The Foundress of the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Lioba is Mother Maria Benedicta Forenbach. She was born in Oberkirch Baden in West Germany, on the 7th of February 1883 as the only daughter of Max Foehrenbach and his wife Maria Waenker von Dankenschweil. After her studies at the Academy of Music in Freiburg she became herself a teacher there. During the First World War Maria Foehrenbach was a nurse in the military hospital in Freiburg. In 1918 she took over the administration of St.Hedwig’s Hospital for Children. The First World War brought misery and destruction to Germany. The women and children were wandering without shelter and food. People experienced a reign of terror. The religious congregations and associations were suppressed. Maria Benedicta, a young nurse witnessed the misery of people with a heavy heart. She did not want to reconcile with fate, but she wanted to face the situation with courage and faith in God. She had a vision for a specific mission in those days. It is this vision that was realized in the foundation of the congregation-Benedictine sisters of St. Lioba. This was on the feast of Epiphany in 1920. The Congregation of the Benedictine sisters of St. Lioba was established by the Archbishop of Freiburg, Dr.Karl Fritz, with the permission of the Holy See on the 21st of March 1927. The Motherhouse of the new congregation is in Freiburg – Gunterstal. St. Lioba (Benedictine Saint) was taken as the patroness of our congregation because of her missionary Character. Mother Maria Benedicta integrated the monastic ideals of St.Benedict and works of humanitarian nature “ NEVER FORSAKE CHARITY ”the motto of our congregation includes the communion with God and love of neighbor in serving. Our Mother Foundress Mother Maria Benedicta was called on 15th Sept.1961 and found her last rest in Freiburg.
In May 1962 three young Indian girls Sr. Vianney Parathattel, Sr. Mary Thomas Pittappilly and Sr. Virginia Peechatt joined the congregation in Germany and in the year 1963, 1965 two more batches joined the community. In 1972 efforts were made by Mother Prioress Emmanuela Goldmann to start a mission in India. Sr. Vianney, Sr. Mary Thomas and Sr. Virginia accompanied by Mother Prioress Emmanuela have visited Sagar and other places as pioneer work. Msgr. Clemens Thottungal, the Exarch of Sagar gave a warm welcome to the congregation. The first batch of sisters came to India in June 1973. They were Sr. Viannery Parathatel, Sr. Gertrudis Thelliankal. Sr. Baptista Kochumuttam and Sr.Benita Vadakkepurackal. In Oct.1974 Sr. Virginia, Sr.Grace and Sr.Xaveria returned from Germany. On 18th May 1975 the sisters started the first house at Begumganj with the blessing of Msgr.Clemens Thottungal. Sr.Gertrudis was the first superior of the community. It has become a Region in the year 1990. Sr.Benita was the first Regional Superior.
At present, Indian Priory consists of 103 perpetual professed sisters, 09Temporary professed sisters, 06 Novices and 41 Aspirants. We have 16 branch houses in 10 dioceses. True to the testament of the Foundress, “the congregation does not rust but ever be present to the needs and urgent requirements of the Church,” as members increased new houses were opened. The Benedictine sisters of St. Lioba put themselves at the disposal of the Church for the education of youth, religious instruction, charitable and social works as much as these services are compatible with the Benedictine way of life.
As a result of ongoing study and evaluation the sisters realized the urgency to shift the work more and more to the rural areas. The growing number of non-formal schools in many villages is the result of such a reflection. The sisters are set apart for the education of the children in the villages and give professional training to work in rural areas. Apart from that we run boarding houses for tribal children, do healing ministry through an integrated health approach to the neglected section of the villages, especially women and children taking care of the abandoned people of the society through a hospice. Thus, the sisters try to respond to the needs of our fellow brethren and share the Good News with the people.