Generalate

The international representation of our Sisters, as well as the task of leading the Congregation into the future, lies in the hands of our central international leadership, also called the General Council or Generalate. This team consists of the General Superior, the leading Sister of the international Congregation, and her team of General Councilors. The General Council is elected for a term of six years and is supported by a team of religious and non-religious staff. The congregational headquarters are located in Muenster, Germany.

Ministries

The General Council is responsible for the religious life and business of its Sisters throughout the world. On one hand, spiritual issues are addressed especially the ongoing shaping and development of the charism of the religious community and Sisters in sharing the healing mission of Jesus. This includes the Congregation’s spiritual heritage as well as its life and mission in the Catholic Church – worldwide and locally. On the other hand, as with any international organization, there are worldly aspects such as business management, administration, and networking between the locations in the areas of finance, formation, and communication.
The Congregation’s mission, self-understanding, and way of life are summarized in comprehensive writings based on Holy Scripture and especially on the Gospels, the Franciscan Rule, and the Congregation’s General Constitutions. The General Council ensures that these internationally-valid foundations are regularly reviewed and updated. The same applies to the rules of the international formation of young Sisters in the Congregation.

During her six-year term of office, the General Superior also fulfills the mandate of a canonical visitation. This means that she travels around the world in meeting every Sister of the international community for personal exchange.

As far as possible, these journeys are coordinated with other obligatory meetings of the Congregation’s international leadership including the elections of the location’s leadership team. In addition to the face-to-face meetings, many international meetings are now held via Zoom.

Team

  • International General Council

    Sister M. Margarete Ulager

    General Superior

    Sister M. Margarete Ulager, OSF, is a member of the German Province. She entered the Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Muenster in 1978 and professed her perpetual vows in 1985. She holds a diploma in nursing and served as a nurse in ICU, Anesthesia and Nursing Administration for more than 20 years. Sister M. Margarete graduated from the Evening High School in Muenster and received her master’s degree in Global Management from the University of Salford in Manchester, UK. She served as a Provincial Councilor in the German Province from 1997 to 2001 and as General Treasurer of the International Congregation from 2001 to 2018. Sister M. Margarete was elected as the 11th General Superior during the 20th General Chapter of the international Congregation in 2018 in the United States of America and re-elected during the 21st General Chapter in Muenster in September 2024.

  • International General Council

    Sister M. Rita Edakkoottathil

    General Vicaress

    Sister M. Rita Edakkoottathil, OSF was born in the state of Kerala in South India and is a member of the Indian Province based in Raipur in the state of Chhattisgarh. Since joining the Congregation in 1983, Sister M. Rita has worked as a teacher and formator and in the leadership of the Indian Province before being elected to the General Council in 2012 and re-elected in 2018 and 2024. She serves as General Vicaress and her responsibilities include coordinating the international religious formation of the young sisters in the Congregation.

  • International General Council

    Sister M. Lima Arackal

    General Councilor

    Sister M. Lima Arackal, OSF was born in Kerala, India, and is a member of the Indian Province based in Raipur in the state of Chhattisgarh. She entered the Congregation in 1985 in Pithora and professed her Perpetual Vows in 1995. By profession, Sister M. Lima is a teacher, but much of her time has been devoted to service in the leadership of the Indian Province. In 2014, she was appointed leader of the convent in Nagpur. In 2018, she was elected a member of the General Council, and re-elected in 2024.

  • International General Council

    Sister M. Hiltrud Vacker

    General Councilor

    Sister M. Hiltrud Vacker entered the German Province in 1980 and made her Final Profession in 1988. She is an educator, nurse and teacher for nursing professions and has worked in a nursing school as well as in the vocation ministry both in the Congregation and in the diocese. After four years as Provincial Secretary and eight years on the Provincial Council, Sister M. Hiltrud served as Motherhouse Superior until she was elected General Councilor in 2024.

  • International General Council

    Sister M. Teresa Wawrowicz

    General Councilor

    Sister M. Teresa Wawrowicz entered the Polish Province in 2009 and made her Final Provession in 2017. She holds a Master’s Degree in Financial Management and Accounting and a Financial Auditor Certificate. After working as a caregiver, social worker and accountant, she has been serving as the Provincial Treasurer of the Polish Province since 2019 and as Provincial Councilor since 2022 before she was elected General Councilor in 2024.

  • Finance and Controlling

    Sister M. Beata Kapica

    General Economist

    Sister M. Beata Kapica, OSF entered the Polish Province in 1970 and professed her Perpetual Vows in 1979. She studied philosophy and psychology at the Catholic University in Lublin. From 1984 to 1994, Sister M. Beata served in the leadership of the Polish Province as Economist and Provincial Secretary. Since she was elected a member of the General Council in 2006, Sister M. Beata has been serving in Muenster as General Councilor and General Economist.

  • Finance and Controlling

    Martin Krawinkel

    Financial Director
    +49 (0)251 9337-592martin.krawinkel@hsosf.de
  • Finance and Controlling

    Ines Pleggenkuhle

    Team
  • Finance and Controlling

    Angelika Guss

    Team
  • Finance and Controlling

    Sandra Mergenthaler

    Team
  • Spiritual

    Prof. Pater Dr. Dr. Michael Plattig O.Carm.

  • Communications

    Claudia Berghorn

    Director
    +49 (0)177.6443559c.berghorn@hsosf.de
  • Archive

    Marie Brandl

  • Contact / Administration

    Hildegard Benölken

    Team Office Management
    +49 (0)251.9337-614h.benoelken@hsosf.de
  • Contact / Administration

    Birgit Reinermann

    Team Office Management
    +49 (0)251.9337-614b.reinermann@hsosf.de

Contact

Generalat der Kongregation der Krankenschwestern vom Regulierten Dritten Orden des hl. Franziskus e. V.
Franziskusweg 2 | 48145 Münster | Germany
Phone +49 (0)251 9337-614 | Fax +49 (0)251 9337-580 | Email: info@hsosf.de

Imprint | Data Protection

Legal

The Generalate of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis is a non-profit association registered with the District Court of Muenster under VR number 3920. The Association has its registered office in Germany, St. Mauritz-Freiheit 44, 48145 Muenster.

The Board of the Association includes the General Superior of the Congregation, the General Vicaress, the General Economist, and the other Sisters of the General Council. In addition, other persons may be elected to the Board by the General Assembly and with the consent of the General Superior.

  • Board member

    Prof. Dr. med. Michael Möllmann