Mechernich –The first major Communio meeting since the death of Superior General Karl-Heinz Haus and the election of his successor Jaison Thazhathil took place in Mechernich on the occasion of Mother Marie Therese's 96th birthday and name day. At the same time, the day of death (11 April 1994) of the foundress of the Ordo Communionis in Christo was commemorated.
The festive service was celebrated by the new Superior General and his deputy Deacon Manfred Lang together with the Ugandan priests Dr Robert Mutegeki and Patrick Mwanguhya. After a dinner for members and sympathisers in the refectory of the Mechernich Motherhouse, Communio Sister Lidwina reported on her visitation at the turn of the year to Communio members and institutions in Uganda.
In the Mass, Superior General Thazhathil spoke about the Covid 19 crisis, which had been thought to have been overcome, and which had taught everyone a life lesson they had never known before: "Everyone had to protect themselves and we had to look after each other. We lost lives, some got seriously ill, some got trapped in the Long Covid..."
"Good things quickly unlearned"
Many things that were considered unchangeable had changed. People had "missed the community and almost incidentally, but inevitably, reflected on things that are really important in life". But it seems that "as a human society on this planet as a whole, we have not only learned but also quickly unlearned," the superior of Communio in Christo said of new crises that had overshadowed the pandemic: "Refugees are capsizing in the Mediterranean and we are letting them drown, aid is not getting through to the earthquake victims in Syria - and people are waging war in Ukraine..."
Deacon Manfred Lang preached about the patron saint of the Communio founder, born Josephina Theresia Linssen on 21 March 1927 in Oud-Valkenburg/Netherlands, Saint Joseph: "The Galilean Joseph of Nazareth becomes engaged to a young girl named Mary, who is pregnant and first goes over the mountains to her aunt Elisabeth to escape the ridicule at home. Joseph professes his love for her, stands by her side."
"A reliable man. A faithful man. One who doesn't ask much - and doesn't impose any conditions," the deacon continued, "The whole description of Joseph's life and the full measure of his holiness are contained in the one word: "He did it." Not a single quotation from him has come down to us in the Bible, but he remains with us - as a man of action."
Mother Marie Therese had held it exactly the same way when she placed charity at the centre. Her motto for the Ordo Communionis in Christo was "one way for all". The Deputy Superior General: "Caritas est Vivere in Deo, that means charity is life in God, practised charity. We should not talk - we should do! What good are all ethical values if I don't live them?"
The transition from the house chapel to the refectory and from the service to the travel report was smoothly managed by Sister Lidwina: "The name Communio in Christo points to a coming together of all religious communities. What I experienced on my trip to Uganda constantly reminded me of these words of the Mother."
Faithful companion Sr Maria Goretti
At the end of the year, Sister Lidwina had travelled to Entebbe, Kampala, Fort Portal and Kasese, among other places. By mid-January she had brought back many unforgettable impressions, messages, news, greetings, blessings and photos from Uganda, the "Pearl of Africa", which she now described and showed at the meeting.
Lidwina spent eleven days alone in the diocese of Fort Portal, where Communio priest Dr Robert Mutegeki comes from. She visited Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki, who delegated the priest Patrick Mwanguhya to the Communio Motherhouse in Mechernich for five years. The Communio Sister also met family members of both priests, including Father Patrick's mother Janerose Kusemeriwa, his sister Kengonzi Jacinta, his brother Godfrey as well as his aunt, Religious Sister Revocata Bujune.
The organiser and faithful companion of Lidwina on her tour through the country was Sister Maria Goretti, the former Superior General of the Banyaterza Sisters. Several convents of this order were visited, as well as houses for older sisters and novices. The Mechernich Communio Sister also took part in a solemn profession and professed jubilees at which 50 priests stood at the altar.
The visit to the Banyatereza Sisters and their new Superior General Mother Seraphine also served to deepen relations with the Communio in Christo in Mechernich. It is to be considered to what extent Indian and African sisters in particular could strengthen the Mechernich convent of the Ordo Communionis in Christo with personnel at some point in the future - and at the same time remedy the shortage of skilled workers in the social welfare organisation's care facilities.
Sister Lidwina brought greetings and messages from the leadership of the order in Mechernich to those who visited. She also visited St Paul's Seminary and Our Lady of the Snows Cathedral in Fort Portal, where Father Patrick was ordained four years ago. One of the destinations was also a children's project in Butiiti temporarily financed by the Missionary Circle of Mary's Rest.
Sister Lidwina was particularly impressed by a testimony of Sr Maria Goretti. Her fellow sister Sr Theopista Basemera had received help from the Communio in Christo when she had a serious back illness and needed surgery in Germany. Maria Goretti had also made her commitment to the Foundress Mother Marie Therese and her holy life.
Rule of the Order in the Rutooro language
Bishop Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki in Fort Portal presented Lidwina with a letter from the Communio's Superior General Jaison Thazhathil: "I also gave him the Rule of the Order in the Rutooro language and the Mother's last book in English," said Sr Lidwina: "There is not much theological literature in Rutooro in Uganda!"
The Mechernich Communio representative met with nursing staff at a hospital co-facilitated by Sr Theopista and reported on the work of the Social Work of the Communio in Christo in Mechernich and Blankenheim. Nurses and caregivers had shown great interest.
On the trips through the country, the Mechernich woman also visited 96 degree hot sulphur springs, she saw adventurous boda-boda motorbike taxis with three or more passengers on board or loaded high with banana plants, she saw endless monkeys along the roads and an elephant in the Queen Elisabeth National Park, she crossed the equator and watched fishermen at work.
"Housing conditions reflected great poverty," Sister told her audience at the Communio meeting. At Julina Memorial School, she visited children whose pride and joy was their education, not least their school uniform. She was shown school toilets that had once been built with funds from the Communio from Mechernich - and the new sanitary facilities currently under construction.
In Kisubi, Sister Lidwina visited the Generalate of the Good Samaritan Sisters with the Superior General, Mother John Evangelist. The Rev. Francis Kikomeko from a neighbouring parish of the monastery showed great interest in the communio. Mother John Evangelist also expressed her attachment to the Ordo Communionis in Christo. So far, five of her Good Samaritan Sisters have already been guests in Mechernich.
Candles taken from Valkenburg
Lidwina also met Sr Josephine Sserabide of the Ggogonya Sisters, who had also already been to the Mechernich Motherhouse. Her congregation now has five convents in Germany where her sisters work in the care of the elderly and the sick. The Mechernich representative of the Ordo Communionis in Christo also met priest friend John Paul Jjumba and an interested person who is seeking novitiate and lay membership.
Sister Lidwina: "Friday morning I was visited by Deacon Robert Kayiwa, who was ordained a week later. He had requested some rosaries and small candles from the Lourdes Grotto in Valkenburg in the Netherlands, Mother Marie Therese's home town. Superior General Jaison Thazhathil had arranged for them." Other stops included the Basilica of the Ugandan Martyrs in Namugongo and the Takajjunge Health Centre.
Link to the recording of the Holy Mass
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