Evolution of the Congregation of Windesheim in History

 

Thomas a Kempis

1415

Foundation of the monastery of St Ursula's, Louvain (Belgium).

1448

Foundation of the monastery of Soeterbeeck (Netherlands) with the help of the sisters of St Ursula's.

1609

Foundation of St Monica's, Louvain, an entirely English community. All the sisters, one of whom waas the adoptive granddaughter of Thomas More, had among their relatives members who were imprisoned or martyred for their faith.

1629

St Monica's founds Monastery of Nazareth (The English Convent), in Bruges (Belgium).

 

1794

During the French Revolution the community of the monastery of St Monica's escapes to England and remains there.

In the same year the Monastary of Nazareth goes into exile at Hengrave Hall in Suffolk.

It is the only English community to return to its place of origin in Bruges in 1802.The monastary exists to this day.

1797

Final suppression of the monastary of St Ursula.

 

1861

St Monica's, Louvain founds St Augustine's Priory at Newton Abbot, Devon. This community continued to exist until 1982.

 

1886

In its turn St Augustine's Priory founds St Monica's Priory at Hoddesdon (Hertfordshire). This community continued to exist until 1969.

The same year the Priory or Our lady of Good Counsel is founded at Haywards Heath, Sussex, by the Monastery of Nazareth, Bruges. In 1987 this community moves to Sayers Common near Hassocks in Sussex.

 

1959

The Monastery of Nazareth founds the monastery of Our Lady of the Angels at Kaduha in Rwanda. This convent existed until 1982.

 

1967

The existing Windesheim monasteries of women form a Federation.

Canonesses Regular of St Victor, after various contacts with the Canonesses of Windesheim, decide to join the project.

 

4th January 1971

The Federation becomes a Congregation with its own Chapter, each monastery keeping its autonomy. The Canonesses of Saint Victor decide to form part of it.

 

End of April 2001

At the request of the bishop of Kibungo (Rwanda), the Congregation starts a community at Rwamagana.

 

End 2003

The Congregation obtains the permission to open a noviciate in that community. It takes the name of Our Lady of Peace.

© Windesheim Congregation