Celebrating 100 Years of Healing Presence
Launching the Society's Centenary year in Kulmasa, Northern Ghana, Sister Agnes Lanfermann MMS, Society Coordinator, has sent this personal greeting:
Dear Sisters and Associates,
Dear Friends of Medical Mission Sisters,
Today, we are celebrating the 100th Foundation Day of Medical Mission Sisters! 99 years ago, Anna Dengel together with three companions started the journey of living God’s healing mission. "I was fire and flame. This was the answer to my subconscious desires and aspirations, … with a definite goal in view, filling an unfulfilled need which only women could fill.... The decision to offer myself was so simple and clear to me."
Anna Dengel chose the side of women oppressed. Her deep desire was to free them being aware of their divine dignity and potential, their countless possibilities. For her, it was important to follow the call, to stay committed and not to look for public performance. Looking at the people and their suffering, listening to the echo in her heart, let grow a concrete response of what to do and how.
Today, the Holy Experiment of the Society of Medical Mission Sisters and Associates continues to be our life. Today, we are called to make the beliefs, values and priorities of God’s healing mission visible, understandable and touchable in our life and mission, our practice of relatedness, stewardship and partnership and to regularly assess it.
"We must adapt ourselves to the needs, the needs will not adapt themselves to us.
We must never be afraid to change if it is needed."
Changes and transitions are part of our journey throughout. Transitions refer to our identity, to who we are. They are slower, mostly invisible and unpredictable. The true gift of wayfinding how to live the call is who we are becoming along the journey.
The Holy Experiment continues to call us to being deeply immersed in suffering of people and the Earth. Dealing with vulnerability as a reality of life brings us in touch with the real depth of God’s power within. This includes searching for joy in sadness and doubt, for wholeness in illness and diminishment, for life even in death. An unshakable faith in Paschal Mystery, facing death and experiencing the promise of Resurrection helps us to witness to Easter Joy.
We must go forward with great optimism, the right kind, not foolish, but that optimism founded and grounded in faith, hope and charity. Anna Dengel
Hope needs community. We all need each other. None of us is an island, an autonomous and independent “I,” separated from the other. Let us build the future by standing together in this Jubilee Year, including everyone. We all need each other to fulfil the mission that has been given to us to be a healing presence at the heart of a wounded world, now and in future.
In the motivation, the impetus of God’s love in Jesus, may our trust deepen and expand the coming year.
In the heartbeat of hope, may we trust that God will show us the way to live our call with and love and joy. With gratitude and hope, we will be present to the Present in this Jubilee Year that starts today.
May God bless us all.
Agnes Lanfermann MMS
Society Coordinator