October E-News DOTAC: News from the Deaconess Motherhouse in Sâo Leopoldo

Despite the fact that wearing a mask is still mandatory in Brazil because so many people are still dying from COVID 19 in our country, the Deaconess Motherhouse in São Leopoldo inaugurated its new Board on July 25. Leading Sister Arleti Mattner and her two deputies, Roseli Magedanz and Tatiana Tevah (all three of them are standing beside each other in liturgical vestments) have taken up the main responsibility for the institution over the last four years. Six other sisters make up, together with them, the Board of the House. The latter were elected by the whole Sisterhood for a two-year term. Among them is also Sr. Ruthild Brakemeier who had been, up to now, the deputy sister in the leadership.

In the same Divine Service, we commemorated the faithful service of two sisters who were consecrated 50 and 60 years ago respectively. Sister Helga was in charge of several hospitals and Sister Gerda did pioneering work in the North of the country and even as a retired deaconess initiated a project for children.

We then had the joy of welcoming two of the nine aspirants into the sisterhood. Marliza Schwinger is a psychologist and Josiane Velten is a theologian. On July 29, the young pastor Beatriz Haacke will also join.

By the fact that women of various professional backgrounds are joining, our community becomes more diverse. However, it is our opinion that this cannot bring any disadvantage to the diaconal mission of our deaconess house. Because, for all joining sisters, we do maintain the condition that they identify with diakonia (with which they could familiarize themselves during the probation time).

Nowadays, young women attach a great value to communion, through which they wish to be strengthened in their faith. We are therefore confident that diakonia will never cease to be promoted through our Motherhouse.