Mission statement: Euchristia, Poenitentia, Immaculata, Ecclesia - These words form the essence of our charism that is ecclesiastical and missionary in serving the Church and the world with prayer and action - evangelization.

Short history: There were already Norbertine Sisters in Hungary in the Middle Ages (there were several houses, Ivancsics, Somlovasarhely, Szeged, Brasso in Hungary in those days). In the 16^th century at the time of the Turkish invasion, the Order of Sisters died out. It was re-established in 1927 by the Sister Community of Zwierzyniec (Poland) and by a Hungarian Norbertine Father, Dr Sebastian Ráday. They started with 3 sisters in Külsővat and by 1950 they had 70 sisters in 11 houses all over Hungary. The Sisters were teaching at primary schools, running nurseries and were cantors in the parishes. Religious orders were disbanded in Hungary in 1950, because of the Communist suppression, and only after the political changes in 1990 could the 35 surviving Sisters reassemble and function publicly as a Community again. Now the remaining 8 Sisters have 1 house in Hungary. Their Motherhouse is in Zsambek (30 Km west of Budapest). Unfortunately they have had to give up Bakonygyepes and Külsővat over the last thirty years due to the demise of the Sisters.

Charism: This is based on St. Norbert`s care for the poor, living the life of love for God and his people, while focusing on the Eucharist, Poenitentia, Immaculata, and Ecclesia, in the spirit of the Rule of St. Augustine.

Prayers: They pray for the Office of the Fathers: Prayer of the Hours. Every morning they have a half hour meditation before Lauds. Twice a week on a Thursday and a Sunday they have an hour of Adoration and they pray one hour after supper. Prayers are for their confreres, their Order their benefactors and for special care for children, pregnant women and for people in need.

Formation: There is a six month Postulancy, a Novitiate of 2 years, 3 periods of 1 year plus a further 3 years Temporary Profession, following which the Solemn vows are taken.

Activity: Background: The centre of their work of rehabilitation and reconstruction is in Zsambek and the surrounding area. When they began their work there, after the change of Government in 1990, they encountered a situation of almost total impoverishment and apathy. There was no employment, few skilled workers, family life had collapsed, the young had no role models or work ethic and the self-image across the age groups was negative and hopeless.

Families and children: Step by step they have developed facilities beginning with practical help and counselling for families and a Day Care Centre for children from 5 to 15 years, providing meals, clothing, one-to-one care, and introducing values that were previously unknown to them. In 2019 75 children attended the Centre.

Youth: Because no Further Education facilities were available within a 30 km radius, in 1996 they opened a Trade and Vocational Training School for young people from 15 upwards. The attendees receive work-skill training to whatever level each can attain and there is also a High School course, culminating in the National Matura Award, for the more able students. Trade courses include Catering, Handicrafts, Needlecraft, Tailoring and tutored workshops in Carpentry, Metalwork, Locksmithing and Building and other allied skills. They currently (2019) have 400 students from 15 to 23.

Additional projects: Out of the above main elements have grown other projects:
A) The provision of adult literacy classes for parents and older members of the local community.
B) Job training for the unemployed and unskilled, which is run is in partnership with Government.

In 2006 they took over responsibility for social care from the village, running a nursing home and facilities for Family and childcare. In 2011 they started a day-care centre for disabled people.

Over-riding concerns: Traditionally, Hungary is a Catholic country but in 1993 the Sisters found that more people were either atheist or agnostic than were Catholic. In all their projects they work to foster a Christian outlook and, by the grace of God and thanks to their program of evangelization, Baptism, Mass and Sacraments are now central in the lives of an increasing number of the community.

Corpus Christy day

Blessing of the new school- by Abot Martin from Schlägl in 2003

Web: premontreinoverek.hu      Photo Gallery

Page top