The Motherhouse of the Slovak Province was established in 1939 in Vrbove,Klastor Pia XI, by Bishop Pavel Jantausch who was born in Vrbove. He built a new monastery for the Sisters, and later a primary school. The Bishop, as their founder and benefactor, is now buried in the chapel.
Sisters in Vrbove taught in schools and also ran a kindergarten. After the Second World War they ran a home for orphans.
At that time other Sisters were working throughout the Slovak Republic. Some worked in hospitals as nurses, others in Seminaries, whilst many were teaching Religion in schools. They also ran a boarding house for students.
In 1950 the Communists took over the school building, and the Sisters were forced to leave the hospitals, schools and other public places. Some of them were sent to the Czech Republic where they had to work in the fields and factories. All of the novices (30 of them at that time) had to return to their families.
During the Communist period young Sisters joined the Province secretly. The Sisters were working, without their habits, in many different types of work, depending on their education. Nobody knew that they were Sisters. Their formation and meeting with other Sisters was always secret.
After the fall of Communism, some Houses were returned to the Sisters, including the school in Vrbove. Because the building was badly damaged, it had to go through a long reconstruction project. Now it houses the Novitiate and the office of the Provincial Superior and her Council.

Silver jubilee of religious vows

Currently there are 42 sisters in Vrbové, 32 of them elderly. The leadership of the province has been residing in Trnava since 2013. Some sisters also carry out work in a seminary for priests in Bratislava, in the Bishop's Office in Nitra, in the Schlägl Abbey and in a parish in Volgograd, Russia. They strive to live their lives in the spirit of St. Norbert, in Eucharistic adoration, liturgical prayer and by offering hospitality. They welcome people visiting their communities. They respond to the invitation from the Church in the spirit of the New Evangelization, which is to broaden their lives according to the Gospel teaching and then to pass on those teachings to others.

In the kitchen

In the garden

The sisters teach religion in Primary and Secondary schools. They also visit elderly people in retirement homes. Since 2007, some sisters have been working on a mission in Volgograd. They teach religion, visit the sick, and take care of the church. In 2013, Fr. Martin Felhofer, O.Praem from Schlägl, invited the sisters to work with him in the Schlägl Abbey where they take care of the elderly Fathers, help with cleaning and work a couple of hours at the Spirituality Centre at the reception desk. The province provides ongoing education for the sisters in daily life as well as special meetings to which guest speakers are invited. Since 2012, their province has devoted its efforts to deepening their charisma as was defined at the General Chapter, Communio- Liturgy. Once a year the Sisters meet on "Province Day" where they share their personal experiences.
Several Sisters have studied theology and some have attended practical courses. They also study foreign languages.

Mission in Volgograd Summer camp

Sister with students

• Formation Process in the Congregation of Norbertine Sisters From Czech and Slovakia (in PowerPoint)

Web: premonstratky.sk

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