Our History
The Founder — Fr. Andreas (Josef Georg) Amrhein
Father Amrhein’s fundamental principles
– His missionary strategy would not rely on individual missionaries, but center around a monastic community.
– The monastery would be a home for children and would train young natives in workshops directed by the brothers.
– The beauty of the liturgical celebration was to be a significant attraction in missionary work.
Our Timeline
Milestones
Father Andreas Amrhein established a Mission House (MH) in Reichenbach (Nov. 11)
First 4 women enter as candidates to the Mission House Sr. Katharina Scheyns Superior of the Women’s Community (1885 – 1895)
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 by Lake of Starnberg with the help of the three Ringseis sisters.
Destruction of Pugu Station by rebel insurgents: Sr. Martha Wansing & two Brothers were killed. (Jan. 13).
Some sisters moved from Emming to the new daughterhouse Maria Hilf, Tutzing (June 10).
M. Birgitta Korff elected as prioress of the Mother House, Tutzing (1895-1920).
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.
In July 1903 (July. 21), 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 in Brazil and Argentina, the sisters minister in many pre-schools (creches), primary and secondary schools, some health care institutes and in many social and pastoral activities.
Three sisters were killed by rebels (Maji-Maji uprising) in East Africa: Sr. Walburga Diepolder(Aug 14), Sr. Felicitas Hiltner, Sr. Cordula Ebert (Aug 29)
In 1906 five sisters arrived in Manila, Philippine Islands at the invitation of Dom Ambrosius Agius, OSB, Apostolic Delegate, to assist in the religious education of youth. Now, 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.
Sorocaba, Brazil
Founding of Ndanda, Tanzania
In 1914, Sisters began in Bulgaria, Zarevbrod (Generalate District) to aid the Germans settlers by education. Later under communist regime the sisters served in the ajoining psychiatric hospital. With the end of the Communist Regime Bulgarian sisters were able to freely reunite with the Congregation. Today the sisters are active in socio-pastoral and catechical ministries.
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.
2nd Prioress General M. Melania Vollmer (1920 Dec. 18 – 1927 Apr. 21)
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 health care, education and pastoral ministries.
In 1923, the Church gave recognition as “Religious Society of the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing as a Congregation of Diocesan Right” .
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 was established in Daegu of South Korea.
First General Chapter – Tutzing (Apr. 20 – 30)
3rd Prioress General M. Clodesindis Lüken (1927 Apr. 21 – 1933 Aug. 01)
Since 1931, the Sisters have worked in the rural regions of Angola. Today, an Angolan novitiate with community is located in the capital city of Luanda. Smaller communities serve in other areas. These Portuguese speaking sisters are part of the Torres Novas Priory with the seat being in Portugal.
Second General Chapter – Tutzing (Aug. 01 – 23)
4th Prioress General M. Mathilde Hirsch (1933 Aug. 01 – 1947 Aug.01)
Final approbation of the Constitutions (Jun. 25)
Third General Chapter – Fribourg, Switzerland (Jul 31 – Aug. 15)
5th Prioress General M. Sigilinde Weber (1947 Aug. 01- 1957 Jul. 01)
6th Prioress General M. Maria Lucas Rauch (Jul. 01)
Fourth General Chapter Grottaferrata, Italy (Jul. 01-16)
Fifth General Chapter – First Session: Grottaferrata, Italy
Purpose: First Draft of the Constitutions after Vatican II (May 30 – Jul. 14)
7th Prioress General M. Gertrud Link (1967 May 31-1976 Oct. 23) (May. 31 )
The Generalate House moved from Grottaferrata to Casa Santo Spirito, Rome (Apr. 22) The structure provided for a guesthouse ministry as well.
Fifth General Chapter -Second Session: Casa Santo Spirito, Roma
Purpose: Finalization of the Temporary Constitutions (Oct. 11 – Dec. 01)
Sixth General Chapter – Casa Santo Spirito, Rome (Oct. 11 – Nov. 22)
8th Prioress General M. Maria Froning [Resigned] (Oct. 23 – Nov. 15)
9th Prioress General M. Gertrud Link (1976 Nov. 15-1982 Sep. 21) (Nov. 15)
Haus St. Benedikt, Germany (Generalate District): A Home for elderly Sisters returning from international Missions (Aug. 15)
New Norcia, Australia (Manila Priory) *Closure in 1984
Seventh General Chapter – Casa Santo Spirito, Rome (Sep. 13 -Nov. 08)
10th Prioress General M. Edeltrud Weist (1982 Sep. 21-1994 Nov. 7)
Approval and confirmation the our new Constitutions after the Second Vatican Council by the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples or Propaganda Fide (Jun. 29)
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.
Seoul Priory of South Korea established (Nov. 16) Daegu Priory expanded dramatically until in 1987, when a second priory was extablished in Seoul. The two priories maintain many small and larger communities serving in pastoral, medical and educational settings.
In 1993, the Sisters formed a community to serve in the medical field in northeast China. This ended in 2007.
Ninth General Chapter – Casa Santo Spirito, Rome (Oct. 28 – Nov. 27)
11th Prioress General M. Irene Dabalus (1994 Nov. 07-2006 Oct. 01)
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sorocaba Priory) (Jan. 06): five members of a Pious Union at the Monasterio de la Epifania began their canonical novitiate and made final profession on Feb. 10, 1998
Official Opening of St. Benedict’s Center in Jinja, Uganda with a dispensary and a kindergarten. Today the sisters serve in the health center, primary school and in agricultural and socio-pastoral work. Jinja, Uganda shall be bold.
In 1996, five sisters began a foundation in Punalur, Kerala of South India. (Generalate District) Today the Sisters operate a tuition center and maintain a small rubber estate. (Nov. 08)
Eleventh General Chapter – Casa Santo Spirito, Rome (Oct. 01 – 30).
12th Prioress General M. Angela Strobel (2006 Oct 01-2018 Oct 03) (Oct. 01).
