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Maria Loretto on the Sion Hill St. Gallen - Berg Sion

There were already Sister Communities in Switzerland in 1126. In the first half of the 13^th century, together with the Monasteries of men there were 15 cloisters, but they did not survive the Reformation in the 14^th century. The Cloister Berg Sion in St. Gallen was founded in 1766 by Joseph Helg, with the aim of Perpetual Adoration. In September 2016 the sisters celebrated their 250^th Anniversary. The Cloister is on the pilgrim road from South- Germany to Einsiedeln, which goes through Uetliburg and Gomiswald and is open to the pilgrims.

The first sisters were sent by Rev. Helg to the Praemonstratensian Cloister Schussenried (this was in Baden Württemberg). There they got to know the Norbertine life and after a short noviciate they took their vows. In spite of being under the jurisdiction of the Diocese, the Order kept its Norbertine spirituality.

The Order survived the stormy times of the French revolution thanks to the Bishop of Chur and later St. Gallen.

From the time of the very beginning of the Order, the convent had a prayer-group with the people living outside of the cloister, they call it a 3 times bondage, because they are quite often including in their prayers the living, the dead and people who are on their dying bed.

The community was acknowledged by the General Chapter in 1897 and put under the supervision of the Abbot of Tepl. Today the community is under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of St. Gallen. In spite of all their work, the sisters have been adoring in front of the Eucharist 24 hours a day as well as praying to the office as well. On September 6 2016 The Sisters celebrated the 250 year Jubilee of the Foundation of the Monastery. Up to now this is the only Community in the Switzerland doing perpetual adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

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