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Our presence in the secular world
Discussion in small groups
P. Laurentius, Annette Schleinzer, Sr. Magdalena Dörtelmann
Study conference of Dominican sisters in Germany
Every year, German-speaking Dominican sisters meet for a study conference at the Leitershofen retreat centre near Augsburg. This year's course (28 July to 31 July) was dedicated to encountering and engaging with two great spiritual female figures, both individually and as a community: Catherine of Siena and Madeleine Delbrêl.
Both mystics were witnesses to God in their own time and for their time. Their words: ‘Nothing is without mystery’ (Catherine) and ‘We owe the people the word of God’(Madeleine) invited us to reflect on our lives in this sense and to let them become effective as inspirations of the Spirit ‘in the present’.
The speakers, Sr. Maria Magdalena Dörtelmann OP (Catherine of Siena) and Dr. Annette Schleinzer (Madeleine Delbrêl), gave us a very profound introduction to the lives and thoughts of these great women. Their expertise opened up new perspectives and current points of reference.
The participants were 27 sisters from 10 Dominican communities and Fr. Laurentius Höhn OP, promoter of the AGOP. This year, Srs. Irma Schneider, Dagmar Fasel and Christiane Sartorius took part in the study days on behalf of the Oakford Dominican Sisters.
Text: Sr. Dagmar Fasel
Photos: Sr. Christiane Sartorius