History of Peramiho Priory

   
1901
 July 1 The first four Missionary Benedictine sisters of Tutzing Sr. Constantia Mayr OSB, Sr. Valeria Kuhlmann OSB, Sr. Mechitildis Dickhoff OSB, and Sr. Magdalena Hessing OSB. Arrive in Peramiho and thus start the sisters' content, St. Scholastica.

Sr. Constatia, Sr. Valeria
1905

During the Maji - Maji uprising the Missionaries Benedictine sisters of Tutzing had to flee. The mission of Peramiho and other stations in the south were destroyed. On their way from the coast to Peramiho two new missionaries M. Felicitas Hiltner and M. the rebel killed Cordula Ebert together with Bishop Cassian Spiss and two Brothers on August 14.

 

 

Sr. Mechitildis, Sr. Magdalena
1909
 After long time of famine the sisters return to Peramiho. They take over the care of the mission hospital and open a girls' school with 110 students.
1911
 The government builds a leper settlement in nearly Morogoro and entrusts the care of these patients to the sisters. The work is started with an initial number of 200 leprosy patients.  
1912
 Of canonical visitation is held in Peramiho. The report about the many people baptized at the mission, The great trust people put in the Missionaries, the efficient care given to the patients brought to the sisters, often from great distances, and the eagerness of the children to attend/school.  
1916
As the result of World War I the sisters have to leave Peramiho for the second time. Some interned in South Africa, others followed in 1920 to start a new mission field, became then Tanganyika territory was closed to Germany Missionaries.  
1923
 Three non-Germany Missionary Benedictine sisters made new beginning in Peramiho. Several pious girls who wanted to become sisters were introduced by the missionary Benedictine sisters of Tutzing to the monastic way of life; in 1938 this association became the congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes at Chipole.  
1926
 Germany Missionaries are again allowed to come into the country,   under Abbot Gallus the Superior of Peramiho Mission, a rapid and amazing growth and development takes place. The sisters opened Training College, a Trade School for tailoring, which later is taken charge of by the monks. The sisters also teach English to the first seminarian. One sister is the headmistress of the Peramiho Primary School and another one headmistress of the Girls' School.In June 1926 Sr. Ermenilde Morrisey is installed as the first prioress at Peramiho. During her term of Office, she opened, thirteen out stations and had additions built to the sisters' convent, since there were now sixty sisters working and praying in Peramiho Priory.  
   
1934 to 1939
Sr. Agatha Ross OSB
1939 - 1947
 Sr. Kunigunde Weber OSB.
She led the community during the difficult since of World War II and the early post war period. This time the missionaries were allowed to continue their work.		  
1947 - 1956
Sr. Theodosia Biselli OSB  
1956 - 1963
 Sr. Paula Knoepfle OSB
1963 - 1971
 Sr. Verediana Wolfsteiner OSB

left: Sr. Verediana, Sr. Elizabeth,
M. Gertrud
1971 -1976
 Sr. Elizabeth Sarinas OSB. Sisters came from Manilla priory, Phillippinnes; During her time of office several Philippina sisters came to Peramiho to work in the School and hospital.
1973
 Anew foundation in Kenya was made which became a priory in 1987.  
1976 -1987

Sr. Isentrud Lehner OSB.
During this time the first Tanzania girls joined the congregation of he Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. They were to carry on the spirit and work of the missionaries and live by the motto: ORA ET LABORA, PRAYER AND WORK. (No new missionaries were coming from there because of lack of vocations in Europe).
As the number of ex-patriate sisters was decreasing and the average age of the community rising, most of the outstations, which were scattered throughout the dioceses of Songea; Njombe and Mbinga were handed over to the Benedictine Sisters of Chipole.

Sr. Isentrud, Sr. Heimrada, Sr. M.Goretti, Sr. Elisabeth, Sr. Verediana
1987 - 1995
 Sr. Maria Goretti Gast OSB
1995 -
Sr. Pia Portmann OSB


M. Irene OSB, Sr. Pia OSB

   

Enculturation of the Congregation: The first Tanzanian girl, who in 1982 entered the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine sisters of Tutzing at Peramiho, was our

Sr. Gertrud Luoga OSB from the parish of Luwana - Njombe. Also in 1996 the first final profession was held in the Peramiho Abbey Church of Sr. Gloria Haule OSB from the Archdiocese of Songea and Sr. Odilia Kipanga OSB from the Diocese of Morogoro. The acceptance of Tanzanian candidates into our international congregation brought several changes and adaptations for the Peramiho priory.

At the beginning, from 1984 up to 1996, candidates for our community received their initial monastic formation as Aspirants, Postulants and Novices in the Nairobi priory, which also trained aspirants from Kenya, Uganda and Angola. Since 1996 the full formation programme for aspirants, postulants, novices and sisters with temporary profession is offered in the priory house at Peramiho; there are some periods of missionary activity and exposure for life in smaller communities, which are spent in various outstations. Candidates for the Ndanda priory join our formation programme in Peramiho. Since the year 2000 our own African sisters are actively involved in the work of formation.


Sr. Gertrud Luoga OSB


Sr. Gloria Haule OSB, Sr. Odilia Kipanga OSB