URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK
“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10
OSU TILDONK NEWS and EVENTS
India
Ursuline Sisters Response to the Covid–19 Pandemic in India
During the past two years, the Ursuline Sisters have played a special role in serving people infected by coronavirus through their medical aid, awareness programs as well as their spiritual support. They are happy to be extensions of God’s love to those in need during the Recovery Post COVID-19 period.
The second wave hit the country very badly in the months of April, May and June 2021. More than 400 religious men and women died, among whom were 4 Bishops. We lost 12 Sisters between the months of April and June. Five died directly from the coronavirus.
The second wave hit the country very badly in the months of April, May and June 2021. More than 400 religious men and women died, among whom were 4 Bishops. We lost 12 Sisters between the months of April and June. Five died directly from the coronavirus.
Listen to the account given by a Sister:
When the pandemic started in 2019 even we, the medical personnel did not know how to tackle it. But slowly when guidelines were provided by the Government, the situation seemed to be under control.
This an is overview of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk in India.
Please download this overview of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk in India.
DR Congo
Volcano eruption in Goma - Nyiragongo
Nyiragongo, located in Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
On the evening of May 22, 2021 it erupted when gigantic fissures opened on its sides. From these cracks, several million cubic meters of molten rock poured first eastwards, towards neighboring Rwanda, then southwards, towards the city of Goma, capital of the province of North Kivu. Over 3,000 homes were destroyed.
The Sisters in the Vice Province of Congo were involved in post - volcanic eruption activities.
The trauma linked to the fear of a volcanic eruption on the one hand and the loss of material goods has had a negative impact on the health status of many people in Goma.
The European Union provided subsidies for the care of disaster victims and vulnerable people.
The trauma linked to the fear of a volcanic eruption on the one hand and the loss of material goods has had a negative impact on the health status of many people in Goma.
The European Union provided subsidies for the care of disaster victims and vulnerable people.
Our sisters got involved in helping some patients procure a $ 5 medical transfer paper for treatment either at Goma General Hospital or Kyeshero Hospital for free. They helped them realize that it is possible to benefit from free medical care by simply obtaining a medical transfer paper. Many uninformed people were paying for treatment; they did not know it was free.
From the first week after the volcanic eruption in May until the end of June, the sisters had already saved several human lives thanks to the healing of 35 patients, i.e. 13 young people, 8 children and 14 adults.
From the first week after the volcanic eruption in May until the end of June, the sisters had already saved several human lives thanks to the healing of 35 patients, i.e. 13 young people, 8 children and 14 adults.
.......One of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Mattresses and blankets:
November 14 was a day dedicated to the poor by Pope Francis. So our communities in Goma and Bukavu went to meet the poor. Here in Goma, we went to visit those displaced by the volcanic eruption and who are not receiving help. As there are many of them, the Salesian Fathers helped us to select the most destitute, the most vulnerable.
November 14 was a day dedicated to the poor by Pope Francis. So our communities in Goma and Bukavu went to meet the poor. Here in Goma, we went to visit those displaced by the volcanic eruption and who are not receiving help. As there are many of them, the Salesian Fathers helped us to select the most destitute, the most vulnerable.
We benefited from the generosity of some people to buy them mattresses and blankets. The students of ST. Ursula High School, as well as the sisters, gave some clothes and sweaters.
Sr. Esperance Hamuli, OSU
Sr. Esperance Hamuli, OSU
The eruption caused a general panic and the provincial governor ordered the evacuation of more than a million and a half inhabitants who fled to the surrounding villages of Goma and to the town of Gisenyi in Rwanda.
About 30 people died the same evening and in the following days. Most of them died of asphyxiation or burns while crossing the hardly cooled lava flows in an effort to determine the boundary of their plot of land before it was too late. Between May 23 and 29 Goma experienced 269 tremors with a magnitude of 2.1 to 5.2 on the Richter scale. Some houses were already cracked and others collapsed.
Within two months of the eruption, the airport, markets and churches had reopened. In many parts of the city, buildings and houses are now under repair due to cracks in the structure. It is forbidden for the moment to build on the lava, however the state has taken a piece of land and are building some houses for the people.
Inauguration of the Archives of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk Value and Preservation of Ursuline history
The Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk desire to preserve and share the history, spirit, and memory of the Congregation and thus keep their spirit and mission alive in the church and the world with special attention given to Father Johannes Cornelius Martin Lambertz who founded the Congregation of the Ursulines of Tildonk in 1818 in Tildonk, Belgium. To achieve this goal they have entrusted their archival collection to KADOC Documentation and Research Centre on Religion, Culture and Society) in Leuven, Belgium.
It is with great joy and gratitude for the archival judgment and professionalism of KADOC that we announce the completion of the classification and inventory of the archives.
The inauguration of KADOC’s new addition for the archives of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk took place on the feast of St. Ursula, October 21, 2020. St. Ursula is the patron of the “Company of St. Ursula” founded by St. Angela Merici in 1535 in Brescia, Italy.
The valuable artifacts, annals and records are of intrinsic value and have been carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation. The record of the origins, history, and mission of the Congregation is intact thanks to the Sisters who protected the historical documents especially Sr. Emelie Vrebos, and Sr. Bernadette Uytterhoeven.
It is with great joy and gratitude for the archival judgment and professionalism of KADOC that we announce the completion of the classification and inventory of the archives.
The inauguration of KADOC’s new addition for the archives of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk took place on the feast of St. Ursula, October 21, 2020. St. Ursula is the patron of the “Company of St. Ursula” founded by St. Angela Merici in 1535 in Brescia, Italy.
The valuable artifacts, annals and records are of intrinsic value and have been carefully preserved and passed down from generation to generation. The record of the origins, history, and mission of the Congregation is intact thanks to the Sisters who protected the historical documents especially Sr. Emelie Vrebos, and Sr. Bernadette Uytterhoeven.
The Ursuline archives are now accessible online for the public who have an interest in visiting them.
The inventories of archives of the Ursuline Sisters of the Congregation of Tildonk are now available online. Please click HYPERLINK and enter ‘Ursuline Tildonk’ in the ‘Full Text Search’ and the inventory will pop up. Then click to ‘Localize in the Archive Plan’ and you can search through the inventories.
If you want to consult files or documents, a request has to be made to KADOC.
The inventories of archives of the Ursuline Sisters of the Congregation of Tildonk are now available online. Please click HYPERLINK and enter ‘Ursuline Tildonk’ in the ‘Full Text Search’ and the inventory will pop up. Then click to ‘Localize in the Archive Plan’ and you can search through the inventories.
If you want to consult files or documents, a request has to be made to KADOC.
After permission of the general board of the Congregation, the files can be consuted in the reading room of KADOC.