Sister Survivors of European Communism
WITNESSES OF FAITH
(L-r.) Sister Margaret Nacke, CSJ and Sister Mary Savoie, CSJ
Holy Cross Sisters and Associates gathered in Merrill, WI, the afternoon of April 11, at the Clare Center to hear from two Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas, who shared the story of Witnesses of Faith.
Sister Margaret Nacke and Sister Mary Savoie shared data which is part of a collection from a project, "Sister Survivors of European Communism, Witnesses of Faith," which began in 2003. They have collected testimonies, photographs, books, etc. from sisters in eight former communist countries. All data are archived at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Included in the presentation are photos of Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross.
The sisters believe that the oppression of sisters, the saints of our time, during over 40 years of communist rule is practically unknown and they are committed to sharing their stories.
Catholic religious congregations, once flourishing in Central and Eastern Europe, underwent major crises as a result of political and ideological changes imposed by communist rulers on society in general and religious congregations in particular. The public life of congregations was interrupted for over four decades by these outside forces, depriving sisters of freedom, confiscating their properties, forcing them into exile and compelling many to manual work in factories, on farms, and in mental institutions.
Sister Margaret said, "We know we have only scratched the surface. There are sisters in China, Vietnam, and North Korea that are enduring suffering." A television documentary is currently underway with the hopes of PBS airing it in the near future. For more information on the traveling exhibit, visit csjkansas.org and go to NEWS; then on to "Sister Survivors and Faces of Faith" and click.