Mechernich/Oud-Valkenburg –"We are still very impressed by the visit. On the one hand by the spiritual background, on the other by the long-term care," wrote lector Ed van der Ouderaa to the Ordo Communionis in Christo after recently visiting the tranquil town of Mechernich with his companions from the "Parochie Johannes de Doper zu Oud-Valkenburg" in the Netherlands.
They were joined by Pastor Constantijn Dieteren, Pastor Jijo Jijomon, PAC ("Parochiēle Adviescommissie") member and church warden Huub Gerekens, PAC member and lector Rita van den Elzen and lector Jo Wachelder. They had been invited by Sister Lidwina from the Ordo, who has often visited the churches in Oud-Valkenburg and Valkenburg with companions in the footsteps of Mother Marie Therese. This is where the founder of the order was born in 1927 under the name Josephina Theresia Linssen and was baptised a day later. "It's unbelievable how a "simple" woman from Valkenburg made all this possible!" continued van der Ouderaa.
Lots of programme
The Dutch guests were received in the Ordo conference room before a festive lunch was served in the refectory with Superior General Jaison Thazhathil, Fr Ammann and the entire community. Even here there was a lively exchange of ideas. Marie-Thérèse Dijkstra then gave a guided tour of the corridors, the chapel and Mother Marie Therese's room, which has been preserved in its original state to this day. Sonja Plönnes, Nursing manager of the "Sozialwerk Communio in Christo e.V.", then took the helm and offered a "detailed, sensitive and professional tour" of the neighbouring long-term care facility and the Stella Maris hospice. Ed van der Ouderaa: "We quickly realised how modern the community concept invented by Mother Marie Therese actually is by today's standards. Wonderful!"
Lively exchange
Afterwards, everyone sat together over coffee and cake in the recreation room. Here, Father Ammann explained in detail the problems that the Ordo Communionis in Christo had for a long time regarding recognition under canon law and how the solution was finally found in the form of the "consociatio christifidelium privata" in 2018. Other topics included the synodal path and the differences in work between Germany and the Netherlands. Here, too, there was lively dialogue and many questions were asked. Sister Lidwina was unfortunately ill that day. Nevertheless, they were pleased about the visit initiated by her and the opportunity to confirm the "faith-inspired relationship between the Communio in Christo and the "Parochie Johannes de Doper zu Oud-Valkenburg".
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