JJuunnee 2299,, 22000088 - Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy ...

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 1
Thee Prreepaarraatti ionss::
The Beattiiffiicattiion off Mottherr JJossepha Sttenmannss
(JJune 29,, 2008)
Special Issue - June 2008
The Countdown begins (June 28, 2008)
As Steyl prepares itself for the beatification, Sisters from all over the
world, co-workers and many volunteer helpers make sure that the Vigil,
which is to begin in a few hours will be a real celebration.
Festive Flag Decorations
From Day one, the Guests started to swirl around the town. From mealto-meal,
the dining room which served as the General Chapter hall a few
day ago, was filled with the sounds and voices speaking diverse languages.
Whether from Taiwan, Brazil or Angola, whether lay Sisters or
Brothers, they all are there because of one woman: Mother Josepha.
Never was the impact of this one woman from the Lower Rhineland more
visible than these days. She is not only spoken by word of mouth but also
imprinted on various objects i.e T-shirts, pins.
Flags adorn the way to the gate of the Sacred Heart Convent. On the
ground, dedicated members of “Stijlvol Steyl” designed the Logo of the
Beatification and the pathway to the Cloister door with colorful sawdust.
Many beds and accommodation for overnight stays were devised in the
last days. Visitors are to share rooms. It almost like at the time of Mother
Josepha when many people/retreatants came to the convent. Since the
Motherhouse could not accommodate all the guests, neighboring houses
and the Home for the elderly opened their doors for the pilgrims who
came for this event. Our SVD brothers also made some rooms available
for the guests. The Sisters from European countries found accommodation
in convents and hostels in nearby towns.
In the Doolhof, where the beatification will take place tomorrow, volunteers
and Sisters from Indonesia and India clean the 3,000 seats. Meanwhile,
members of the “Stijlvol Steyl” eagerly decorate the venue with
flowers.
Amidst the many activities these days, one can still find rest and respite
by spending time before the sarcophagus where the relics of Mother Josepha
and Mother Maria are. Pilgrims and guests linger here to pray.
Thus is the relevance of this woman who died more than a hundred years
ago.
Sr. Michaela Leifgen, SSpS

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 2
All day today, Saturday (June 21), men from Steyl and Tegelen have
been decorating the street in front of our house with flags of the countries
where our sisters live and work, from the gate to the front door they
have put up the gold and white Vatican or Church flags and just in front
of the final part of the way to the door they are making an arch with
evergreen branches. Later on they will decorate the greenery with
roses.....It's quite fantastic really because these men are using their free
day to do these decorations for our house. Two days ago huge banners
were put up on the house at the front facing the gate and at the side
facing the entrance from the side street. They were commissioned and
taken care of by the "Steyler Bank, St. Augustin". Part of the beatification
portrait of M. Maria is at the top, that of M. Josepha below and down
the side are the words (in German): At the service of life.
Luckily the sun is shining so the men are able to work without getting
cold or wet! The people of Steyl and Tegelen do so much for us, we have to ask ourselves what
we are doing for them!
JJunee 2288, , 22000088:: Beeaatti iffi iccaatti ion Prraayyeerr Vigill Seerrvvi iccee
Theme: Veni Sancte Spiritus
Sr. Jacqueline Mulberge, SSpS
The Vigil at St. Roch Parish Church started promptly at 5:00 in the afternoon. At around
4:00, people started to walk to the Parish Church where the SSpS Sisters welcomed them
at the entrance door and gave each a copy of the prayer vigil booklet according to the language
of their choice. The prayer pamphlets were in three languages (German, English
and Spanish). While a modest approximate of 700 pilgrims were expected, the number of
those who participated may well be over this.
Sisters coming from SSpS communities all over the world were present-those coming from
Asia, Africa, Oceania and PANAM were accommodated in the Motherhouse. Sisters coming
from Europe came by buses from the other places where they stayed. Together with
them were our lay mission partners from our various mission places. Some of them came
in their national costumes. There were also pilgrims from Issum and neighbouring villages.
Parishioners of Steyl/Tegelen turned out in big numbers.
The SVDs also came, headed by Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD and some members of the
General Administration, as well as others coming from Rome, the members of the local
SVD communities and other European SVD provinces. Msgr Bukowski, SVD and Msgr.
Mazur, SVD also graced the occasion with their presence. Four SSpSAPs attended. Sr.
Maria Devota, Helga Goetze, the Assistant Superior General of the SSpSAP was among
them. People from the press were also present.
The hour-long vigil focused on the theme: “Come, Holy Spirit”, highlighting the prayer frequently
and fervently prayed by Mother Josepha with every breath she took.
Sr. Maria Theresia Hörnemann, Sr. Lucia Mercedes Keiner and Sr. Eden Panganiban
gave brief practical details for the prayer vigil in the three languages. The introduction was
partly in German and partly in English.
The opening song: “Praise to the Lord” was sung in three languages simultaneously. Afterwards,
Sr. Agada Brand, SSpS welcomed all to the celebration .She then invited the
people to welcome each other, saying thus: “In the (same) spirit as Mother Josepha, let us
turn to one another; acknowledge the presence of each other. And since we come from
many different cultures and languages, let us greet each other in a way we are comfortable
with.”

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 3
The song “Pronto esta mi Corazon”, a composition of Sr. Catalina B. Gimenez from Argentina
Misiones was sung as the Bible was enthroned by three SSpS representatives of
Panam. Sr. Regina Rupprecht read the Scripture text: Romans 8:14-17, 26-27 in German.
Silent reflection with soft organ music played by Sr. Daniele Weber followed.
Mother Josepha’s reminder that the “Veni Sancte Spiritus” was to be the breath of a Servant
of the Holy Spirit was again recalled as the community began to pray the first four
lines of the prayer in Spanish and German. All throughout, the verses of the prayer were
recited in one or other of the three languages, in between the other parts of the vigil.
Against the background of a PowerPoint presentation of images symbolizing the Holy Spirit,
the community was invited to pray spontaneously “Come, Holy Spirit” in their own
mother tongue. Sr. Laura Vlcáková from Slovakia depicted in pantomime the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit’s gifts, as she gave pieces of red and yellow cloth to one or the other in the
assembly.
SSpS representatives from each of the five continents offered lighted candles before the
picture of Mother Josepha, expressing our congregation’s desire to continue her dream
that the light of the Good News may continue to illumine the world. Another PowerPoint
presentation on world situations was used as the backdrop for inviting all to pray. An SVD
priest played the flute as the PowerPoint was shown.
A special prayer was said especially for Africa. Through a PowerPoint presentation, contrasting
situations of Africa were shown. Then an African dance of praise and supplication
for the intercession of Mother Josepha followed. Sr. Bernadette Dere, SSpS led our Ghanaian
Sisters (3) in this dance.
At the end of the dance, the Song: “Das Veni Sancte Spiritus”, composed by Sr. Theresilde
Pils, was sung. This was followed by the Prayer to the Spirit, written for the Year of
Mother Josepha. The Magnificat was expressed in dance by Sr. Preethi Thomas, SSpS
from India.
Symbolically, the vigil culminated with the binding of colored ribbon strips. As the strips of
ribbon were tied one to the other, one long piece of multi-colored ribbon connected each
and every one. The closing song aptly articulated this symbolic gesture: “Bind us together,
Lord, with cords that cannot be broken”.
As the entire congregation mingled to give each other a blessing of peace, a spontaneous
expression of joy erupted as everyone clapped their hands.
The prayer vigil brought into focus the harmony that comes from diversity and the unity
that comes from belonging to one family. This was evident in the prayers, either prayed
together or one after another in three languages, in the songs in diverse tongues yet to the
same tune and in the body prayer and dances which were culturally different (African, Slovak,
Indian) but conveying the same praise and gratitude to the Triune God for the person
of Mother Josepha. The assembly was also a feast of colours as some people came in
their respective country’s costumes i.e. the Japanese, three young Slovak SSpS Sisters,
and the Ghanaian Sisters.
The whole fabric of the prayer vigil was woven with the silken bond that was Mother Josepha
in colors of red (love), green (hope), blue (faith) and yellow (joy).Truly, the Spirit
breathed life and unity and joy among a people gathered together in celebration of the one
missionary life that blossomed, matured and bore fruit along the River Maas.

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 4
The meal afterwards in St. Michael’s was an experience of a “global agape” as guests
mingled with one another-encountering friends and making new ones. The people spilled
over to the grounds fronting the River Maas.
Beeaatti iffi iccaatti ion off Mottheerr JJosseephaa, , Heendrri inaa Stteenmaannss. .
JJunee 2299, , 22000088
On the day of Mother Josepha’s beatification, the sun rose gloriously
even as the morning chill set in on the early ones who walked to the
open air theatre “de Doolhof”, shortly after morning prayer at 7:00
and breakfast in the Motherhouse.
By 8.30, a small crowd had already gathered near the entrance gate.
Soon, busloads of people arrived, groups identified by the flags or
banners they brought. Yet two things were commonly seen in all - the “beatification” scarf
and the white bag that contained the liturgy booklet, the postcard size photo of Mother Josepha,
the pencil, the entrance ticket and the food coupons.
Music floated from the brass band ‘Sempre Avanti’ from Tegelen as
pilgrims made their way through wooded paths to the clearing where
the open theatre is located. The venue had a capacity of 3,500 but
the pilgrims could very well be around 5,000. Church and government
dignitaries, among them the Mayor of Venlo and his wife,
attended. A relative of Mother Josepha, her grandniece-in-law,
Mathilde Verheyen, the Bender Family - Mr. Valdir Bender, his wife Iara and two children,
Jonas and Kelen were present. Representatives of the three congregations founded by St.
Arnold Janssen and co-founded by Bl. Maria Helena Stollenwerk and Mother Josepha
Stenmanns came in big numbers (SVDs, SSpS and SSpSAP). Members of other congregations
also attended. The lay people working with us in mission (SSpS Associates),
alumni of SSpS schools, parishioners of Issum and of Steyl/Tegelen were just some of the
groups who came to celebrate this event with us.
In front of the covered court was a small pond with a globe covered
with patches of green grass and red flowers, symbolically
representing the Holy Spirit setting the world afire. Rose/flower
petals floated on the pond’s surface. On the other side of the pond,
a rectangular-shaped canopy protected the altar table from the sun.
Perched on top of a small mount overlooking this altar was a small,
majestic, white structure with white, gold-edged columns and blue
curtains that covered what looked like the stage. Behind these
curtains hung the huge image of Mother Josepha.
Prelude to the Eucharistic Celebration
At around ten in the morning, the parish priest of Tegelen, Fr. John

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 5
Dautzenberg, welcomed all to the celebration. He was the master
of ceremonies for the duration of the prelude and the commentator
during the Holy Mass. He invited each one to greet those beside
them in their own language. After which five SSpS Slovak Sisters
sang a song, accompanied by guitars played by an SSpS and one
SVD priest. Four SSpS Sisters read some texts by and about
Mother Josepha, a poem-tribute to her, Scripture texts that
reflected her life and the prayer to the Holy Spirit on the occasion of Year of Mother Josepha.
In between these readings, a couple from Mönchengladbach played music with the
guitar and accordion.
The Eucharistic Celebration
At around 10.30 the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration
began. Men in uniform (members of Guilds of St.
Katherine and St. Nicholas dating back to the early 15 th
century, from Kolping and the Freihusaren von
Glasenapp) headed the procession. They were
followed by the Seminarians of Rolduc, the altar boys
and altar girls from Steyl/Tegelen and Issum Parishes,
some members of the CLT, the PLT of the German
Province, the minister bearing the Bible, the priests, the
Bishops. and then the Papal Delegate from Rome: His Eminence Cardinal José Saraiva
Martins. The main celebrant was Msgr. Frans Wiertz (Bishop of Roermond). Fr. Antonio
Pernia (SVD Superior General), the Bishops and other priests also concelebrated.
After the Opening greetings, the Kyrie was sung led by joint choirs of Tegelen and Venlo
under the baton of Gerard Sars. Between the Kyrie and the Gloria came the proclamation
of the beatification of Mother Josepha .
Beatification Proclamation:
Sr. Ortrud Stegmaier, postulator, read a brief biography of Mother
Josepha, Hendrina Stenmanns, Servant of God.
Msgr. Frans Wiertz requested Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, as the
Pope’s representative, to read the Papal decree concerning Mother
Josepha.
The Cardinal then read the Apostolic Letter confirming the inclusion of
the Venerable Servant of God Mother Josepha, Hendrina Stenmanns,
in the Register of the Blessed.
“In response to the request of our brother Frans Wiertz,
Bishop of Roermond, as well as of many other brothers in the
episcopate and many of the faithful, and with the agreement of
the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, by virtue of our
apostolic authority we hereby grant that the venerable Servant
of God Mother Josepha, Hendrina Stenmanns, Co-foundress of
the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit, who dedicated her life to
the service of the poor and sick and to the formation of many missionary sisters, may
from now on be accorded the title Blessed, and that her feast may be celebrated annually
on 20 May in those places and in the manner established by canon law.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Hoy Spirit.”
Given at Rome, June 2008 in the fourth year of my pontificate
PP Benedict XVI.

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 6
The crowd joyful responded, singing “Amen”, waving their
scarves and clapping their hands. It was at this moment
that image of Mother Josepha was unveiled.
The procession with the relic followed amidst the song of
praise sung by the Indonesian SSpS and SVDs. Fr.
Klemens Hayon was the choir master. Sr. Maria Gabriella
Nahak, SSpS, Sr. Marita Benggok, Sr. Lusia Maria
Uskono, Sr. Korilifa Siki and Mrs Jeni Huub (all Indonesians)
danced ahead of the reliquary jointly carried by Sr. Miriam
Altenhofen and Sr. Maria Theresia Hörnemann. Other sisters
representing the five continents followed with flowers and
candles. The reliquary was enthroned in front of the altar table
with the flowers and candles around it. The Bishop then
blessed the relic.
After the blessing, Msgr. Wiertz thanked His Eminence, the Cardinal. Sr. Ortrud also
thanked His Eminence in three languages - Italian, German and English.
Then the Gloria was sung. The Gloria was the first song of praise sung for the newly proclaimed
Blessed Josepha.
After this Beatification Rite, Holy Mass proceeded as usual.
The two readings were read by two SSpS Sisters, the first in
German and the second in English.
The proclamation of the Gospel (Mt. 16:13-19) was unique.
When the passage was read where Jesus asked Peter:
“Who do you say I am”, Peter’s response: “You are the
Christ, the Son of the Living God” was echoed in eight
different languages by eight SSpS Sisters (Spanish, English, Japanese, Indonesian,
Korean, Portuguese, German, Dutch).
In his homily, Msgr. Wiertz related the life and person of Mother Josepha to Saints Peter
and Paul whose feasts we celebrated on the same day. He said like Peter, Mother Josepha
was a human being of flesh and blood. Like Paul, her one aim in life was to make
known to people the love of God. He added further that Mother Josepha’s response to Jesus’
question: “Who do you say I am” was the life she lived, giving witness to Christ.
The Creed was also sung. The Symbolic Offertory Procession incorporated the prayer intentions.
• Asia and the Pacific: Rice Sprouts.
Africa: Drums.
• PanAm: The Bible
• Europe: Bread from Ukraine
• Issum: Beer (Beer was a symbol of the simplicity of the people of Issum who
made a livelihood of producing dark beer already during the time of Mother Josepha.)
• Tegelen: Roof tiles/bricks (Tegelen means exactly this: tiles)
• The Bread and Wine were offered by Sr. Maria Cecilia Hocbo, SSpSAP Superior
General and Sr. Agada Brand, SSpS Congregational Leader.
Another highlight of the Holy Eucharist was the Indian Dance : “Arati” during the Doxology.
After communion, the relic was presented to the town of Issum. The bishop handed over
the relic to Cornelia Grasshoff, Chairperson of the Church Committee in Issum. Again led

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 7
by the men in uniform, together with the Sisterrepresentatives
of the different continents who carried the
candles and the flowers, Ms. Grasshoff went up the mount
to enthrone the reliquary in front of the image of Mother
Josepha. It remained there for some time after the Mass for
the pilgrims to spend a few moments in prayer.
In the name of the SSpS Sisters, Sr. Agada Brand thanked
all who had been part of the entire celebration. She began
her speech by saying “Mother Josepha is beatified”. She proceeded to mention the people
who had participated in the preparations and celebration of this momentous event.
The Cardinal also spoke his own words of tribute to Mother Josepha before the final blessing.
He expressed joy at the honor of presiding over the solemn rite of beatification of
Mother Josepha and of being the representative to
convey the Apostolic Blessing of Pope Benedict XVI on
all who were present. The people applauded at this
statement. He described Mother Josepha as a real
patrimony of the rich spiritual life of the local church
which can be passed on to the next generation. He
concluded that: “The Church finds in her an example of
love for Christ and an educator of souls, showing us the
way by which we can fulfill our human and Christian
commitment.”
The Mass ended at 1:30 in the afternoon. The Pilgrims
climbed the mount to venerate the relic of Mother
Josepha.
From 15.00-17.30, the pilgrims were invited to visit the
chapel and the tomb of Mother Josepha in the
Motherhouse. More than a hundred people came - the
sick, the elderly, the young came in groups. They also met
and talked with the SSpS from all over the world, viewed
the exhibits and information about the SSpS life and
mission prepared by the Sisters who are currently
attending the renewal course in Steyl as well as our Sisters in Steyl. Two rooms were set
up for PowerPoint presentations on Mother Josepha. Coffee, tea and cookies were also
served.
JJunee 3300, , 22000088 :: Thee Thaankkssgi ivvi ing Ceel leebrraatti ionss in i Issssum I
The day after the beatification celebration was a day of
thanksgiving. With our hearts still so moved by all the
experiences, there was no way we could return to normal
daily life. So the program to celebrate the beatification in
Mother Josepha’s home town of Issum was a good way
to conclude the festive days in thanksgiving.
Right after the noon meal the first buses left from the
Motherhouse en route to Issum. At St. Michael’s some of
the SVD joined us. The bus trip through the Lower Rhineland passed through the town of
Kapellen. Mother Josepha’s aunt was a Franciscan nun there and her way of life inspired
the wish in Hendrina to enter the religious life, too.

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 8
The first stop for the bus in Issum was at “Nordring”, in
front of Mother Josepha’s parental home. The pilgrim
Sisters were deeply moved to find themselves all at once
so close to Mother Josepha’s human roots. Many photos
were taken to preserve the moment. Due to the big size of
the group, it was unfortunately not possible to go into the
house. Mrs Mathilde Verheyen, grand niece-in-law of
Mother Josepha who lives in the house, is already over
80 and is rather frail. When the international tertiate
groups visit, she always invites the sisters into her living
room where she has coffee ready for them.
From the parental home we continued towards the centre of the town. At the shrine of St.
Nicholas, where Hendrina probably stopped for a short prayer on her way to school every
morning, there were multi-lingual guides ready to take the
groups along “Hendrina Stenmanns’ path to school”
through the streets of the town. That brought us to
Issum’s village church; it was rebuilt in 1886 but the
original baptismal font from Hendrina’s time is still
preserved there.
From the church it was not much further to the “His-
Törchen”, the historical arch where an exhibition in
connection with Mother Josepha had just opened. Exhibits included books, our first habit,
activities in mission countries and many other items from Steyl, as well as historic artifacts
from Mother Josepha’s times (prayer books, crucifixes, Bibles, embroidery). At the centre
of the exhibits was the cradle in which Hendrina slept as a baby.
From there we continued to the village square where
more than 1000 pilgrims were enjoying themselves. A
film about Mother Josepha made especially for the
occasion was showing on a screen. A stage, also
erected for occasion, provided an arena for the cultural
program: the historic German brigades performed their
banner flourishing routines, and children gave musical
and other performances. Our Polish Sisters, wearing
their national costume, delighted everyone with a polonaise.
It was clear that the people of Issum had been preparing this day for a long time and with
great dedication. With pride and joy they celebrated the new Beata of their town and of the
wider world. The central event of the festivities was the solemn Eucharist that was celebrated
outside in the square.
To the accompaniment of the church bells and the ecumenical brass band and choir,
which consisted of the choirs of the parishes of St. Nicholas and St. Anthony, a long procession
came in: groups, associations, brigades and fraternities with their banners, as well
as five sisters as representatives of the continents, Sr. Agada Brand and Sr. Maria Theresai
Hörnemann with the reliquary, the first communicants, altar servers, priests and bishops.
The main celebrants on this day were: Bishop Emeritus Dr. Reinhard Lettmann (Münster),
Bishop Frans Wiertz (Roermond), Dean Theodor Priessen (Aldekerk, Nieukerk,
Stenden), P. P. Ludger Schepers, the newly appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Essen, P. P.
Stefan Keller (Issum), P. P. Emeritus Heinrich Geurtz, P. P. John Dautzenberg (Tegelen),
Superior General Antonio Pernia SVD, Bernd Werle SVD, Provincial of the German Province,
Fr. Manfred Krause SVD, Rector of St. Michael’s.

SSpS Information Service –Special Beatification Issue For Internal use only 9
The Mass had an international character with songs and readings in various languages, as
well as regional aspects. Many groups contributed to the
colourful, vivid picture of a faith community. The little
ones, who were great in Mother Josepha’s eyes, were
not to be missed. They carried Mother Josepha flags that
they handed to the Bishops, Dr. Reinhard Lettmann and
Frans Wiertz, as well as to Fr. Antonio Pernia SVD and
Sr. Maria Theresia Hörnemann SSpS, and to P. P.
Stefan Keller. In addition each child had the flag of a different
nation and these were placed together in front of
the altar in a large “bouquet”. They then sang a song of
thanks to Mother Josepha, thanking her that she, like themselves, came from Issum and
that she had thought of the children and prayed for them all.
In his homily Bishop Lettmann also touched on the significance of Mother Josepha for her
home area. She is a gift for us all, a radiant sign in heaven for the diocese of Münster. In
two ways she can be a model for our life: on the one hand her attention to God, on the
other her way of dealing with people. Bishop Lettmann said, the beatified and the saints
can help us by interceding for us with God, praying that young people will hear God’s call
to the religious life and priesthood. Mother Josepha “could become patroness of vocation
ministry”. In addition she could help us by praying that people would have the courage to
proclaim God’s word as missionaries. The homily closed with the words: “We are celebrating
this holy Eucharist with the communion of saints and for the first time in Issum we
name Mother Josepha in the memorial of the saints. We recommend to her our own path,
the path of the Congregations of Steyl, the path of her home town Issum, the path of our
diocese and our own personal life’s journey. Blessed Mother Josepha, pray for us.”
Towards the end of the Mass the relic was venerated and
taken in procession to the parish church where it is now
installed near the baptismal font. That is where Mother
Josepha’s calling and her covenant with God began.
After this festive Eucharist, which was truly a sign of how
vibrantly Mother Josepha lives on in her home town, the
rest of the evening took its course with a social gathering
in the square with food and drink and music. At around
8.30 p.m. the buses took us back to Steyl while the people
of Issum continued their celebrations.
Sr. Michaela Leifgen
(Please view photos in SSpS website: www.worldssps.org and in the SSpS German Province
website: http://www.steyler-missionarinnen.de/svd/dcms/sites/ssps/index.html )
Photos were contributed by Sr. Michaela Leifgen, SSpS, Sr. Neumarie da Silva, SSpS,
Andreas Jütten and Brother Heinz Helf, SVD.)
Editor: Sr. Maria Elizabeth T. Ello, SSpS Closing Date: June 30, 2008
Proofreading: Sr. Jacqueline Mulberge, SSpS