The Brief History of DMMM German Council

Germany

Four sisters arrived in Germany in the year 1987 to do their Nursing training at Johannes Krankenhaus in Bonn, Germany. Though some sisters came and studied in Germany before 1987, they were relocated by the Congregation after their training and studies to our other communities outside Germany. With the era of the four sisters that came in 1987 for their Nursing training, the Congregation also got the possibility to send sisters to work in different hospitals after the Nursing training

 

After working experiences in some other hospitals, our sisters later came in the year 1999 to work at the hospital of Mercy Brothers in Trier (Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder Trier), which belong to the Congregation of “Barmherzigen Brüder von MariaHilf ”. Till date, our sisters are still living, working as Nurses, and carrying out our pastoral Apostolates in this hospital. DMMM Community Trier became our first community in Germany.

 

Our first Diocesan Certificate of establishing a community (Ordensniederlassung) in Germany was received in the year 2000 from the diocese of Trier in accordance with canon 609 § 1. By the grace of God and through the efforts of the sisters, more sisters were sent to Germany to study and work for the growth of our congregation and our apostolates. 

In the meantime, we have 10 communities and 37 sisters who are either working in various health care sectors located in different states and dioceses in Germany, doing their Nursing training or furthering their education. 

We carry out our apostolates in 3 archdioceses, namely the archdioceses of Paderborn, München-Freising, and Freiburg and in 5 dioceses namely the dioceses of Trier, Mainz, Limburg, Würzburg, and Rottenburg-Stuttgart.

 

Austria

Six sisters were sent to Austria in the year 1990 for the purpose of Nursing training. The parish of Jennersdorf in Burgenland and their parish priest Dr. Alois Lusser welcomed and accommodated them for the time being. There the sisters worked in the Mobile Nursing Care Service and later in the "Mother Teresa Nursing and Old People's Home" in Jennersdorf. 

In 1993 the sisters moved from Jennersdorf to Vienna, where they found a new place of work and some sisters also began with their studies. In the beginning, we lived with the sisters in the Carolusheim in the 18th district of Vienna. Then the Archdiocese of Vienna gave the congregation our own convent at Alliertenstraße in Vienna. Since 31 October 2000, the DMMM sisters have their own house at Langenzersdorf, a district in the Archdiocese of Vienna. At present 8 sisters are missioned in our convent in Langenzersdorf. Our apostolates in Austria are currently focused on various health care sectors.

 

Sweden

The DMMM sisters first came to Sweden in the year 2007. They were three sisters. They landed in Stockholm on 25th January 2007 in the diocese of Stockholm. The name of the bishop who invited us was Bishop Anders Arborelius O.C.D. Pope Francis made him a Cardinal on the 28th of June 2017. Till date, his Eminence Anders Arborelius is the incumbent bishop of the diocese of Stockholm. 

 

Pastoral work is our community apostolate, and our pastoral duties are namely

  • African Catholic Community
  • Catechetical Classes
  • Sacristy work in the parishes

Today, another group of sisters, also three in number are carrying out DMMM apostolates and have been witnessing to the mercy and love of God in unity as DMMM sisters.

 

Belgium

Many of our sisters who studied in Belgium were sent to our other communities after their studies. Currently, we have four sisters who are studying and carryout our apostolates in Belgium.

 

Altogether we have 52 sisters working and studying according to the spirit, charism, and apostolates of our congregation in the German council. We thank God for the growth of our religious family, DMMM Congregation and for using us to reach many souls. We are grateful to Him for His favours, blessings, strength, and graces which we have received from Him as a Congregation and pray that He will continue to bless our apostolic and missionary activities in German Council