On March 10-15, 2019, in the seminary of Cologne, a Confederal Assembly of Benedictine Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament took place. The meeting was presided over by the delegate of the Holy See, Father Jeremias Schröder OSB, Abbot of the Benedictine Congregation of St. Odile. The sessions were attended by representatives of all six federations (French, Polish, Italian, German, Dutch and Innocent XI) as well as prioress of Uganda’s monasteries.
The federal presidents presented the responses of each federation to the questionnaire concerning the transmission of our charism. We also listened to the reports on monasteries in Uganda and Kenya.
The conferences were given by:
- Sr. Agnes Lanfermann MMS – Formation and Incarnation – “Become Christ”
- Sr. Ilaria Bossi OSBap (Ghiffa, Italy) – Initial formation
- Sr. Bernarda Kötting OSBap (Tegelen, Netherlands) – “Ratio formationis” (initial and permanent formation)
The guest of the meeting was Fr. Noach Heckel OSB from the Münsterschwarzach Abbey, a canonist who answered questions about the implementation of the instruction Cor Orans and the legal situation of African monasteries. We were also visited by Cardinal Rainer Woelki, who delivered a conference on the sacramental dimension of the Church.
Of course, we could not miss visits to the nearest monasteries of Benedictine Nuns of the Blessed Sacrament: in Cologne, where the sisters prepared a beautiful vigil in honor of our founder, the Servant of God Mother Mechtilde of the Blessed Sacrament, and in Kreitz.
More photos: meeting, monastery of Cologne, monastery of Kreitz.