. Sr. Dorothee Halbach felt that being together was a special spiritual place. 5 For the third time Sr. Veera Bara gives us an insight into her unusual task, "Among Refugees in Sicily", and she expresses her gratitude for support from our community. Through the "Information from the General Leadership", we learn of appointments and of a forthcoming General Visitation. Attached are small statistics of the year 2017 and a suggestion from Theodosia editors. Last year 102 sisters, "Entered into Eternal Life". May they be accompanied by our gratitude and be blessed by our God! Outlook: The next "Theodosia" will publish the multi-faceted contributions on "Stand for Human Dignity" presented at the Conference of the representatives against Human Trafficking in September 2017 in Ingenbohl. Sr. Christiane Jungo 6 Sr. M. Sigrid Voggel 1919-2001 Facilitator of the Process of Transition in Indian Mission Sr. Shashi Pakki, Hazaribag, Central Province, India and Sr. Elsit Ampattu, General Leadership, Ingenbohl In the light of the Vision 2020 and confronted with many processes the theme of the Congress 2016, of change. Our provinces and Theodosia's Editorial Team vicariates are experiencing discussed various personalities transition in diverse ways - who made a difference in their change in structure and number, time. Hence here is a brief tribute style of leadership and to late Sr. M. Sigrid Voggel, who is functioning, growth and an unforgettable agent of change expansion. in our Indian mission. This situation urged the General Perceiving changes as Leadership to work out a common challenges vision for the whole congregation. Under the able guidance of Transition is an essential part of experts, they formulated Vision life. We see its traces everywhere, 2020 which was finalized during in the world, in societies in the congress 2016 with the theme communities. It is a call to a larger “Facilitating the Process of life. As a congregation, we too are Transition”. Sr. M. Sigrid, a woman with a large heart 7 empowerment of women as she was convinced that women must take their rightful place in church and society. Her opening address to the sisters in the Provincial Chapter 1973 expresses clearly her prophetic vision for a dynamic change in our mind set and a clarion call to move out courageously and to journey with people: “The adaptation and changes are so much faster in the present Sr. M. Angelica Wildhaber, Sr. M. Sigrid world. Every new year, even Voggel, Sr. Britto Madassery, Sr. Joseline E. Pauvath months bring challenges not foreseen. Religious life will never This vision like a compass directs be what it was. Let us not get tired us to sense the pulse of the of changes and renewal … We present time and to seek need to move constantly in the innovative ways to live our right direction. A deep committed life and to face the commitment to Christ, an process of transition. unwavering trust in the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the Her life and work willingness to service and sacrifice will keep us afloat on the sea of Indeed Fr. Theodosius Florentini this changing world”. our Founder can be proud of his valiant daughter Sr. Sigrid, who If we reflect on these profound imbibed his revolutionary and words she wrote at that time we indomitable spirit and dynamism. realize how deeply she was aware What Fr. Theodosius was to the of the change that was happening people of his time during the in and around. She was not just a industrial revolution, Sr. Sigrid woman of words but of action. Her was to the poor, the marginalized, profound and unwavering trust in especially women and children in God’s guidance, her commitment Indian mission. Undeniably, she to Christ, her readiness for service had a broad vision and a and sacrifice and her wide magnanimous heart open for thinking led her to take the right everyone. She was a pioneer in action at the right time. Her inner 8 disposition is well expressed in the words of Isaiah: “Enlarge the space of your tent, do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left” – Is 54:2f. And that is what happened. When she took up the responsibility as the first Provincial Superior of the newly erected Indian Province in 1970, there were only 219 sisters and 23 communities and when she handed over the responsibility to Sr. Julia Erni in 1979, the number had nearly doubled: 416 sisters from different ethnic groups and cultures, 46 communities spreading from east Sr. M. Sigrid, jubilee felicitations and west and north and south of Switzerland at the age of 16 and India. Clearly, during her joined the Indian mission in 1950 leadership the Province flourished and made India her home. and spread out to different directions. As a human being her greatness Born in Germany immediately was that she had tremendous faith after the First World War she grew in humanity, in her sisters and she up experiencing the aftermath of loved them. She encouraged the war – drastic political, cultural, initiatives of others and over economic and social change. At looked their shortcomings. She the age of 8 she lost her father stood by the strong and supported and later two of her brothers in the weak. Her wide vision she war. The big loss she suffered, translated into reality. She could gradually turn into great perceived the unemployment strength in her life. The upheaval problem of youth in India and and turmoil experienced as a girl established a Vocational Training prepared her to become an agent Institute at Hazaribag in 1980. It of change. She joined the was a novel mission at that time congregation of Sisters of Mercy as many religious congregations of the Holy Cross at Ingenbohl in stuck to normal educational 9 Sr. M. Sigrid with students system. She dared where others fishery, goat rearing etc. Other hesitated. This innovative mission trend setting activities were food of her time expanded into various for work, mother and child, job oriented courses like Fashion housing projects etc. Women, Designing, Secretarial Practice, children, orphans and the poor in Commerce, Hotel Management, general always found a home in Sculpture, Carving, Painting, her heart. She was risk taking Drawing, Photography etc. So and ventured into to remote many people have already villages, to new ethnic groups and benefited from this programme. cultures according to the need of the hour. The development in She loved flora and fauna and Santal Pargana is an outstanding contributed her mite in the “Green example for this.