THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1919- 1945
[MUTTER NEOPHITA ( 1931- 35) AND THE CONGREGATION]

[Translation of an article found in the Souvenir published by our sisters on the occasion of the 125 year jubilee of the St. Joseph’s hospital at St. Vith, Belgium.]

With the support of the power of Nazi Regime there was vehement movements to integrate all the hospitals and likewise institutions into the new political system. Already after few years of taking over by the National socialist Power by Adolf Hitler (1919- 1939) the city administration of Cologne was trying to replace the Cellitines through the so called Brown sisters in the hospital. With this in mind an own organization was formed on 3rd May 1933 with the name National political people's Welfare Organization in short N:S:V with so called Brown sisters who had slowly to replace all religious sisters in the field of Nursing and take over the Hospitals. Our Congregation in the Archdiocese of Cologne went through very hard and difficult years.

The geographical expansion of the Cellitines continued even after the 1st World War (1914- 1918) however not independently on their own but collaborated with others in running institutions like Kindergartens, Home for the aged, house administration etc. Our sisters started their service also in diocesan institutes during the interval of war. It is worth mentioning in the context of our establishments in Belgium we started directly in St. Vith in 1930s.

A rule regarding foreign exchange came into force in 1933. The then Mother general of our Congregation Mother Neophita Menke was accused of a Treason against the German Social economy in the year 1935 since she secretly send paper mark- 2,00,000 to the sisters in Belgium with that made a foreign exchange process. In addition to this the congregation was in acute financial crisis due to many reasons including the fact that Government denied approved payment for the sisters.

The mother General of the Cellitines according to the rule of St. Augustine was the second in the long list of about hundred religious people and priests who had to stand before the special judgment for this foreign Exchange rule of 1935.They had to face very high cash penalty and imprisonment. Altogether 33 congregations were accused of different type of crimes against the Foreign Exchange Rule and later two dioceses too. In reality this rule and process was targeting and meant only for the catholic organizations.

The Arch Bishop of Cologne Cardinal Karl Joseph Schulte instead of coming to the rescue of his flock he condemned publically the act of our Mother General as well as Sr. Wernea the Provincial Secretary of the Vincentian Sisters who were under arrest. Mutter Neophita was judged and indicted on 22nd May 1935 and sent to the central prison of Berlin-Moabit for ten months. Later on she was deported to the Zucht haus in Jauer today Jawor in Schlesien. She lived in that prison until her release on 16.March 1938. Mother Neophita had resigned just before her case started in May. Sr. Fidelis Pützstück was nominated as successor of Mother Neophita by the Bishop with the permission he had acquired from the Pope on 18th Sept. 1935.

There was also threat from the city administration. They demanded to change the General Administration due to the claim they made that the sisters working in the hospital ill treated some of the patients from national socialistic group. Or face the consequence of the termination of all the 578 sisters working in the seven government institutions. This event was settled by replacing all the 7 superiors of the convents related to city administration and in turn they had to find the sisters who are failing in their duty. Their intention was to transfer these black sheep (our sisters) to other houses. Although no body was found failing in their responsibilities in October 1944 the last seven sisters took leave of the totally bombed and destroyed Burger Hospital which was the birth place of the young Cellitine Congregation.

Nevertheless the city administration managed to capture all the Nursery schools, home for children, and gave them under the jurisdiction of N.S.V. An Order was decreed that no mouth shall open against Nazi movements. The interference of the politic was so bad that in the year 1942 the Elisabeth Convent in Weismus was snatched from the sisters and converted into Hitler youth home even though sisters had the right to live there since they were taking care of the sick of the locality.

In a time of insecurity and serious troubles the sisters elected Sr. Remberta Schellar as head of the congregation on 8th September. She was superior for long time in Burger Hospital convent. The new mother General was a thorn in the eyes of the Nazis for a long time. Sr. Remberta lead the congregation for 14 long years with untiring energy. She led the congregation to a new era with wisdom and efficiency. The Second World War ( 1939-1945) had also its diverse effects on the Cellitines as a congregation which was rooted mainly in Rheinland and Cologne. Immediately after the outbreak of world war sisters were compelled to serve in Military Hospital, in the beginning in nearby Cologne but later on their service was extended up to St.Vith, which was under the control of German military.