THE FOUNDING OF THE CONGREGATION
(Summarized from our constitution by Sister Antoinette Adelman, OSB)
A. The Founder -- Joseph George Amrhein was born in Beromeunster, Canton Luzern, Switzerland on February 4, 1844. He was professed in Beuron Abbey, Germany in 1871, and ordained to the priesthood in 1872. In 1883, Fr. Andreas Amrhein was granted permission by his abbot, Maurus Wolker, to undertake his plan to form a community living according to the Rule of St. Benedict, and monasteries found in the 'foreign missions'' for apostolic work, similar to the activities of the Benedictine missionaries during the 8th - 10th centuries.
B. The Founding -- In 1884, in Reichenbach, Diocese of Regensburg, Fr. Amrhein received the first male candidates. On June 29, Pope Leo XIII approved the founding of a mission seminary with permission for the training of candidates. In 1885, four women entered as candidates at Reichenbach. Until his resignation from office in January 1896, Fr. Amrhein governed both the men's and the women's branches of the developing 'Society for the Foreign Missions'.
THE DEVLOPMENT OF THE CONGREGATION
A. In 1887 the Reichenbach community transferred to Emming, Diocese of Augsburg. Later, the name St. Ottilien in honor of the shrine there was used. That same year, the sisters opened a daughter house on the Lake of Starnberg with the help of the three Ringseis sisters. In 1904, after the Sisters had received civil recognition by the Royal Government of Bavaria, they moved from St. Ottilien into a new motherhouse in Tutzing.
On March 25, 1923, Church recognition is given by Bishop Maximilian von Lingg, Augsburg to the "Religious Society of the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing as a congregation of diocesan right". One year later, the Propaganda Fide gave preliminary approbation of the "Constitutions of the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing". Through the Decretum laudis the Congregation was acknowledged to be of pontifical right.
After 100 years, the Tutzing motherhouse has sent missionaries to found monasteries in more than 20 countries besides developing health care, education, and other ministries in Germany.
B. Already in 1887 the first missionary sisters are sent to the apostolic prefecture of South Zanzibar East Africa. With great sacrifice, deprivation and suffering the Sisters would establish themselves in East Africa. Today, the Priories of Ndanda and Peramiho alongside the two Abbeys, flourish in the southern regions of Tanzania. Their extensive ministries include quality health care hospitals and clinics, primary, secondary and vocational schools, pastoral services and more.
C. In July 1903, eight missionary sisters arrived in Olinda, Brazil. Aready in 1905 two sister from Olinda traveled to the south to establish another foundation at Sorocaba. In 1995, the Sorocaba Priory received five members of a Pious Union in Buenos Aires Argentina. Today, the sisters minister in many pre-school (creches), primary and secondary schools, some health care institutes and in many social and pastoral activities.
D. In 1906 five sisters arrive in Manila, Philippine Islands at the invitation of Dom Ambrosius Agius, OSB, Apostolic Delegate, to assist in the religious education of youth. Now after 100 years, the Manila Priory has an extensive network of educational institutions from pre-school through college, far-reaching social activities, and a well-equipped health care institution in Tacloban.
E. In 1914, Sisters began in Bulgaria to aid the Germans settlers by education. Later under communist regime the sisters served in the ajoining psychiatric hospital. Today the sisters do pastoral and catechical ministries.
F. In 1920, expulsion of the German Sisters from East Africa allowed the Congregation to start a new mission in South Africa and Southwest Africa, now Namibia. The Sisters of the Priory of Inkamana continued to minister in education and health care until 2000 when the Twasana Benedictines took over the activities. In 1999, fifty-eight Namibian Benedictine Sisters were integrated into the Congregation and incorporated into the Windhoek Priory. Today, the Priory of Nubuamis, Windhoek serves in pastoral and educational activities in small and rural communities, besides administering the Roman Catholic Hospital of Windhoek.
G. In 1923, four sisters are sent to the United States to minister to the German settlers in the Midwest. Later, the Priory of Norfolk is established and the sisters serve in education and healthcare and pastoral ministries.
H. In 1925, the sisters arrived in Wonson of what is now North Korea. After much suffering and imprisonments during the Korean War, a new Priory is established in Daegu of South Korea. The Priory expanded dramatically until in 1987, a second priory was extablished in Seoul. The two priory maintain many small and larger communities serving in pastoral, medical and educational settings.
I. Since 1931, the Sisters have worked in the rural regions of Angola. Today, an Angolan novitiate and regional house is located in the capital city of Luanda. Smaller communities serve in rural areas. These Portuguese speaking sisters are part of the Iberian Priory with the seat being in Portugal.
J. For a period of years, 1946-1961, sisters served in Japan in two kindergartens. These were turned over to other congregations.
K. In 1953, the Congregation established a Generalate House in Grottaferrata near Rome. In 1970, this Generalate House was moved to a new building in Rome. The structure provided for a guesthouse ministry as well.
L. In 1961, a community was founded in Portugal. Today, the Iberian Priory is located in Torres Novas. The Region of Angola in 2001, and the Region of Spain in 1997 are administered within the Iberian Priory.
M. In 1973, sisters from Peramiho Priory in Tanzania began missionary work in the Kerio Valley of Kenya. In 1981, the first African novitiate was opened in Nairobi. In 1987, the Sacred Heart Priory was erected in Karen-Nairobi.
N. In 1980, in a concern for the many retiring German missionaries, the Congregation built a retirement home for returning missionaries in Tutzing. Haus St. Benedikt is home for thirty retired missionaries at any given time.
N. In 1984, Missionary Benedictine Sisters of New Norcia, Madrid, Spain were integrated into the Congregation of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. The integration included the stations in Australia.
The Sisters presence in Australia ended in 2008.
O. In 1993, the Sisters formed a community to serve in the medical field in northeast China. This ended in 2007.
P. In 1993, a new foundation was made in Jinja, Uganda. The Sisters administer a large primary school, an expansive health clinic and maintain a farm overlooking Lake Victoria.
Q. In 1996, five sisters began a foundation in Punalur, Kerala of South India. Today the Sisters operate a primary school and maintain a small rubber estate.
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