THE CONGREGATION OF PREMONSTRATENSIAN SISTERS FROM HOLY HILL
The life of the Congregation of Praemonstratensian Sisters, founded in 1902 by Reverend Adalbert Frejka, O.Praem from Strahov canonry (Prague) is today, after Communism failed in 1989, flourishing in two provinces: the Bohemian - Moravian Province, with the Motherhouse in Holy Hill near Olmouc, and the Slovak Province, with the Motherhouse in Vrbove.

The governing office of the congregation is in Slovakia in Trnava. In November 2006 a General Chapter of the Congregation was held and a new governing body was established. The first Superior General was M. Hermana Lalikova, recently superseded by Sr. Aurelia. There are five Council Members. In 2006 chapters were also held in both Provinces. The Congregation also has an assistant - Father Norbert Vehovsky, O.praem from Strahov Canonry, who is a consultant for the governing body of the Congregation. Fr. Vehovsky also attends meetings of the General Council.

The Government of the Congregation are also responsible for four Commissions:

• Commission for the Spirituality of the Order and Congregation
• Commission for the History of the Order and Congregation
• Commission for Liturgy
• Commission for education.

During the General Chapter the education programme for their congregation was approved. Sisters from both Provinces became familiar with this document through monthly "spiritual renewal" meetings. Ongoing education for the Sisters in management skills is held twice a year with a well prepared programme. One sister from the General Council is responsible for the Pastoral vocation work and there are teams working in each Province. They are fully aware of the importance of their future cooperation with the laity and a conference was organised for the education of both the laity and Sisters of the Provincial Councils. For future work with young people and the laity, both Provinces are preparing and building Retreat Centres. Many people today want to stay in a Convent for a few days for spiritual renewal. The governing body of the Congregation has prepared a new edition of the Constitution. In communities of both Provinces' community life, liturgical prayer and adoration are important. Their apostolic life is in administering catechesis in schools and universities, in social work, in charity and in seminaries and bishops’ residences. Three Sisters from the Slovak Province started a mission in Volgograd, Russia in September 2007. There are now 90 sisters in all the various Houses of the Provinces.
During their General Chapter in 2012 The Congregation of Norbertine Sisters as an active branch of the sisters’ communities of the Norbertine Order reflected on its identity, spirituality and charisma which was expressed as follows:

1. “Koinonia Communio” We live in communion as a gift from God fulfilled in our communities.
2. Liturgy - Worship of God
   Our life should be a worship of God when we celebrate the liturgy together and we are open to celebrate it with God´s people.
3. Martyria - Witness
   Through the testimony of our life we answer the needs of the people in today’s world. In the spirit of the New Evangelisation we want to be helpful to the poor of this day. Our service is driven by the desire to bring Christ’s peace into the uncertainty of the world today.

Meeting of superiors

Visit of Fr. Augustine Ullmann O praem

Fr. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem from St. Michael's Abbey in Orange County, California, spoke with the Norbertine Sisters' Superior General, Mother Hermana, to establish a new community of active Norbertine sisters in the USA. In 2011 three sisters from Slovakia responded to that invitation and went to Wilmington, California. The Sisters live in the convent built in 1950 belonging to the parish of Saint Peter and Paul. The Sisters received excellent spiritual support from the Norbertine Fathers there. The Sisters are working at a Catholic school in Wilmington and they also work in the parish bookstore and have a poverty programme for local people.

There are new vocations and the community is growing slowly.

Web: premonstratky.sk

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