"Elderly and declining religious congregation's predicament brings spotlight in Austria through 'Nuns escaping' incident"
The Goldenstein Sisters, three elderly women religious in Austria, have made a triumphant return to their longtime carecredit, Schloss Goldenstein, after a tumultuous period that saw them sent to a care home against their will.
The sisters, Sister Bernadette, Sister Regina, and Sister Rita, had been relocated to a care home in December 2023, a move that sparked controversy and resistance. Their return to Schloss Goldenstein, despite the initial issues with water and electricity, has been marked by joy.
The situation for the Goldenstein Sisters involves both a legal dimension and a human-emotional dimension. On the legal front, the sisters' relocation was influenced by Vatican regulations for dwindling, aging communities of religious orders. When religious orders become too small or their members reach a very advanced age, the Vatican's Ministry for Orders appoints a superior, either from within the order's own family or from another community.
In this case, the sisters were placed under the authority of the President of the Federation of the Augustinian Choir Sisters in Germany and Provost Markus Grasl, who was appointed superior by the Vatican. The monastery was also placed under oversight due to these newer Vatican regulations affecting shrinking communities of women's orders.
On a human-emotional level, the focus is on age-appropriate care and support for the sisters during a challenging phase of their lives. Provost Grasl, the sisters' superior, defended relocating the women to the Kahlsperg Castle senior home, stating it was made for their well-being and safety. However, the sisters felt otherwise and chose to return to Schloss Goldenstein.
The Kahlsperg care center is run by the Hallein Franciscan Sisters, while the Reichersberg Abbey, which Provost Grasl leads, adheres to the same Augustinian spirituality as the Goldenstein Augustinian Choir Sisters.
Sister Christine Rod, secretary general of the Austrian Conference of Religious Orders, echoed the concerns of the Goldenstein Sisters, stating that many religious who have achieved much over decades are now old and few in number, living in homes that are not appropriately equipped for their age. Independent living at Goldenstein Monastery was no longer possible due to the sisters' advanced age and state of health, and the original building had become too large for the remaining members of the order with specially employed assistants no longer sufficient for practical needs.
The return of the sisters to Schloss Goldenstein has been met with support from the community. Sophie Tauscher, a former student, stated that Goldenstein without the nuns is not possible and that the nuns have changed many lives in a good way. Services at the convent have been partially restored, and the sisters are receiving medical care.
Church officials face the challenge of providing responsible retirement provision for religious women and men. The Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life issued "Cor Orans" in 2018, implementing Pope Francis' 2016 apostolic constitution on women's contemplative life, "Vultum Dei Quaerere."
As the Goldenstein Sisters continue to navigate this challenging phase of their lives, their resilience and determination serve as a testament to their dedication to their faith and their community.
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