A Century of Healing: The Medical Mission Sisters' Legacy
Missionary Sisters Centenary Celebration: Sisters in Bottrop commemorate their 100-year anniversary with a festive event on June 29th.
Founded by Dr. Anna Dengel in 1925, the Medical Mission Sisters have been at the forefront of holistic healing for over a century. Inspired by the need for medical care in mission settings, Dr. Dengel, a Tyrolean doctor, created a pious community that eventually transformed into a recognized religious congregation in 1936[1][2].
Initially, the sisters focused on providing necessary medical care, particularly during childbirth, in underserved communities[3][4]. Today, they continue their commitment to holistic healing, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in various countries.The Medical Mission Sisters are involved in a plethora of activities, including education, healthcare provision, and advocacy for marginalized communities. Their work remains focused on empowering women and girls, in line with the broader mission of promoting gender equality and addressing social injustices[2].
In the small town of Bottrop, the sisters have lived in a community for the past 20 years, responding to the needs of their time as imparted by their founder: "You know the needs of today as I knew the needs of my time." The jubilee year, opening in Ghana on September 30, 2024, will be marked by regional celebrations, including one in Bottrop on June 29[5].
On this special day, the sisters will begin with a Holy Mass at St. Cyriakus Church, followed by a Ruhr-area-style snack and a "World Café" encounter at the church square. There, sisters and associated members will share their work experiences from various missions and engage in conversation with guests[5].
The order currently has around 500 women worldwide, serving in diverse professions across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America. In Bottrop, 28 sisters, including the four who moved into the former rectory of the Heilig-Kreuz Church, live with seven associated members from Germany and the Netherlands[5].
From spiritual companionship to healthcare and education, the sisters work towards holistic healing, not just physically but also addressing mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. As Sister Beate highlights, their mission is to help people connect with their search for orientation, meaning, stillness, healing, and God-experience[5].
To the surprise of some, even Sister Gertrude, who is deemed "retired", still plays an active role in the leadership team of the community in the Netherlands and the financial bodies of the order[5]. Each sister's story is remarkable – Sister Beate in Ghana, Sisters Karin and Gertrude in Kenya, with Sister Gertrude also serving in London and Chicago. Their diverse professions range from pastoral work to medicine and teaching[5].
The Medical Mission Sisters' approach to healing is rooted in their understanding that health is not just physical but encompasses emotional and spiritual well-being. By engaging with local communities and understanding their specific needs, they adapt their services to provide effective and sustainable solutions. This holistic approach and unwavering commitment to service continue to inspire new generations of healthcare providers and community leaders[2].
Footnotes:
- Enrichment Data: Dr. Anna Dengel
- Enrichment Data: Current Work and Focus
- Enrichment Data: Founding and Early Work
- Enrichment Data:History of the Medical Mission Sisters
- Schedule of the jubilee celebration on Sunday, 29th June in Bottrop:
11:15 am: Eucharistic celebration in St. Cyriakus, co-celebrated by Medical Mission Sisters and associates, the choir Cantamus under the direction of Regina Gahlen and organist Ursula Kirchhoff
12:30 pm: Lunch "à la Ruhrpott" in and around STÜCK.gut at the church square
1:15 pm: Meeting in the World Café with sisters and associates from Ghana, India, Pakistan, Frankfurt, Berlin, Duisburg, Bottrop, etc.; coffee and cake will be served
2:30 pm: Joint conclusion with a surprise
The Medical Mission Sisters kindly ask for registration for the program after the Holy Mass at E-Mail [email protected] or phone 02041-772454. The meal and the following program are free of charge. The Medical Mission Sisters would be happy to receive a donation for SundaySatt.
Further information about the Medical Mission Sisters, their history and their work, as well as the jubilee, can be found at www.missionsaerztliche-schwestern.org
Enrichment Data:
Overall:
The Medical Mission Sisters were founded by Dr. Anna Dengel, an Austrian physician, in 1925. The sisters, initially hesitant to take public vows due to a canonical prohibition on medical work by religious orders, instead formed a "Pia Societas" (pious community). In 1936, Dr. Dengel successfully lobbied for a change in church law, enabling the sisters to fully engage in medical service as religious women. On August 15, 1941, Dr. Dengel and the first sisters took their final vows, and the community grew rapidly, establishing hospitals, clinics, and health stations worldwide[1].
Anna Dengel:
Born in 1887 in Salzburg, Austria, Dr. Anna Dengel was the eldest of five daughters. Her mother died when she was just two, an event that deeply affected her. Dengel studied medicine and completed her doctorate in Prague. She died in 1972 at the age of 85[6].
Current Work and Focus:
Today, the Medical Mission Sisters remain committed to providing comprehensive care that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. They operate worldwide, establishing healthcare institutions and responding to local challenges. Their work includes education, healthcare provision, and advocacy for marginalized communities. The order remains dedicated to empowering women and girls through their work, with a focus on promoting gender equality and addressing social injustices[2].
Founding and Early Work:
Dr. Dengel's journey began when she arrived in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, in the 1920s to work as a mission doctor. This marked the beginning of the Medical Mission Sisters' presence in the region. Their early work focused on providing necessary medical care, particularly during childbirth, as well as addressing other health needs in underserved communities[3][4].
History of the Medical Mission Sisters:
The Medical Mission Sisters have a long and storied history. Founded in 1925, the order has responded to the needs of their time for the past 100 years. Their primary goal has been to be "healingly present" in the world, working towards holistic healing and providing essential medical care to underserved communities[3][4].
The Medical Mission Sisters, founded by Dr. Anna Dengel in 1925, have been at the forefront of holistic healing for over a century, addressing not only physical health but also mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Today, their work in health-and-wellness extends to mental-health and women's-health, continuing to empower women and girls in various countries as part of their mission to promote gender equality and address social injustices.
