Short history
The structure is essential in order for the Congregation to be able to manage its life and development. At the CB General Chapter 1999, in the Philippines, it was decided that “the General Board, together with the Area Boards, examine the need for a new structure of governing which is more decentralized, especially in the larger Areas/Provinces. This decision was re-echoed and emphasized during the General Chapter 2005 with the recommendation “East Indonesia be established as a new Region. The process of establishing this new region will be worked out in coordination with the Indonesian Province”.
After taking some aspects into our consideration, the General Board in coordination with the Provincial Board of Indonesia realized this recommendation. With great faith in God’s providence the East Indonesian Region was inaugurated on October 7, 2007. When the Region was officially opened there were 35 sisters in the Area.
The spiritual and prayer life are also emphasized in all formation programmes including the juniors’ and ongoing formation for all perpetually professed sisters. The deepening of spirituality and prayer life is also encouraged in the local community. The same emphasis is put on the deepening of spirituality in the apostolic ministry.
Formation is an integral part of our life as religious. It is a lifetime process on our journey towards maturity both as a person and as a religious sister living in this Congregation. The decrease of membership and the tendency of a decreasing number of candidates in the East Indonesian Area, make that the sisters of this Region consider vocation promotion a significant activity.Since there is an initial formation house in Kupang, which started in 2001, the number of candidates coming from the areas of East Indonesia varies.
The Region is involved in several apostolic ministries. Although limited in number, the sisters are involved in the area of health care, education, formation and social-pastoral works. The sisters try to respond to the signs of the times by immersing into the reality of the society through their apostolic ministries. They are aware that apostolic ministry is the key to open the door to people’s hearts. In the field of health care the Region runs 3 clinics and 1 health post service in 4 different dioceses. Beside these clinics, owned by the Congregation, there are still 2 other clinics managed by the sisters but owned by the diocese. It is quite obvious that this field of ministry still answers the needs of the people and fits the Spirituality of the Congregation.
Together with Mother Elisabeth we can say…”Things have not gone well in this interval and have not been going well up till now” (EG 158).
