Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Trudpert
Encyclopedia
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Saint-Marc are a Roman Catholic congregation of Religious Sister
s, based in the town of Saint-Marc, Alsace
, France
.
Pierre Paul Blanck in the remaining buildings of St. Mark Abbey
in Gueberschwihr
(Geberschweier) in the canton of Rouffach
, Alsace
, of a women's community under the Benedictine Rule combining the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with manual labor and the care of orphans. The buildings burnt down in 1852 and the difficulties facing the new community were so great that it seemed impossible for it to survive. Against all odds it did continue and was formally constituted as a Congregation on 9 October 1868, with the election and appointment of Sister Maria Xavier as Superior General
.
The German Sisters were forced to leave Alsace after the end of World War I
and to seek new premises in Germany, which they found in the former St. Trudpert's monastery in Münstertal
. The first Sisters moved there in 1919 and the following year they established a separate Province of St. Trudpert within the Congregation. Their first ecclesiastical supervisor there was the Rev. Dean Willibald Strohmeyer, pastor
of St. Trudpert, who was appointed in 1924. In 1925 the community began an ambitious programme of construction works not only on the monastic buildings but also on hospitals and other medical facilities. In 1926 the first Sisters left for Cleveland, Ohio
, in America.
During the economic collapse of Germany in 1929 the fraud and bankruptcy of the Freiburger Bank brought the community to the brink of ruin. All building works were suspended and the Sisters were reduced for years to a life of great poverty. The Sisters were permitted to remain in their premises during World War II
, because they offered shelter to refugees and the homeless. Many Sisters worked in military hospitals. Unfortunately, in 1945 Willibald Strohmeyer, head of the Congregation, was murdered by the Nazis, having served 36 years as pastor of the town. A memorial chapel now stands on the site of his murder.
After the end of the war the community at last found itself able to resume the interrupted renovations halted by the Great Depression
. A convent chapel was dedicated in 1965.
In 1970 the German province separated to become a fully independent Congregation. They lasted as such until 1997, when they chose to merge back with the original Congregation now headquarted in Colmar, France. The congregation now has four Provinces around the world. Today the Sisters run schools, leprosaria, tuberculosis
wards and homes for the dying.
, Africa. The Sisters are of German and Indian nationalities.
n women were admitted as postulant
s in the German novitiate. In 1974 the first five native Sisters returned to India and began mission work in Madhya Pradesh
. In the next year a house of the Congregation was opened in Sanawad
and a novitiate
was opened. By the end of the 1970s four other houses had been opened in India, at Palakkad
in Kerala
, Bhikkangaon and Nalvat, both in Madhya Pradesh and at Haresmara in Orissa
. The Indian communities were established as St. Joseph Province, with its motherhouse at Indore
, Madhya Pradesh, in 1989.
There are 22 communities of Sisters in different States of India.
and another two in Ukraine
. There is also a community in the Philippines
.
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s, based in the town of Saint-Marc, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
History
The origins of the Congregation lie in their foundation in 1845 by the AbbéAbbé
Abbé is the French word for abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergymen in France....
Pierre Paul Blanck in the remaining buildings of St. Mark Abbey
St. Marx Abbey
St. Marx Abbey or St. Mark's Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery in Gueberschwihr in Alsace, founded in about 1105. Since 1845 it has been the principal house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc, rebuilt in 1852 after a disastrous fire.-Benedictines:The nunnery was under the supervision of the...
in Gueberschwihr
Gueberschwihr
Gueberschwihr is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
(Geberschweier) in the canton of Rouffach
Rouffach
Rouffach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Rouffach lies along the Alsatian wine route ....
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, of a women's community under the Benedictine Rule combining the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with manual labor and the care of orphans. The buildings burnt down in 1852 and the difficulties facing the new community were so great that it seemed impossible for it to survive. Against all odds it did continue and was formally constituted as a Congregation on 9 October 1868, with the election and appointment of Sister Maria Xavier as Superior General
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
.
The German Sisters were forced to leave Alsace after the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and to seek new premises in Germany, which they found in the former St. Trudpert's monastery in Münstertal
Münstertal
Münstertal may refer to:*Val Müstair, Switzerland*Münstertal, Black Forest, Germanysee also* Taufers im Münstertal, Italy...
. The first Sisters moved there in 1919 and the following year they established a separate Province of St. Trudpert within the Congregation. Their first ecclesiastical supervisor there was the Rev. Dean Willibald Strohmeyer, pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Trudpert, who was appointed in 1924. In 1925 the community began an ambitious programme of construction works not only on the monastic buildings but also on hospitals and other medical facilities. In 1926 the first Sisters left for Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, in America.
During the economic collapse of Germany in 1929 the fraud and bankruptcy of the Freiburger Bank brought the community to the brink of ruin. All building works were suspended and the Sisters were reduced for years to a life of great poverty. The Sisters were permitted to remain in their premises during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, because they offered shelter to refugees and the homeless. Many Sisters worked in military hospitals. Unfortunately, in 1945 Willibald Strohmeyer, head of the Congregation, was murdered by the Nazis, having served 36 years as pastor of the town. A memorial chapel now stands on the site of his murder.
After the end of the war the community at last found itself able to resume the interrupted renovations halted by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. A convent chapel was dedicated in 1965.
In 1970 the German province separated to become a fully independent Congregation. They lasted as such until 1997, when they chose to merge back with the original Congregation now headquarted in Colmar, France. The congregation now has four Provinces around the world. Today the Sisters run schools, leprosaria, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
wards and homes for the dying.
France
The French province, which has its provincial motherhouse in Saint-Marc, has 18 communities, with Sisters from France, Germany, India, Madagascar and Congo.Germany
The Province of St. Trudpert is made up of 16 different communities. One of these communities is in TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Africa. The Sisters are of German and Indian nationalities.
St. Joseph Province, India
In 1960 the first IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n women were admitted as postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
s in the German novitiate. In 1974 the first five native Sisters returned to India and began mission work in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. In the next year a house of the Congregation was opened in Sanawad
Sanawad
Sanawad is a city and a municipality in Khargone district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.-Geography:Sanawad is located at . It has an average elevation of 178 metres .-Demographics:...
and a novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
was opened. By the end of the 1970s four other houses had been opened in India, at Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Bhikkangaon and Nalvat, both in Madhya Pradesh and at Haresmara in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. The Indian communities were established as St. Joseph Province, with its motherhouse at Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Madhya Pradesh, in 1989.
There are 22 communities of Sisters in different States of India.
Kerala, India
The province of Sanjo in Vengoor in the state of Kerala in South India has 21 communities in different states of India.Missions
There are two communities in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and another two in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. There is also a community in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Sources
- Sisters of St. Joseph of Saint-Marc http://www.josefsschwestern-zu-saint-marc.org/
- St. Trudpert convent website http://www.kloster-st-trudpert.de/index.html