Community of Norbertine Sisters in Rot an der Rot

In 1947 the Convent of St. Norbert in Windberg (Bavarian Forest) wished to re-establish the historical Abbey of St. Norbert in Rot an der Rot. To provide a financial basis for this they started a Home for children and tried to find Sisters to take care of them. At that time, after the war, it was difficult to find an existing Community that was able to send Sisters to Rot an der Rot, so the Praemonstratensians founded a new community. On 01.05.1950 two Sisters were vested and started community life in Rot an der Rot. In 1959 the community expanded to 10 Sisters, who were responsible for the care and catering of the children who came from Stuttgart.

At the end of 1959 the Praemonstratensian Sisters left Rot for Duisburg-Hamborn in the Diocese of Essen, but they were very much on their own. The Abbey of Geras in Niederösterreich asked the Sisters to come and help them there. So they went to Geras.
In 1960 the Diocese of Stuttgart bought the former cloister in Rot and used it as a youth-centre and the Sisters came back from Austria and took over the running of the House. There was a great need for the rooms they were occupying, so they happily moved to the house opposite the youth centre. Communication with the people became more intensive at that time, and people liked to visit their Oratorium for private prayer or to participate in their prayer.

A big decision needed to be made by the Community about the future of the Sisters in Rot an der Rot. The Sisters had a deep discussion about their future. Many years previously they had agreed that, if the situation demanded it, they would go and stay at the Franciscan Community in Reute, (cca. 30 Km away of Rot) But the Sisters were free to decide whether to move over to Reute or not.

They had had very close connections with Rot for many, many years, with the Franciscan Sisters working in the kindergarten and in the ambulant home, building up a good relationship with the community.

The first Sister moved from the Nursing home to Reute in 2006, the others went a half year later. It was not an easy step for any of them. Looking at it from the view of the Bible it was an ’Exodus’ into an unknown country, into a land of Promise, without knowing what was going to happen there. Since then all but two of them have died

The two remaining Sisters, Sr. Renate and Ursula started their new life in Aulendorf in 2007. This village is very near to Reute, Sr. Renate is teaching Cathecism and helping the Parish in Aulendorf, Sr. Ursula is running the household,

So after giving up Rot an der Rot a new chapter has begun in the life of the Community.

Going from the siters convent to the Abbey - Church

Sisters saying goodbye to Rot an der Rot

Page top