Als Antwort auf Gottes Ruf

As part of our ongoing observance of the 200th birthday of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, we continue to post excerpts of Als Antwort auf Gottes Ruf (Bonifatius, 2016), the history of the Sisters of Christian Charity since 1881, by Sister Anna Schwanz, SCC, translated by Sister Mary Perpetua Rehle, SCC.

Ever since the end of the war, the Sisters in America, and Mother Anselmis, the Superior General who was still living there, waited for the return of mail service with Germany.  It was not until August 1946 that the USA could send 11 pound packages with food and clothing.  Later, the weight allowance was increased. "Immediately a long procession of packages began across the ocean."  . . . At first, the government in Chile only allowed items to be sent generally.  Thus crates with food and clothing were sent to the Caritas Society in Germany.  . . . Until direct mail service was available at the end of 1947, the Sisters in Uruguay sent their gifts to Germany by way of Switzerland. . . . Help from America in the form of money and/or goods, packed in packages, crates or barrels, continued undiminished for several years.  Besides our convents, these also helped many other persons to survive the difficult postwar years.

After a 14 year absence due to political circumstances, the long-awaited return of the Superior General, Mother Anselmis Nickes and her traveling companion Sister Mathilde Niemann took place in May 1948.  In August of the same year, a General Chapter could once more be convened, the first in 16 years.  Representatives from all the Provinces gathered for exchange and deliberations.  The Chapter was characterized by . . . solidarity and a strong sense of unity within the Congregation.  When thanking the American Provincials and Sisters Mother Romana Löffler, Provincial of the German Province said: "After God, we thank you that we are more or less able to work and that we can serve God's kingdom.  Just when the food supply in Germany, which had already been meager during the war, became totally insufficient and most German families knew hunger, the first of your gifts arrived."  Then followed the gratitude for dresses, coats, fabric, yarn, meditation books, rosaries, medicine . . . "Without your help we could not have accepted any Candidates or invested any Postulants . . . and our building!  Without your loving help and support, it would have long remained in ruins."