URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK
“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10
Events of OSU JUBILEE
Excerpts from the ritual is quoted here:
Today we will place the Ursuline Sisters’ most precious relic of the heart of our founder, Fr. John Cornelius Martin Lambertz, in a grave next to his mortal remains.
The heart has been stored for 150 years in a reliquary which is a shrine that houses a relic.
A First-Class Relic refers to the physical remains of a saint. In our case, the heart is a First-Class Relic of our founder. It has been respectfully preserved by succeeding generations of Ursulines next to the Church in the convent in a room dedicated to his memory.
By having preserved his heart the Sisters have kept his memory alive and Sisters have been making pilgrimages to Tildonk to pay homage to our venerated founder and praying in front of the heart. For all these years it has been a priceless treasure that links our present foundation with its founding father.
Other venerable objects associated with Fr. Lambertz are Second-Class Relics:items that the saint owned or frequently used, for example, his well-worn rosary, prayer books, etc. Each year on May 12, our Sisters mark his death anniversary with reverence and prayer and gratitude for God’s gift of the Saintly Curé to us.
This year, 2019, 150 years after his death, is a special day of commemorating his life and death. Now he’s alive all over the world in the presence of Ursulines and Associates who accept the invitation to live contemplative spirituality through the lens of the spirituality of Father John Lambertz and to draw strength from his exemplary holy life.
We are Sisters on a mission
200 years of the life of our religious community is worth celebrating!
We, the Ursulines of Tildonk, were founded by Fr John Cornelius Martin Lambertz on April 30, 1818. For an entire year we planned and participated in a full slate of events to commemorate the anniversary. Unique and creative ways included an International Renewal Program; reflection days on the spirituality of Fr. Lambertz; publication of Anchored in God – Spirituality of Fr. John Cornelius Martin Lambertz; Catholic School and parish events for students in India and DR Congo; special liturgies for relatives, associates, and partners in ministry in the US, Canada, and Belgium; and participation in a celebratory weekend in Tildonk sponsored by the parish of St. John the Baptist on June 24. An original icon of the Curé of Tildonk, as he was commonly called, was designed for the Bicentenary.
celebration of the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Ursulines of Tildonk. April 30, 2018, was a glorious day in Scherpenheuvel, Belgium, where Ursulines have served continuously since 1836. It is a popular pilgrimage site.
Sister Bimla Minj, General Superior, addressed the congregation, offering insights into the origins of the Ursulines:
Angela Merici and CuréJohn Lambertz. There is no way to stop the momentum now: we are Sisters on a mission to make God known and loved wherever we are.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a letter was read from His Holiness Pope Francis to the Sisters, in which he imparted his Apostolic Blessing “as a pledge of peace and joy in the Lord Jesus.” A reception followed the Mass and later, over 225 guests shared a delicious fellowship meal in the Pilgrimage Restaurant.
Our religious Order began when the Curé of a small parish in the Belgian village of Tildonk allowed three devoted women, Anna Van Groenderbeek, Maria Van Ackerbroeck and Catharina Van den Schrieck to live a vowed life in service to the parish – this was the beginning of our branch of the Ursulines of Tildonk. We share in the rich spiritual heritage received from St Angela Merici, the mother of all Ursulines. As part of the great family of Ursulines of Tildonk, we are grateful to our Heavenly Father for his blessings throughout these 200 years.
As of April 30, 2018, our community has nearly 1,000 members. Besides continuing in the traditional ministries of education, healthcare, and social services, we are also active in parish ministry, evangelization, administrative positions, hospital chaplaincy, and work with the poor and with senior citizens throughout the world.
As our community looks toward the future, we remain committed to serving the needs of others as God has called us to do, by living out the Gospel of Jesus.
The 200th anniversary of the founding of the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk began with a Eucharistic celebration on April 30, 2017 at St. John the Baptist Church in Tildonk, where their founder, Father John Lambertz, had been pastor for more than 50 years. Sr. Hildegard Verherstraeten, Provincial of the Province of Belgium, began with the words "Today our celebration marks the beginning of a year of renewal and study that will culminate on April 30, 2018, with the celebration of the foundation of our congregation of Tildonk Ursulines by our spiritual father, John Cornelius Martin Lambertz ".
Sister Bimla Minj
In her opening speech, Sr. Bimla Minj, Congregational Leader, addressed the congregation offering an overview of the origins of the Ursulines founded by Father John Lambertz. "The Lord has done wonders in guiding, guarding and protecting our congregation by spreading from Tildonk to mission lands over the years in India, Canada, the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo and British Guyana." We, as Ursulines of Haacht, were incorporated into the great family of the Ursulines began in the 16th century by St. Angela Merici.
As for the future, Sister Bimla said: "The flame of love invites us to rejoice and to celebrate the love of God and faithfulness in accordance with the theme of the Jubilee. Rekindle the fire of love.
A new representation of "priest" (Father John Lambertz) was unveiled at the Mass. It is an icon painted by a local woman, Gerda Smets. Before starting her work, she visited places related to Father Lambertz, read about his life and missionary work, reflected and contemplated on his life and spirituality.
Today, there are more than 1,000 members of the Congregation in six countries: Belgium, Canada, Congo, India, United States and Guyana. In addition to continuing in the traditional ministries of education, social services and health, the sisters are also active in the parish ministry, administrative positions, chaplaincy of the hospital and working with poor and senior citizens.