Provincial Assembly and Excursion – November 15, 2025

At the Provincial Assembly, we were amazed at everything that has grown on our monastery grounds since autumn 2024. In keeping with our theme, “Living together in brotherhood and sisterhood,” we gratefully recalled the Plenary Council meeting in the USA a year ago, when the American sisters reaffirmed their support, giving us great hope for our continued progress. We were also pleased that the Tau House has been ready for occupancy since the summer and that our new neighbors can now move in. Some minor finishing touches remain: planting greenery on the porch roof, creating the sensory garden, and constructing the carports. A major challenge for our (older) sisters this year was the relocation of residents within the motherhouse, which they all handled with great patience. As a result, the new community “Lioba,” with 11 sisters, was opened on October 23, 2025.

There were many other bright spots in 2025: the Festival of Encounter and the staff party in the garden, the Pace e Bene trip, the start of the candidacy of six young women in Malawi, the trip to Romania for interested parties, and the inauguration of the pilgrimage cycle path to the Canticle of the Creation in our pastoral association.

We also looked ahead, especially to the upcoming construction projects: the renovation above St. Clara, the construction of a new kitchen, and the apartment building for women with and without children. We briefly considered the visit of the General Council and the interim chapter meeting in February, as well as the Plenary council in Romania. With gratitude and hope, we continue on our path, aware of all the support we receive.

In the afternoon, we sisters and Koinonia members set off on the pilgrimage cycle path with seven cars, nine walkers, and one wheelchair. We moved through the fields and stopped at several glass steles inscribed with verses from the Canticle of the Creation. We then went to a church where we enjoyed songs and readings, accompanied by different colors. Finally, we visited the shrine of Our Lady of Verne, prayed, and sang Marian hymns.

Advent Joys

We sold speculoos, shortbread, and baking mixes at the Advent market, and waffles and soup at the St. Lucy’s Market in Salzkotten. Many people enjoyed these treats, as well as the lovely encounters with us sisters. Our clown Anton (Sister Hiltrud) also brought much joy at the Advent market in Paderborn.

Our Tau House was consecrated in a small, simple ceremony where the Tau cross was explained and all the apartments were blessed with holy water. During the cozy gathering, the already strong sense of community within the new house was palpable, and we expressed our gratitude for all the good guidance we have received so far.

Throughout Advent, the “figures of hope,” such as St. Barbara and St. Lucy, Joseph and Mary, accompanied us on Saturdays. Beautiful readings and songs were woven into our Vespers service, ushering us into the Advent Sundays.

At the St. Clara retirement home and the motherhouse, we celebrated St. Nicholas Day, and there was a light concert in our motherhouse church. On St. Nicholas Day, Sister M. Carola gave a PowerPoint presentation about the ship sinking of the “Deutschland.” Grateful for this reflection and deeply moved by the testimony of our five deceased sisters, we went into the evening. That same day, there was a five-minute radio segment on Deutschlandfunk, in which Sister M. Carola also spoke and illuminated the historical events. After Vespers, we sisters from the three communities, along with the Poor Clares, gathered in the refectory to enjoy dinner together. Afterward, there were St. Nicholas carols and a reading based on a St. Nicholas legend, punch, and snacks.

The Advent market at the St. Clara retirement home took place again on December 8th and 9th. A colorful program and a joyful atmosphere with sausages, waffles, and punch delighted everyone. On December 10th, we celebrated an Advent gathering with our staff, beginning in the church and followed by a get-together with grilled sausages, beer and wine. On December 12th, Christmas fairy tales were presented in the monastery library for elementary school children and their parents or grandparents. A harpist also entertained young and old in the church, students from the St. Michael’s Schools in Paderborn were our guests, Sister M. Cäcilia was in Paderborn for a Christmas dinner for the homeless, and Sister M. Marita collected toys and picture books for the food bank. Advent was therefore reflective, but certainly not boring.

Written by Sr. M. Alexandra Völzke FCJM