News
“What to Take With Us? – What to Let Go Of”
Delight at seeing each other again: Srs Antonia and Michaela from Landsberg with Sr Christiane
A glance around the room
A glance around the room
Inspiring: the creatively arranged centrepiece
What do we take with us? What can we let go of? These were the questions addressed by the German-speaking Dominican Sisters at this year’s AGOP Study Conference, which took place from 27 to 30 July 2026 at the Leitershofen Retreat Centre near Augsburg.
What shapes our times and our religious life
The AGOP – the Working Group of German-speaking Dominican Sisters from all congregations – brings together around 28 congregations and communities of the Dominican Sisters’ Order in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Year after year, the conference provides a space for encounter, spiritual deepening and a shared reflection on the issues that shape our times and our religious life. Sr Christiane Sartorius OP attended the conference on behalf of our community.
Under the theme ‘Take with us? – Let go’, the participants jointly addressed the question of how Dominican life can be shaped today. Amidst the tension between freedom and responsibility, whilst listening to Holy Scripture and reflecting on the insights from the World Synod in Rome, they considered the paths that our mission as Dominican Sisters opens up today.
Strengthening one another on our shared journey
The aim was to refocus on our own vocations, to take stock of the reality of our communities, and to strengthen one another on our shared journey.
The study conference was led by Sr Katharina Hemmers OP, a Dominican sister from Bethanien. She was supported by Sr Monika Hueppi OP, a Dominican sister from Ilanz, and Fr Laurentius Höhn OP, the sisters’ spiritual director.
Equally valuable: many personal encounters on the fringes of the conference
Keynote talks, group work, bibliolog (shared Bible reflection) and in-depth discussion sessions characterised the days. Equally valuable were the many personal encounters on the fringes of the conference: shared times of prayer, the celebration of the liturgy, stimulating conversations and reunions with fellow sisters from the various congregations.
Thus, the annual conference once again became a place of listening, fellowship and encouragement. With new insights and many valuable encounters in their hearts, the participants returned to their respective communities.
Text Sr. Christiane Sartorius OP & Martina Schneider
Translation Martina Schneider
August 2026