The root of our Region was in the call of love from
God to a woman who wanted to follow Him and make Him known.
So in 1956 Sr. María Leonor Lorenzo along with other
young women founded a religious community in the city of Santa Fe, Argentina.
Father Andrés Azcárate OSB awakened in her a strong
desire of the Benedictine ideal, not only
that but also accompanied and guided the community throughout the development
of the foundation that they could live with fidelity and enthusiasm the
monastic life and at the same time participate in the work of Evangelization.
Later, in 1961, Sr. María Leonor with Sr. Argentina
Lens moved to Buenos Aires and settled in the neighborhood of Belgrano, near Saint
Benedict’s Abbey where they received all the support and the necessary
direction.
The sisters had many apostolic activities like giving
retreats, workshops, courses and mission to the neighboring areas for many
years.
In 1970s, some vocations joined but not sufficient
enough for the nascent Foundation to be recognized as Congregation.
Included in that group of new members was Sr. Helena
Martínez who lived a life of true holiness, esteemed by all who knew her.
From 1992, they were concerned about the future of the
Foundation, so the Sisters decided then to merge with another Congregation for
a conducive way to continue. By the time, the Abbot of Saint Benedict’s Abbey,
Martín Elizalde OSB facilitated the contact with the Missionary Benedictine
Sisters of Sorocaba in the 1994’s EMLA (Benedictine assembly for Latin America)
in Brazil.
Sr. Ofelia Roggero was delegated to represent them in Sorocaba
and met Mother Cecilia Torres, osb Prioress of Sorocaba, at that time, to express their desire to integrate to the Congregation
of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.
In 1994, after the General Chapter of the MBS
decision, Sr. Assumpta Batistela, osb was sent as responsible for the process
of incorporating the Benedictine Sisters of the Epiphany to the Benedictine
missionary charism of the Sisters of Tutzing.
On the 6th of January, 1995, the five
Benedictine Sisters of the Epiphany were officially integrated into the
Congregation. They made their Perpetual Profession on the 10th of February 1998. Sr. Assumpta Batistela,osb was
the first superior and at the same time formation directress of the Argentinian
community. Up to the present, the Region of Argentina is under the direction of
the Sorocaba Priory, Brazil.
That is why this year we celebrate the 20 anniversary
of our presence in Argentina!!
The mission grows,
the Divine Providence is with us!
On the 6th
of August 1998, a second community was established in Ucacha, Diocese of
Córdoba, in response to the invitation by a family who requested assistance
from the sisters for the people, and they donated a house to the community.
Unfortunately,
for various reasons, the community could not remain in this place and closed
after 3 years.
Then came a
new opportunity to open a second mission in Los Toldos, Diocese of Nueve de
Julio, province of Buenos Aires.
On the 20th
of March 2002, a group of sisters took
charge of the retreat house from the
Sisters of the Holy Cross together with it is a farm and a small rural school.
After
opening this community, throughout the whole region, including the monastery,
suffered a massive flood that lasted one year.
Nevertheless,
from 2000 the Argentinian vocations began arriving. The communities in
Argentina were always international with sometimes more than five nationalities
together.
On the 29th
of September 2004, the communities of Argentina became a Region under the
Sorocaba Priory.
Our current evangelization in the Region
We assume
varied activities in different services: our Guest House receives people who
come to the Monastery seeking an encounter with the Lord or a time of rest and
relaxation. Others come looking a place while performing other activities in
the city.
The pension
house for students is one of our source of income, and we also provide support
and presence to many young people from the interior part of the country coming
to Buenos Aires for study.
We are
involved in a socio-pastoral work in a marginal district, in the town of Los
Toldos in "Juan el Bueno" a project aiming for an integral formation of children
and accompanying women for
pastoral and social development of the area
through pastoral services, weaving, sewing, art work and networking. In “Laferrere” vicinity, we
assist a community in the formation of leaders.
We not only accompany our oblates for their
formation but also to other groups giving bible workshops, Lectio Divina,
Mission Group, etc.
We also
visit sick children in the hospital, giving a word of encouragement to parents,
praying and assisting them with things they need.
We provide
assistance to homeless people.
No comments:
Post a Comment