September 7, 2024: Organizing the international General Chapter takes a lot of time and preparation, especially when it is held outside the motherhouse. Today, on the eve of the 21st General Chapter opening, the preparations received their finishing touch.
At the Borromaeum, the conference room has been set up as the Chapter Hall. The seating is organized according to countries and languages to facilitate the translation, and the discussions among the delegates from the different provinces and the Canonical House. On the tables, personalized folders hold the material that will be discussed over the next two weeks.
The Sisters from the Generalate and the chapter facilitators are seated along the side of the room with Sister M. Margarete Ulager, the outgoing General Superior.
In the back, six interpreters will be working in sound proof cabins.
In a brief meeting this afternoon, the delegates were able to familiarize themselves with the room and were given an introduction to the translation system. Moreover, the agenda was discussed and the rules of procedure approved.
May the 21st General Chapter begin!
With the following video, we would like to invite you to visit the Chapter Hall at the Borromaeum before the start of the event.
September 6, 2024: This morning, the delegates and guests of the 21st General Chapter visited Telgte, the founding place of the international congregation of the Hospital Sisters.
Telgte, founded about 1,200 years ago, is one of the oldest church locations in the Muenster area. St. Liudger, the missionary, first used this place at the ford of the river Ems, an intersection of various trade routes, to erect a wooden parish church around the year 800. The town was granted city rights in 1238 and belonged to the Hanseatic League of Merchants. Today, about 20,000 people live in Telgte.
After a short walk from the bus parking, Mass was celebrated at the parish church of St. Clemens in the town center. Then the group visited Our Lady of Grace Chapel where Father Christopher Bernsmeyer, OFM, founded the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St Francis on July 2, 1844, 180 years ago.
This baroque chapel was built in 1654 by Prince-Bishop Bernhard von Galen especially for the Pietà of Our Sorrowful Mother of Telgte: A statue of Mary holding the body of Jesus after his death, one of the oldest depictions of its kind in North-Western Germany, carved from poplar wood in 1370. Nothing is known about its origin, and many legends have developed over time. Originally, the statue was colored. Traces of the colors may still be seen on the edges of the garment.
Since the 14th century, Our Sorrowful Mother of Telgte has attracted pilgrims from near and far. In the years of Father Christopher Bernsmeyer’s vicariate in Telgte, when he was also in charge of the pilgrims, he often prayed in front of the Pietà, and the first Hospital Sisters celebrated their investiture in this chapel.
After prayer in front of the Pietà, the visit continued at Klara house, the former home of Father Christopher, and to this day the home of Sister M. Theodora, who serves in the local parish and welcomes visitors and pilgrims in the spirit of Franciscan hospitality.
A visit to Father Christopher Bernsmeyer’s grave concluded today’s trip to Telgte. Father Christopher Bernsmeyer, who was born in Verl in the Diocese of Paderborn on May 15, 1777, moved to Telgte in 1811 and died there on June 2, 1858, at the age of 81. The Sisters’ cemetery came to be his final resting place on October 11, 1950.
Visiting the congregation’s roots was a moving experience, especially for the Sisters and guests who came here for the first time. Sharing the spirituality of Father Christopher that unites the congregation around the world also defined the common ground on which the General Chapter will make important decisions for the future of the Congregation.
The video below provides some impressions of the trip to Telgte.
September 5, 2024: On the morning of the second day in Bremerhaven, the delegates and guests of the 21st General Chapter were greeted by a cloudless blue summer sky. After a hearty breakfast, they were able to check out shortly after nine o’clock and load their suitcases back onto the bus. The participants then walked a few minutes to the German Emigration Center, which was visited in two “language groups”: The German and Polish-speaking travelers set off with interpreters Eva-Maria Steiger and Agata Prochotta Milek, while the English and Japanese speakers were supported by Rolf Lehmann, Reiko Lelli-Tatsumi and Atsuko Matsumoto.
The Emigration Center is dedicated to the approximately 7.2 million people from all over Europe who left Bremerhaven for the New World from the 18th century to the 20th century, where they hoped for a better life. Many fled from hunger, unemployment, war, persecution or a lack of prospects. Visitors to the exhibition follow the traces of real life stories from Bremerhaven to the immigration station Ellis Island and into the city of New York until they arrive in the large concourse of Grand Central Station.
The historically faithfully reconstructed exhibition rooms, the light and sound effects and personal memorabilia were thought-provoking and made the reality of the emigrants’ lives intensely tangible. For example, the ship’s quay, where the travelers used to say goodbye to their homeland and set off into an uncertain future, was very impressively recreated. It also became very clear what living conditions the emigrants had to put up with during the long crossing to America – especially before the invention of steamships in the 1880s, when it still took 12 weeks to sail across the Atlantic. Thanks to all this information, the delegates and guests of the General Chapter can now understand and appreciate all the more the courage, perseverance and life’s work of the Hospital Sisters who traveled to foreign lands as missionaries.
Lunch was also served at the Emigration Museum: The participants fortified themselves with “Grandmother’s potato soup”, coffee, ice cream and cake. Before leaving at 2 p.m., there was still time for a short walk in the warm sunshine and fresh wind.
During the return journey, a vesper was celebrated on the coach in the many native languages of the participants before the group stopped for dinner at the Westphalian Landgasthof Overwaul at 6 pm. Richly endowed with many new impressions, the participants returned to the Borromaeum.
Many thanks and a great big applause for the planning team and everybody who contributed to the success of this wonderful two-day trip!!!
The following video offers some insight of the second day in Bremerhaven. The text is given below.
“For centuries, people have affected and changed the destiny of humanity, and in particular those who have emigrated to another country like many of our Sisters. With this in mind, we visited the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven where we were touched by the stories of countless people – giving us a glimpse into these people whose hopes and dreams paved their way through their life.
After lunch, we traveled back to Muenster and stopped for dinner at a traditional Westphalian restaurant.
This excursion, while very informative, offered a wonderful opportunity for the delegates and guests to renew friendships and make new friends. During these two days we came together as an international family in the Franciscan tradition of hospitality and joy – setting the stage as we approach the opening of the 21st General Chapter.”
September 4, 2024. The delegates and guests of the 21st General Chapter today set off on a two-day trip to Bremerhaven, which was jointly planned and organized by Sister M. Caecilia Musekamp, delegate from the German Province, and a team from the Generalate, consisting of Sister M. Beata Kapica, Sister M. Rita Edakkoottathil and Finance Director Martin Krawinkel.
After the travel blessing of Spiritual Professor Father Dr. Dr. Michael Plattig O.Carm., the bus journey started from Muenster to the small village of Wremen on the North Sea dike. On the way, Brian Blasco, Head of Communications and Archivist of the U.S. Canonical House, explained the history of the US founding sisters, who made their way from Germany to America by ship from 1875 to the 1930s. Arriving at the North Sea coast, the group stopped for lunch at the ‘Wremer Fischerstube’ after a short walk on the dike.
Then the journey continued by bus to Bremerhaven, first through the port area with a view of large container ships and finally to the B&B hotel. From there, the travelers walked to the Climate House and were surprised by heavy rain on the way – quite a prelude to the exhibition, which deals with climate change.
After an introductory lecture on the concept of the house – a journey along the 8th degree of longitude – the delegates and guests spent almost three hours in the Climate House before the evening ended with a cozy meal in the Kaiserhafen restaurant.
The successful selection of the very original restaurants was due to the local knowledge of Sister M. Caecilia, who lived and worked in Bremerhaven for many years. For the wonderful, impressive day together, the tour group thanked the organization team with warm applause, and also the bus driver who accompanied everyone safely through the day despite the adverse weather conditions.
Some impressions of the first day in Bremerhaven can be found in the following film.
September 3, 2024. Over the past few days, the delegates and guests to the 21st General Chapter arrived in Muenster. We thank God, St. Francis of Assisi, and Father Christopher Bernsmeyer that the travelers’ journey from India, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Poland, America, and Germany was successful.
Today, the Sisters from Vietnam and the Japan Province met to discuss opportunities for the future in a meeting with Sister Carol Zinn, SSJ, Ph.D., Executive Director of LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious), both facilitators of the General Chapter, Professer Dr. Margret Nemann und Cathedral Provost Hans-Bernd Köppen and members of the Generalate.
Many others are unpacking their luggage as they become familiar with their home at the Episcopal Seminary Borromaeum and the city of Muenster.
For some impressions of today, please click on the film below.
Places of Interest: Introducing ‘Borromaeum’ Seminary
September 2, 2024. Today, Monday, is another big arrival day for the General Chapter 2024, with delegates and guests from America, India and Poland expected to arrive. The groups from America and India will be picked up personally at the airport and taken to the Motherhouse to be welcomed by the Generalate team and the Sisters of the German Province. They will then be taken to the ‘Borromaeum”’ to move into their rooms: This episcopal seminary on Cathedral Square will serve as the conference venue and provide accommodation for all participants during the General Chapter. The group from Poland, which is arriving by car, will check-in directly at the Borromaeum later tonight. The first of the six simultaneous translators will also arrive today.
The following film provides some impressions of the beautiful seminary, Borromeum. The information is also provided in the text below.
With no chapter hall at the Motherhouse, our General Chapter 2024 will be held in a Catholic seminary in the city center, at Cathedral Square, called ‘Borromaeum’ after an Italian saint. Since 1854, the Diocese of Muenster has been using this historical building for the formation of priests and as a home for divinity students. Today, the East Wing offers accommodation for male and female students of all faculties. The building was completely refurbished before the German Bishops’ Conference was hosted here in 2018. Visitors now enjoy the stylish combination of carefully preserved post-war features and modern architecture. With its large conference hall, two beautiful chapels, its comfortable rooms and full board, the Borromaeum is the perfect location for our General Chapter 2024.
Places of Interest: Introducing St. Paul’s Cathedral Muenster
September 1, 2024. In exactly one week, on Sunday, September 8, the 21st International General Chapter of the international Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of St Francis will open with Holy Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Muenster. The service will be celebrated by Cathedral Provost Hans-Bernd Köppen, with the Congregation’s Spiritual Director, Professor Father Dr. Dr. Michael Plattig O.Carm. as concelebrant. This Holy Mass will be streamed on the website of the Diocese of Münster, www.bistum-muenster.de, as well as on the diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
In the following film we give you some insights into the history of the Cathedral and the diocese of Muenster. Below, you will find the full text.
On the opening Sunday of our General Chapter, Mass will be celebrated in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Muenster. The origins of Muenster, and its Cathedral, date to the end of the 8th century. Liudger, a missionary, started building a missionary center, including a cloister, a school, and a small church. In 805, Liudger became the first Bishop of Muenster and made this church the centre of his new diocese. St. Paul’s Cathedral as we see it today has been functional since 1956. Earlier buildings were destroyed by fire and the bombings in World War II. As the Bishop’s seat, this church is at the heart of Catholic Muenster. The Cathedral is full of beautiful great art. Visitors are fascinated by the Astronomical clock ticking since 1540.
Places of Interest: Introducing the Motherhouse Church
August 31, 2024. As part of the upcoming General Chapter, in exactly two weeks, on Saturday, September 14, the new international Superior General of the Hospital Sisters will be elected by the delegates from all over the world. This secret ballot, chaired by Dr. Felix Genn, Bishop of Münster, will take place at the central venue, the Episcopal Seminary ‘Borromaeum’ on Cathedral Square. Afterwards, all Sisters and guests will assemble in the Motherhouse Church of the Hospital Sisters, where the new Superior General will be inaugurated by Bishop Dr. Felix Genn.
In the following film, we introduce you the eventful history of the Motherhouse Church. Below, you will find the full text.
After her election, the new General Superior will be installed into her office by Bishop Dr. Felix Genn in our Motherhouse Church in Muenster. The foundation of the original Motherhouse Church was laid in 1854. Sadly, it was destroyed during World War II in the October 1944 bomb raids. After the war, a new church was built with financial assistance from our American Sisters. The church as we see it today was consecrated in 1951 and renovated in the 1970s. It can seat up to 800 people and is known for its great acoustics. The mosaic in the sanctuary was chosen as the General Chapter 2024 logo. It was created by Paul von der Forst and depicts the Holy Spirit above Mary the Queen and Christ the King.
Countdown to the General Chapter: First Guests at the Motherhouse
August 30, 2024. While preparations for the 21st General Chapter are in full swing in the Generalate and the Borromaeum, the first delegates and guests from Japan will be arriving in Münster this evening. The group will be picked up at Münster-Osnabrück Airport by General Superior Sister M. Margarete Ulager, General Vicaress Sister M. Rita Edakkoottathil, Sister M. Laetitia Matsunaga from the Japanese Province and board member Prof. Dr. Michael Möllmann. They will then be taken the motherhouse of the Hospital Sisters.
In order to allow all Sisters and interested parties from all over the world who cannot be in Münster in person to experience the General Chapter as closely as possible, we will be presenting some important places in short film clips over the next few days – starting with the Motherhouse, whose foundation stone was laid by the Hospital Sisters in the middle of the 19th century.
In 1853, the hospital sisters moved from Telgte to Münster. The motherhouse they built included a convent, a church and the beginnings of St. Francis Hospital – a building well suited to their busy lives of work and prayer. Since then, the size, use and shape of the Motherhouse has constantly been adapted to the changing needs of the time. In one of the remodelling phases, the former chapter hall was transferred to St. Francis Hospital. The latest extension includes a modern chapel and living quarters. In the 1960s, around 200 sisters lived in the motherhouse; up to 500 were hosted during retreats. Today, it is home to 60 Hospital Sisters and 24 Brothers and Sisters of other congregations. It is also the seat of the German Provincial leadership and of the international General Administration, who frequently welcome visitors from around the world.
Sisters from all over the world will gather from September 8 – 22, 2024
August 28, 2024. The 21st International General Chapter of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St Francis will take place in Muenster from September 8-22, 2024. Founded in Telgte in 1844, the Congregation with locations in Germany, Poland, America, Japan and India, will meet at the Episcopal Seminary Borromaeum on Cathedral Square in Muenster, Germany, to elect a new international General Leadership and discuss a wide range of topics relating to the faith, life and work of all Sisters worldwide. The election of the new Superior General for a term of office of six years will take place on September 14, 2024 under the chairmanship of Bishop Dr. Felix Genn, as will her subsequent inauguration in the German Motherhouse church. The international General Councilors of the congregation will also be newly elected. Recently, the 524 Sisters of the congregation around the world have appointed 33 delegates who will travel to the General Chapter in Münster.
The solemn opening of the General Chapter will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 10 a.m. during a Eucharistic celebration with Cathedral Provost Hans-Bernd Köppen in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Münster, with the Spiritual Director of the congregation, Professor Father Dr. Dr. Michael Plattig, as concelebrant. This Holy Mass will be streamed on the website of the Diocese of Münster, www.bistum-muenster.de, as well as on the diocese’s YouTube and Facebook channels. The proceedings of the General Chapter will be continuously reported on the website of the Generalate, www.generalat-hsosf.de, from the beginning of September.
The General Chapter is the highest decision-making assembly of the congregation and is divided into a Chapter of Election for the appointment of a new leadership and a Chapter of Affairs covering a wide range of topics, from the spirituality of the international community to the various ministries of the sisters and the facts of life at the worldwide locations. “The perspective work will have a high priority at this General Chapter,” explains the outgoing Superior General, Sister M. Margarete Ulager, who will officially leave office together with her councilors on September 10. “In the context of the tense situation in Church, society and current politics worldwide, we are faced with the great task of planning and shaping the future of our international Congregation – trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” The motto of the General Chapter is: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
In order to help shape this perspective work and promote global networking, for the first time in the history of the Congregation, Juniorate Sisters from Poland, Japan and India have been invited to the upcoming 21st General Chapter alongside the elective Sisters. Also for the first time, civilian employees from the international locations will be present as guests. This internationality is also reflected in the diversity of languages: English is the common conference language, but all official documents will be created in German, Polish, English and Japanese, and the entire event will be accompanied by six simultaneous translators.
As her term of office draws to a close, Sister M. Margarete expresses her heartfelt thanks to the sisters of her General Council, all her fellow sisters worldwide and the civilian staff and partners at the international locations of the congregation for their good cooperation and support. “It was a term of office with some special aspects,” says the Superior General. A member of the German Province of the Congregation, she was elected in the USA in 2018 – at the first General Chapter of the international Congregation which did not take place in Muenster, but at the motherhouse of the American Sisters in Springfield, Illinois. The Covid pandemic also brought considerable restrictions for her international leadership tasks, which include visitation, i.e. a personal meeting with every single sister worldwide. As traveling was not possible from January 2020 to mid-2022, visits to the sisters in convents in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Kazakhstan, the USA, Japan, Vietnam and India were crammed into the past two years. At the same time, the convents around the world were equipped with the latest technology to enable many meetings to be held via video conference. Over the past six years, in the international team of the General Administration, Sister M. Margarete has worked together with another German sister, two sisters from the Indian Province and one sister each from Poland and Japan. The longest-serving Sister in this team, General Secretary Sister Christa Maria Frie, who joined the Congregation in 1964 and recently celebrated her 80th birthday, has been working in various positions in the Generalate for 32 years and is attending her sixth General Chapter. As the youngest delegate to the General Chapter, Vietnamese Sister Nichola Truong, a member of the Japanese Province, will be traveling to Germany with some sisters from the USA, where she is currently learning English. This group covers a distance of about 7000 km as the crow flies to travel from Illinois to Muenster, just like the Sisters from the Motherhouse of the Indian Province in Pithora. The distance from the Motherhouse of the Japanese Province in Himeji is 9,000 km as the crow flies; the sisters from the Polish motherhouse in Ołdrzychowice-Kłodzkie have a comparatively short journey of around 750 kilometers, while their fellow Sisters from the German Province live just three kilometers away from the location of the General Chapter.
At the 21st International General Chapter of the Mauritz Franciscan Sisters in Münster, Sister M. Margarete Ulager (front row, 3rd from left, pictured with the international team of the General Leadership) will retire from the office of Superior General on September 10, 2024.
August 22, 2024. The entire team of the International General Administration of the Hospital Sisters is delighted that the new website of the Generalate has gone online today. “Going online is the successful conclusion of a long and intensive internal process,” explain Superior General Sister M. Margarete Ulager and the Sisters of the multicultural General Council. “Our website should express what we are all about in the best possible way – through its structure, content and design. A relaunch is the perfect occation to discuss some fundamental questions again, and reassure where we stand.”
Central to the discussion: How can the valuable global heritage, the history and the vibrant present and future of the international Congregation be communicated in today’s social context? Which internal and external target groups do we want to address with our website? What are our messages? And how can these messages be conveyed not only linguistically, but also through the website’s structure and visual design? Another important aspect was the role of the Generalate website as a central point of contact for all international locations, providing information and facilitating networking – a role of particular importance with regard to the upcoming General Chapter.
In response to all these questions and requirements, not only was the navigation of the website redesigned, but the logo of the Generalate was also carefully updated and a fresh, lively green was chosen as the new basic color. In addition, the photos have been given an individual curve, with the form developed from the shape of the Tau. These new design elements will now be gradually implemented in the Generalate’s overall communication and will already be visible in the General Chapter.
Users of the previous website will also find the familiar content on the new site, but in a different structure. “The technical requirements have changed radically in recent years, as have people’s information behavior and viewing habits, as well as the topics that are discussed in society,” explains Claudia Berghorn, Director of Communications at the Generalate. “That’s why our new website offers quick orientation for those who are looking for brief answers, and more comprehensive information for those who want to delve deeper into the content.”
Regarding the content, it was particularly important to Ms Berghorn to pay tribute to the great achievements of the Sisters and to highlight the international importance of the congregation. “When I started working in the Generalate two years ago, I had no idea how many strong women live in the congregation, what these women have built up and what they are still achieving today, wherever they are in the world,” she explains. “I have since been lucky enough to get to know many of these women better, including Sisters from the international locations, and I am impressed by the courage, great commitment and strong trust in God that I encounter in the sisters’ personal and professional decisions, and in their life’s work.” Another central concern was to make the structure and the tasks of the international congregation and the Generalate understandable to external target groups who have had no previous contact with the religious world. The language is therefore kept simple, and ecclesiastical terms are explained.
The content and graphic design of the website were developed in several coordination phases with the entire team of the General Administration. To implement the website, the Generalate worked with a network of specialists under the direction of Claudia Berghorn.
The website implementation team with employees from the Generalate and external specialists
The design was developed by Christian Lueck (www.die-sehleute.de). The qualified graphic designer studied in Münster, Paderborn and Nuremberg and lived in southern Germany for a long time; his collaboration with the Nuremberg inner-city churches, whose magazine “Mittendrin” he developed and still designs today, dates back to this time. Mr. Lueck currently lives in Siegen and works as a freelancer for Deutsche Welle in Bonn. The photographs were taken by Michael Kestin (www.michael-kestin.com) from Muenster, who is already known to many of the Sisters and some visitors through various projects, including the “Zeitzeuginnen”-Films and the media coverage of numerous events, from jubilee celebrations to the visit of HSHS pilgrims from America. The expert programming was carried out by Marko Kuzman(www.pixelplantage.com) in Erlangen, who is known to Mr. Lueck and Ms. Berghorn from previous joint projects. The development process was closely monitored and supported by the Generalate team’s IT specialist. It is remarkable that the cooperation of all those involved worked wonderfully well without the implementation team ever meeting in person – the only time everyone was present at the same time was at a Zoom meeting.
Team work in the Generalate: Graphic designer Christian Lueck with Claudia Berghorn in the refectory of the Motherhouse
Claudia Berghorn is also very grateful for the support of Brian Blasco, Director of Communications and Archivist at the U.S. Canonical House, with the translation into English, and all the Sisters at the Motherhouse in Münster who provided answers to historical questions and were able to contribute photos, especially Sister M. Dietmara and Sister M. Manuela.
“Many people are involved in the development of a website over a long period of time,” summarizes Sister M. Margarete. “We would like to thank all of them, internal and external contributors, near and far!” The Generalate team is delighted with the new website and is looking forward to the feedback from the Sisters from all over the world. In principle, however, a website is never really ‘finished’, but remains dynamic, as there are always updates and additions. After the General Chapter, Claudia Berghorn and the communications team in the Generalate will devote themselves to the major task of transferring to the new site all the moving vocation stories of the international Sisters which were collected on the old website.
