Kunz history connected

After much search we found the village of Budesheim, Germany.  Jim and I believed this was the home town of most of the Kunz heritage, after studying our ancestral records.  So we went to the Church, Sts. Aureus and Justina.  By chance the pastor, Fr. Norbert Kley, was coming to open the Church.  In a short while he looked up the records and took us to the cemetery.  We found a number of Kunz graves but the names of our family date back to the 1700's and are beyond records.  But entering the  Church was a holy moment.  It has obviously been renovated but dates back to the 1700"s.  The baptistry appears to be an original.  We stood of awe of standing in the place of the roots of faith and family for us.  Besides that, it was mom's birthday.  Even though a Lenhoff in name, she became a part of the Kunz clan in a big way.  We prayed with all our ancestors.  We ended with a good German lunch in Budesheim.

Bingen

The big discovery on this day was finding that our family was originally settled in Budesheim, Germany.  And we found Budesheim as a prosperous community joined in tandem to its neighboring community of Bingen. They have actually become one community in essence.  As we drove around trying to find the Church of our family, we came across a Church dedicated to St. Hildegard.  After a few moments we realized we were in Bingen, so this is Hildegard of Bingen!!!  She is a mystic who lived in the 12th Century and many of her writings are still used today for those who seek a spiritual connection in their lives.  It was neat to connect with her and the Kunz family in the same place.  I await what we will find today.

Hole in the shirt

The days at the Munich motherhouse have drawn to a close.   A few days ago I noticed a hole in my shirt.  But since I have limited clothes, I wore it.  One of the sisters noticed and came asking to patch it.  I resisted at first but then gave in to her offer, thinking of the weeks ahead in my journey.  She is the one standing in the picture.  Obviously the sisters have given me great care and hospitality in my time in Munich.  

My brother, Jim, arrived and he got the shortened tour of the Motherhouse and Munich.  

Then it was time to say good-bye to the Munich Motherhouse.  On the left is Sr. Charlotte, the provincial leader of Munich.  On the right is Sr. Brunhild, my teacher and guide for the past week.  I can only but say a big 'thank you' to them and all the sisters who recieved me into their community with great warmth and care.  

There was the final stop at the grave of Mother Theresa and Jim and I are off on a new adventure.

Two priests and Mother Theresa

Listening and learning these days, there were two priests who had significant parts in Mother Theresa's life--Fr. Michael Wittmann (later became Bp. Wittmann) and Fr. Matthias Siegert.  Fr. Wittmann was the pastor of the parish in Regensberg, and also served in the parish Mother Theresa grew up in.  He recognized from childhood that Carolina had special gifts.  He believed that an order of religious women needed to be established for the education of the poor, especially girls.  He urged Carolina to follow this path.  He died before it came to fruition.  Along came Fr. Siegert who became a spiritual director and guide for the Foundress of this new order.  As I have

learned the story of SSND, I was drawn to learn more of these two priests, maybe because 'I am a priest'.  Sr. Brunhild had to read and study to learn more herself.  They saw needs and found ways to help it all happen, through M. Theresa.  I pray that I may be such an instrument in my priesthood.  I went to both of their graves, asking for their intercession.

Back to School

The week of Ash Wednesday is always a winter break in Germany.  So today was the return from vacation.  So how is the spirit of Mother Theresa being lived in 2015?  I went to two schools today to see them in action.  It was fun to be around children and to see their excitement and energy.  I was not able to photograph very many students.  The diversity of those attending creates some concern about published pictures.  But in any manner, it appears that Mother Theresa's charism to educate those who most need it, and especially girls, is very visible here.  The facilities are very creatively designed in an inner city space.  

SSND begins

After studying the early life of Mother Theresa, it was neat to find the place where the Poor School Sister's of Notre Dame began.  I came by train and car to the small town of Neunburg, Germany.  Mother Theresa and her companions began the school and their religious life in this place.  It was October 24, 1833.  The school still operates and it is a lovely facility for small children.  The sisters invited me to join them for lunch and we had a delightful time, as I struggled with German.  But the common love of Mother Theresa brought a joy to our conversation.  Sr. Christina spoke English so she got a break from teaching to be my guide.  Mother Theresa's room is still kept in all its simplicity.  Her bed would not fit me, for sure.  The trunk was what she travelled to the US with in the 1840's.  Needless to say I probably carried more than she did.   It was a lovely day trip and deeper connection to SSND.  I thought of my three aunts smiling down on me--Srs. Agatha, Beatrice and Lucida.

The

Roots of a Foundress

I spent this day in Regensburg, Germany.  Mother Theresa was born in a small village across the river from Regensburg, called Stadtamhof.  The SSND community in Regensburg hosted me and are pictured below.  They were very warm and hospitable during my stay.  I celebrated Mass with them this morning in English, although the German came out at various times.  

But it was good to pray together even though the words were awkward at times.

After breakfast Sr. Angela guided me across the river to Mother Theresa's childhood home.

 It has been rebuilt.  However to be in that place was a connection to a holy woman of great strength and strong faith.  Her father ran boats up and down the Danube.  

The picture is of the confluence of the Danube and Regens rivers.  

The Stone bridge is almost 1000 years old and an amazing structure in itself.  You could almost picture Carolina running across the bridge.  Carolina, Mother Theresa's childhood name, prayed and attended the church in this village of Stadtamhof.  It was fun and an inspiration to go to this spot, with its own simple beauty.  

Foundress

One of the reasons for me to travel to Germany was to visit the grave of Mother Theresa, the foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.  I have been around SSND since I was a boy, taught by them and three aunts as sisters in the Order.  Below is a good representation of her.  As I arrived I discovered the chapel was under renovation and closed.  I know what that is like?!!  But worst was that her tomb was being painted and also closed.  Each day I walked past the door wondering if I would ever be allowed in.  Today I saw one of the workers come out and we asked about seeing the tomb.  He said it is done.  So I hurried in, said a prayer and snapped a picture.  Some of you can read German, but here is what it says:  Carolina Gerhardinger (baptismal name) Mother Theresa of Jesus (Name given when she took her vows)  Foundress of the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame and then her words, "All the works of God proceed slowly and in pain".  If you remember I gave a homily on those words several weeks before I left in December.  Maybe that is why it took me a while to get to the grave--slow down, let go.  I learn slowly.  Also attached is a picture of the stone sent by American SSND at the time of her death in 1879.  The Church of St. James, as it is called, will not be open until Easter.  

Lent begins in Munich

Lent began in Munich with Mass and the reception of ashes.  The motherhouse of SSND does not talk for the day.  I was not prepared for that so I went down to the Marienplatz to see the "day after" the big party of yesterday.  It seemed pretty subdued as people scurried about their business.  The stage for music had disappeared.  So Lent creates a new tone for our lives.  Sr. Brunhild did continue my study of Theresa Gerhardinger and SSND.  She taught me about the charism M. Theresa established based on Education, Unity, Prayer, Mary, a life of simple living.  I begin to see why it has lasted for all these years and attracted so many followers.  They remain good values for us these days as when she began living as a School Sister of Notre Dame. 

The afternoon took us to some of the Churches M. Theresa visited--three different styles--Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic.  I only have pictures of the first and last styles.   

Tonight for supper, we had another guest besides myself so we got to talk.  Bonus' even during Lent!!

Munich Mardi Gras

I just made another trip across the ocean, this time to Germany.  Those trips are a bit exhausting all in themselves.  But I'm excited about the coming weeks.  I kind of forgot that I was arriving in Munich on Mardi Gras.  Sr. Brunhild informed me that schools take the whole week off for Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday.  The Provincial house for the Bavarian province sits near downtown Munich.  Its my home for the next week.  The original building was bombed during World War II so the present one is a 1950's vintage.  Note the two pictures:  the front door and the large kircke (Church).

After lunch I was told that I could easily walk to the city center Marrian Platz.  So I became adventurous and headed out alone.  I had not gone far when the sound of music began reverberating in my ears.  Little did I know what I was walking into.  The platz was jammed with people singing, dancing, and just being what I thought New Orleans was doing today.  This was no time to look at the architecture of the buildings but rather to look at all the creative and weird costumes that seemingly everyone had on, except me.  As you can see they do not do the beads thing.  It was so amazing that I had to run back for my camera.  I knew my word description would not be enough.  The hi-lite was when they broke into "YMCA"  They all seemed to even know the words and actions.  

A pause, with friends

Another week has passed.  I spent it with two good friends,  Fr. Jim Zimmer and Fr. Jerry Mahon.  Since 1982 we annually get together away from our work.  I knew that even on sabbatical that I wanted to renew this connection.  Fr. Jim is a chaplain at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.  Fr. Jerry is pastor at St. John the Evangelist in Rochester.  We began going skiing and did so for many years.  In recent years as our bodies have slowed down, we found ourselves just appreciating the time together. It is almost hard to explain.  We find ourselves in long discussions about various topics, many of them Church related of course.  But often we find ourselves sharing about things from our lives.  More and more I find myself treasuring these kind of moments.  I discover how much I have grown and how much farther I have to go.  This week Fr. Jerry brought the book "Fully Alive" by Tim Shriver.  After our discussions I bought myself a copy.   He is the son of Eunice and Sargent Shriver.  It is a profound book.  

Today as I prayed the Sunday Eucharist and heard the story of the healing of the leper,  I found myself longing for a "full life".  I believe God wants to heal all of us from whatever ails us or negatively controls us.  And I trust God will bless me and us with that gift.

Tomorrow I begin the more active life again in my sabbatical--I fly to Munich, Germany.  I will be posting more regularly again as I encounter new places.  May God watch between us.  

A pause

Here it is a week since I last blogged.  The first month of my sabbatical was quite busy, with the Holy Land, Rome, New York, etc.  I had been on the move and doing new things almost every day.  So now I have had some time to stop, relax, and just reflect.  It is such an important part of my being away.  Last Sunday i realized I didn't have to prepare a homily.  It was strange not to do it.  In a strange way I missed it.  I realized how that weekly  homily makes me sit down with the Word of God in a very intentional way.  So this week I find myself trying to listen and be quiet more.  I stopped through Mankato the other day to do my wash and renew my suitcase.  It was kind of neat to run into some of you.  The connection is still there.  You are still in my thoughts and prayers.  But I also knew it was not yet time to return.  So keep praying for my as I continue the  journey.  I know God has more in store for me in the time ahead.