As of: January 25, 2024, 8:00 p.m
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This photo comes from the 80s, when many sisters were still at home in the Weichs monastery.
© nef
The dissolution of the convent of the Poor School Sisters in Weichs affected many people, not just the Weichsers.
The local newspaper has collected votes on this.
Weichs
– The Weichs monastery is dissolved.
This news came as a surprise to many people in the area.
Dean Peter Dietz announced last Tuesday that the monastery of the Poor School Sisters in Weichs, in its 171st year of existence, would be closed on August 31st due to a lack of young people.
It is not yet clear where the three nuns still living there will go.
According to Provincial Superior Sister Monika Schmidt, who is based in the mother house in Munich, there are no firm plans yet as to what will become of the old monastery building, the former beneficiate house.
However, the building owned by the order should not remain empty.
Unfortunately, the priority for the order leadership is to disband the Weichs monastery, said the provincial superior.
That's why you can't say anything about what will become of the monastery forest and the land that still exists.
In any case, the closure of the monastery in Weichs will mark the end of an extraordinary era.
In the past, the sisters have played a decisive role in the education of children and young people, both academically and personally.
They were also an integral part of parish life.
They helped organize many a church service or other festival.
Even if families were in need, they could count on help from the monastery.
The Dachauer Nachrichten asked people in Weichs who had more or less a lot to do with the sisters.
Anita Aumüller-Menz, principal of the Archbishop's Theresia-Gerhardinger-Realschule
“When I came to what was then the Poor School Sisters Girls’ Secondary School as a very young teacher almost 40 years ago, I was immediately thrilled by this special school atmosphere.
On the one hand the great care for the girls and on the other hand the extremely open and progressive attitude of the sisters.
The girls were not only offered modern lessons by purchasing the first computers.
The focus was not only on learning, but also on a varied school life: the girls were already allowed to go to the mountains for the winter week, and the ski instructors were sisters of the school.
There were legendary school carnivals, a school Oktoberfest, theater performances, graduation trips to London and much more.
Before I came to the secondary school in Weichs, I would never have thought that there was such a special school.
This is how I fondly remember those good old days.
The sisters worked in Weichs for 171 years and left a clear mark on the school and the town.
Although the closure of the Weichs branch was to be expected, we were surprised by the news that it would soon be closed.
It wasn't until September 2023 that I and Sister Karolina were able to illustrate the school's history using five huge boards.
It's good that we were able to complete this work together in time!
Now I am very sad that this chapter of the school’s history will soon be finally closed.”
Max Nefzger, chairman of the parish council
“It was foreseeable that the monastery would be dissolved in the near future.
But the fact that it happened so quickly surprised us all.
Personally, I can't imagine Weichs without sisters at the moment.
Weichs became known far beyond the district borders thanks to our monastery.
There will be a big gap in our parish.
The Weichser sisters will certainly always remain in special memories, and not just for me.
Our family has always maintained a particularly trusting and friendly relationship with the sisters, not only through the neighborhood.
I will miss working with them in the church and on the parish council very much.”
Traudi Pögl, pensioner, who sang with Sister Gunda in the Weichs church choir for many years
“I was shocked when I heard the news from the newspaper.
There is so much to say and thank about what the sisters did in our monastery.
I immediately thought of my older daughter and other girls who were very supported and recommended by the sisters at the girls' primary school in the 1970s so that they could be accepted into the Angerkloster high school in Munich.
Daniela Loderer, teacher at a support center
“The closure is a great loss for Weichs, I regret it very much.
I grew up in Weichs and have known the monastery and the sisters since I was a child. I went to kindergarten under the direction of Sister Hermine and received recorder lessons from Sister Anastasia when I was in elementary school.
The sisters were always present in village life: at church services, star singing events, parish festivals and so on.
My children were or are in Sister Gunda's group.
I was on the parents' council in the kindergarten for several years, where we always worked very well together with Sister Gunda and organized many nice activities for the children.
I also remember the monastery shop, I will miss it very much, I hope there will be an online shop.”
Elisabeth Gilliar, community officer in the parish association with a focus on the parish of Weichs
“We have been aware for a long time that this time would come and the branch of the school sisters in Weichs would be closed.
Nevertheless, it is a difficult step for everyone, the school sisters themselves, the parishioners, the families of our kindergarten, especially the kindergarten team and finally our pastoral care team.
I experience great consternation and sadness.
It is an era that is coming to an end, but at the same time it is much more.
Many generations have been accompanied and influenced in their lives by our religious sisters.
Therefore there is a great emotional connection.
The sisters who worked at the school often went far beyond their teaching.
This is how I remember the late Sister Dolorata.
Until her death, she gave highly motivated tutoring lessons and hoped and feared for her students.
She always took part in the life of the parish with great interest.
I remember many a call in which she expressed praise and appreciation.
We have a very lively relationship with our remaining three school sisters.
Their diverse commitment is a living testimony of faith.
I will therefore also remember the beautiful chapel in the monastery, where we recently had a special prayer time together with the sisters and our parish councils at the beginning of the new year.”
Heinz Nefzger
Mayor Harald Mundl in an interview: “I was shocked when I was informed about the abandonment of the Weichs monastery!”
Mr. Mundl, what do you say about the fact that the monastery of the poor school sisters in Weichs is being closed down due to a lack of young people?
Harald Mundl: To be honest, I was shocked when I was informed about the abandonment of the Weichs monastery.
The monastery belongs to Weichs and Weichs to the monastery.
I can't imagine our community without the school sisters.
Of course, if there are no new sisters, there is always the risk that monasteries will be abandoned.
After the St. Martin kindergarten and its director Sister Gunda were permanently accommodated in the Weichs children's home, I thought that the school sisters would stay in Weichs at least until Sister Gunda retired.
This was probably just a pious wish of mine, which unfortunately did not come true.
Can you think of a nice story about the monastery and its sisters?
The monastery sisters sell homemade monastery liqueur in their shop.
When my health wasn't going so well, the sisters gave me a monastery liqueur as a gift and told me to drink a shot every evening and then I'd probably feel better soon.
Since then I have often bought monastery liqueur.
Somehow it still helps me overcome some weaknesses today.
What will you remember most about the Weichser Monastery after its closure?
Over the course of my term, I got to know many nuns and everyone was always so loving and warm.
Since I had to deal with Sister Gunda often due to her work as head of the kindergarten and we have a very friendly relationship, I dared to offer her the “you”, which she gladly accepted with the words: “You can do it, You say to me, but Sister Gunda stays!” I will miss our school sisters very much.
Unfortunately, a piece of history in Weichs is coming to an end.
Interview: no