From 6 to 10 May 2024, Superior General Sr. Josephina D’Souza and General Councillor Sr. Adelheid Scheloske were in Switzerland for the canonical visitation of the Delegature. There, four sisters aged between 81 and 92 continue to be present in the two places where our sisters began many decades ago.
They came to Niederuzwil in 1932, where they started a maternity home, which developed into a small clinic around twenty years later. A children’s home and later an old people’s home were also added. In 1944, the sisters came to Bernhardzell, where they ran another retirement home and a home economics school. In addition to managing these institutions for decades, the sisters were also engaged in nursery schools, home nursing, religious education and pastoral care. 
Today, all the institutions have been sold, but the sisters still remain in close contact with the people who live near them, listening to their stories, encouraging them in difficult situations and praying with and for them. Sr. Raphaela and Sr. Maria live in the community house in Niederuzwil, Sr. Hieronyma is in a retirement home in Niederuzwil and Sr. Daniela maintains a presence in Bernhardzell.
Both places are in the canton of St. Gallen, not far from Gossau, where the Pallottine Fathers’ Provincialate is located. There are good relations with them and with UAC lay members.
We thank the sisters in Switzerland for welcoming us and sharing their lives with us. – Since the Swiss Delegature is under the General Government, at the end of the visitation, the entire General Administration met in Switzerland to express our gratitude to the sisters for their collaboration and generosity towards the congregation.
Text and photos: Sr. Adelheid Scheloske SAC (4), Fr. Kiran Gottipatti SAC (1)
