We Celebrate the 175th Anniversary
On August 28th of this year
we celebrated the 175th anniversary
of the founding of the Congregation
in Niederbronn.
Blessed Alphonse Marie,
Elizabeth Eppinger, founded
the Congregation of the Divine Redeemer
in 1849, in the spa town of Niederbronn,
Alsace (France).
Since childhood, she lived
in deep union with God
and knew that her entire being
had been accepted by God
and loved by Him together
with all people.
She was deeply penetrated
with the Mystery of Redemption.
Led by the Spirit of God, she felt called together with her Sisters
to see the needs of the time and, through a variety of services,
to let people, especially the poor and the sick,
experience God's redeeming love and give them hope.
Concerned with the salvation of the whole person,
she and her Sisters strove to care for the sick in their homes in the Spirit of Jesus,
to support the poor, to feed, to care for and teach children,
to support the helpless and to care for those for whom no one cared.
All of this was carried out in the spirit of Scriptures:
"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" Mt 25:40.
More and more Sisters joined the Community
and the Congregation grew rapidly.
The Sisters' works received recognition and were in demand everywhere.
So the Bishops asked the Foundress for Sisters
in Würzburg, Vienna and Sopron.
Meeting the circumstances of the times and places,
several Congregations arose from this foundation,
living the charism of Blessed Mother Alphonse Marie.
Today three Congregations exist which originated from the foundation:
the original Congregation in Niederbronn,
the Congregation in Würzburg,
and our Congregation in Sopron-Rome-Eisenstadt.
Our Congregation has existed as an independent Congregation since 1867,
in that time with the Motherhouse in Sopron (Diocese of Gyor), Hungary.
From 1955 Due to the political situation,
the Generalate of our Congregation was in Rome
and since 2019, the Generalate of our Congregation is located in Eisenstadt, Austria.
A spiritual connection, collaboration, and relationship
with the Sisters in the Communities originating from the founding
by Blessed Alphonse Marie has always existed and are continually
deepened thru various occasions.
Three Superior Generals: Sr. Margita Tušanová, Sr. Johanna Vogl, and Sr. Monika Edinger.
The General Leaderships were invited to Niederbronn,
to celebrate together with the original Congregation the 175th anniversary
of the founding of the Congregation.
The representatives from all three Congregations attended Holy Mass on Sunday,
August 18, 2024, in the parish church of St. Martin in Niederbronn.
The principal celebrant was the Auxiliary Bishop of Strasburg, Msgr. Christan Kratz.
The Mass was attended by many priests, Sisters,
the newly elected General Leadership of the Congregation of the Most Holy Savior
from Niederbronn with the newly elected Superior General, Sr. Margita Tušanová,
the General Leadership of the Congregation of the Redeemer Sisters from Würzburg
with their Superior General, Sr. Monika Edinger (Germany),
the General Leadership of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer
from Eisenstadt with their Superior General, Sr. Johanna Vogl (Austria),
representatives from the town of Niederbronn,
representatives from the institutions of the Sisters of the Most Holy Savior
in France and Germany, together with lay members and employees.
In these day we would like to look back to reflect
on what happened throughout these 175 years and with gratitude remember
everything that happened and was achieved during these years.
At the same time, however,
it is our task to remain true to our charism and to face the challenges of today.
Throughout history Charismas
can be seen as windows that open from God onto the Church.
Through these windows a special light of God's Spirit
falls on the Church in its effort to see, live, and proclaim the Gospel in ever new ways.
God gave the Church through Blessed Alphonse Marie a special charism.
Therefore, it is important for us to continue on this path.
Our Foundress showed us
by her life how important it is to recognize
the voice of the Redeemer,
to hear it and to follow it every day.
To be able to do this,
we must accustom our hearts
to recognize the Lord, to hear Him
as a One who is close to us and who loves us.