Sr. Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB, the Prioress of the Manila Priory

Volume III Issue No.3 May-June 2015
“Wherever the stream flows, it will bring life.” (Ez. 47:9c)
Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Casa Santo Spirito, 00163 Via dei Bevilacqua 60, Rome Italy
by : Sr. Marissa Piramide, OSB
Sr. Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB, the Prioress of
the Manila Priory, welcomed Prioress General
Mother Angela Strobel, OSB and her council, the
25 formators representing 12 priories and two
from the Generalate District for the International
Formators’ Meeting (IFM) held at St. Scholastica’s
Center of Spirituality, Tagaytay, Philippines from
June 1-20.
They listened to, reflected on, and learned
a lot from conferences, workshops and other
forms of presentations such as:
The Opening Address by M. Angela Strobel, OSB
Consecrated Life and Mission by Fr. Antonio Pernia, the former General Superior of the Society
of the Divine Word (SVD).
St. Hildegard of Bingen and her Spirituality by
Mother Irene Dabalus, OSB
St. Benedict and Other Benedictines and their
Legacy of Care and Reverence for Creation by
Sr. Angelica Leviste, OSB, Manila Priory.
Sand Play Therapy by Sr. Isaac Yang, OSB,
Seoul Priory.
Psycho-Spiritual Integration by Eva K. Galvey
of Emmaus Center in the Philippines
Congress for Formators of Consecrated Life, a
report by Sr. Antoinette Adelman, OSB .
They reviewed the section on formation
of the General Chapter Documents from 19882012 and the Unfolding God’s Gift, the formation
manual that was done in the last International
Formators’ Meeting in Norfolk in 2009.
They visited the new Manila Priory
House in Tagaytay, and some of the local communities and institutions. They attended the
(continued on page 2)
IFM Participants with the M. Angela (seated 3rd from left), the Generalate and Sr. Adelaida (seated 2nd from right)
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the closing celebration of the 90th year of Benedictine presence at St. Scholastica’s Academy,
San Fernando where Sr. Rebecca Maglalang, the
superior of the community, welcomed them
amid cheers and dances performed by the students and teachers.
SAN FERNANDO
The liturgical celebrations with songs and
prayers in different languages plus the liturgical
dances were sources of unity, joy, and mutual
inspiration and animation.
Below are some insights gathered from
the participants:
“Charism of internationality is beautiful but
can be demanding on the different priories. We need
readiness and generosity to respond .”
“Mutual understanding was achieved.”
“Personally it was an intense spiritual journey and I am very grateful for this experience.”
“ I felt joy on the ideas of collaboration in the
Euro-cas (Priories of Europe and the Americas) and
the support of the Generalate.”
by: Sr. M. Rosalina R. Fajardo, OSB
Front: M. Angela, Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca
Back: Sr. Salete da Rocha , Sr. Caridad Choi, Sr. Rebecca
They had time to go to places and institutions that showed them the history and culture of the Filipino people. There had also opportunities for exposure into the social conditions of the city of Manila.
There were times for recreation such as
the evening video or slide shows about the different priories and regions; the evening socials;
an afternoon outing to see Taal Volcano, the
smallest volcano in the world, and finally the
cultural night to cap the three-week IFM.
In response to Pope Francis’ call to find
new approaches to evangelize, the Association of
Benedictine Schools (ABS)-High School Commission of the Manila Priory organized the first Benedictine Educators’ Congress held at the Holy
Family Academy , Angeles City on May 25-26.
Themed “The Benedictine Educators and
New Evangelization,” the convention was participated in by around 250 administrators and faculty members of nine (9) Benedictine schools.
They shared and gained new expressions and insights on how to generate energies to proclaim
the Gospel of Jesus Christ with renewed enthusiasm to the 21st century learners and families.
Education is the most effective tool for
evangelizing and bringing Christ to the youth to
discover, live the good news of Jesus and share
them with others. 
Participants of the Benedictine Educators’ Congress
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By: Sr. Carol Ann Clark, OSB
Participants with Sr. Ruth Schönenberger, Tutzing Prioress
After the four weeks of inspiring conferences, retreat pilgrimages and tours in Rome, the
International Weeks of Encounter participants
went to the Motherhouse in Tutzing, Germany.
This last week in Tutzing was “icing on the cake.”
Even through the rain and cold on the outside,
their hearts were warmed. The sisters, and the
tours all brought them so very close to their
roots as Missionary Benedictine Sisters; along
with the Procura and Haus St. Benedikt, the
Motherhouse and Bernried.
The visit to St. Ottilien was very informative and, wonder of wonders, much of the old has
been kept and enhanced by the new. They were
able to enjoy lunch and entertainment by Father
Archabbot, Dom Wolfgang Öxler on guitar, and
Fr. Otto, the tour guide, on violin. A trip to the
gravesite of Fr. Andreas Amrhein was most memorable.
They traveled by bus to the Alps. They
were given a tour to the baroque and rococo ornamented churches, especially the Abbey at Ettal.
This last week in Tutzing and Bernried
showed them the true meaning of “wherever the
stream flows it bring life”. They felt new life
while there, with the Sister’s generosity and care,
the Liturgy and Divine Office, the Pentecost Vigil,
and Holy Mass at the Parish.
May God bless all the Sisters who gave
them hospitality and their Benedictine spirit.
“… Hodu l’Adonai,ki tov!”
“Give thanks to the Lord, He is good” Ps. 107:1
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THREE NEW STATIONS FORMED
OLINDA. The Priory
closed the
community in Malhada di Pedras, Bahia and opened in
the same diocese a
community in Lagoa Real City on
March 22. The major reason was to answer the
request of the local bishop to minister in a parish without a resident priest.
The sisters are involved in the formation
of leaders, training of catechists, bible sharing
and building of basic Christian communities.
The mission field consists of service in the main
church and 37 chapels in the rural areas.
There are three
sisters assigned in
this new community. They live in
a rented house
and hopefully the
parishioners will
take care that a
house will be constructed for them.
Lagoa Real Community
by: Sr. Vania Maria Toscano, OSB
SEOUL. On April
30, 2013 three sisters started the
Jeju community
upon the invitation of Bishop
Kang Peter of Jeju
diocese. The Sand
Jeju Community
Play Therapy Center was blessed on January 15, 2014. The sisters
work with great zeal for evangelization of the
seminarians, prisoners and people with psychological problems.
The sisters’ apostolic work has been successful and appreciated very much by the people. Therefore, sisters asked for one more sister
to join them. After two years of experiment,
this community was raised to a juridical station
on May 22, 2015.
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MEET THE
WENGEL SISTERS
Sr. Rufina
Sr. Angela
+1969
+1994
Sorocaba
1
2
JAEGER SISTERS
Sr. Hilwara, Sr. Emmanuela
+1994
+1933
Sorocaba
4
WOLFSTEINER
SISTERS
Sr. Rufina Sr. Eduarda
+1934
+1944
Manila
3
STREIF SISTERS
1. Sr. Marana - Peramiho for 51 years; died in
HB/Tutzing in 1982; 2. Sr. Libania—Wonsan
for 16 years, died in Tutzing in 1983;
3. Sr. Justiniana– Tutzing, died in 1968
1
SCHUSTER SISTERS
Sr. Adelhelma
Sr. Sixtina
+1973
+1988
Olinda
2
Sr. Birgitta
+1964
ROTH SISTERS
Sr. Ositha
Sr. Edigna
+1994
+ 1991
Sorocaba
Manila
3
5
FEEDING CENTERS
1-2. Omega Center in
Shambu
3. Sr. Leoni Care
Center in Tsumeb
4-5. Work with Church
Organizations
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OUR LIFESTYLE AND GLOBAL JUSTICE
by: Sr. Katharina Rohrmann, OSB
In Tutzing Priory our
Commission for Integrity of
Creation was implemented in
2007. Since then many steps
have been undertaken. This
year in March the annual
meeting of the Ecumenical
Environment Forum was held
in Tutzing. Twenty religious from various
male and female communities and committed
employees of ecclesiastical institutions came
together for exchange and information. With
them were several sisters from our communities in Bernried and Tutzing. The focus this
year was: “Our Lifestyle and Global Fairness /
Justice.” This meeting and exchange inspired ,
persuaded and encouraged us to continue on
our path.
Due to globalization we experience
the whole world is coalescing in different
ways. Furthermore we realize that our acting
(or not acting!) has a great influence on other
people all around the world and the coming
generations. Therefore we strive for an ongoing shaping of awareness concerning our lifestyle and how it influences the environment
and global justice.
Our Missionary-Benedictine spirituality and mission are realized in the proclamation of the gospel and in the care for the people. Proclamation/evangelization lives on the
loving tenor towards creation, towards fellow
human beings and towards God.
If we want to live our mission truly and
if we take our love and care for the people seriously we have to act and shape our life in
such a way that on the one hand the living environment is maintained livable for future
generations and that on the other hand we do
not keep our living standard at the expense of
others. Any environmental awareness and acting has to be rooted regionally with a global
focus.
We can start within our own communities while taking into account issues like use
of energy and climate change, our lifestyle,
Fairtrade and organic food, advocacy work
concerning social justice and peace and many
more.
In Tutzing the Commission for Integrity of
Creation has been initiating several projects during
the last years like:
Striving for a careful use of resources (energy,
transport, paper, waste separation...)
Trying to buy regional, seasonal food and prefer organic
products
Preferring Fair Trade products
Using of groceries that cannot
be sold anymore
Training and information sessions
Repairing instead of throwing
away, re-use, exchange, share, rent instead of
new acquisition ... our great community provides us with many opportunities to use clothing, utensils, electrical appliances, etc. effectively and on a long-term basis. We try to live a
counter-model to the throw-away mentality.
Our commitment for social justice:
for the One World : Volunteer work in “One
World Shop” in Tutzing; advocacy work in
campaigns of Misereor, in the commission
“Mission Justice Peace” of the
Regional Committee of Catholics; in the NAD (Netzwerk Afrika Deutschland) i.e. German
Africa-Network.
in our country: Help for needy
persons; doctor for homeless
people; support of BISS, an organization for people "on the margins of our
society;" implementation of a “Social Family
Fund” for financial support of families; accommodation of minor refugees in the House Birgitta; work with and for refugees / asylum
seekers
Somebody said: “You cannot change the others, you can just change yourself – and thereby you will
change the world!” – so we try to continue our path.
We have been experiencing lots of encouragement
on our way, but it is still a long way to go and we
still need courage and trust in God.
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Three Communities… (from page 3)
Sr. Teresa Kim and Sr. Petro Shin are
working at the Sand Play Therapy Center while
Sr. Evangeline Kim is involved in the Jeju diocese apostolate for the seminarians and prisoners. Likewise, she takes care of the business affairs of the vocation office. May God be glorified for the sisters’ work of evangelization.
by: Sr. Rose Marie Hwang, OSB
Daegu Fatima Hospital was awarded the Most Excellent Hospice Care Hospital by the Ministry of
Health and Welfare on March 12.
DAEGU. Archbishop Thaddeus Cho Hwan-Kil of Daegu blessed on May 29 the new buildings in
Sasudong which consists of the Haeseong Kindergarten, Benedict Spirituality Center, Fatima Home
and Scholastica House which is for the elderly sisters . The St. Scholastica community has 28 sisters.
The plan to build the Elderly Sisters Home was passed during the 17th Daegu Priory Chapter
in June 1998. Due to various reasons the plan was postponed. The issue was brought up again at the
20th Daegu Priory Chapter in July 2003 and finally all the new buildings were completed .
Sr. Mary John Mananzan gave
a talk on “Theology of Consecrated Life
in Asia” at a symposium on Theology
and Theologies on Consecrated Life held
at the Claretianum University, Rome
on May 14.
Sr. Julia Campos, 83, died in Sorocaba on
May 10.
Oblate Usabella Mary Thennapilly, 83, died in
Rajkot, India on May 23.
Sr. Helmtrudis Aigner, 94, died in Tutzing on
May 30
Sr. Cresenciana
Sr. Adela
June 26—Sr. Cresenciana Chilimbo from Angola
to Manila
June 29—Sr. Adela Toh from Seoul to Nairobi