German Teachers
Sharing of many gifts
German School Sisters of Notre Dame have shared many gifts within the congregation. Enter their world of being immigrant women bringing their education as Needlework Teachers to America. View Sister Johanna Dick's "portfolio" which she brought with her from Germany and is in the North American Archives. Read of the context of Nazism which resulted in sisters leaving Germany. Reflect on the stories of five Needlework Teachers.
Sister Consilia Schmidl from the Milwaukee province relates, "As I grew, up I received the training to become a master seamstress, but in my heart was the desire to be a missionary. . . . Read more.
Magdalen, as she was called in Baptism, developed into a healthy child in the agricultural area of hilly Bavaria. During grade school years, her father gave his four daughters a sleigh ride to school during winter months. . . .Read more.
Sister Adelmara relates, "Before my birth, my mother and dad attended a carnival which was held in our little village. My mother gave in to the urge to dance. Upon arriving home she became worried and had immediate recourse to St. Anthony promising him, that if her child would be born uninjured she would name it in honor of St. Anthony. . . .Read more.
Sister Benigna felt that God wanted her to be a missionary. Since sisters were needed in America and were not allowed to teach in Germany any longer, she volunteered to come to this country. As she said, "Abraham left his home country and worked and lived where God led him. . . . Read more.
Sister Clara was asked to write about her experiences in Germany while Hitler was in power and this is what she related, "In 1933, coming out of the novitiate in Munich, I was sent to northern Bavaria, not too far from Frankfurt. Hitler had staunch deputies there. I had to teach seventy headstrong girls aged ten to thirteen, and one afternoon in the week about fifty girls aged thirteen to sixteen. We were allowed to begin school with prayer, but had to add 'Heil Hitler.' . . . Read more.
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