An excerpt from letters from PNG Sisters of WW II Anelaua, PNG contained in a report of Sr. Winfried, MSC to Reverend Mother Liboria, MSC during WW II

We sisters were taken from Anelaua Island, PNG by the American troops at the end of June 1944 (while the war in the Pacific was still going on) and brought to the camp in Brisbane, Australia. That meant being saved from great danger to life.

We spent some weeks together (here in Australia) with many people who had the same good fortune of being saved from the greatest danger. Right at the beginning we informed our dear Mother Liboria in Melbourne that we sisters from Anelaua would have to stay here for some weeks. Then we would be allowed to move on in Australia and go to you and your dear community of sisters. We did not have to wait long for an answer. With great joy and open arms, the dear Mother Liboria welcomed us heartily. She wanted to be notified soon, what she could do for us, what we would need in the way of clothing and so on. We had only very thin white dresses. Mother Liboria wrote often nice consoling letters and stressed always how the dear sisters there were joyfully looking forward to our arrival. The necessary dresses for us arrived, packed with great love. For each of us a nice parcel with clothing fitting to our size contained dresses, coats, and warm underwear. We could use it all very well, even though we had been provided with everything by the American Red Cross.

The time came closer that we had to say goodbye to Brisbane and the good people there with thanks towards God who had led us so graciously in our need and danger. We boarded the train, which we had not seen for years, and joyfully thought of our future activity in Melbourne. Two days and two nights our travel took until at last we could see our dear Mother Liboria at the station. With much love and open arms, she received us and led us to the waiting car to take us to the community of the venerable dear sisters. What a hearty welcome! They felt sorry for us for having had to go through so much suffering. We could not relate anything about Vunapope, for we had been separated the whole time from our dear ones. Now it was the aim of Mother Liboria to give us a lot of attention and offer us a true motherhouse. Some of us needed an operation and after a time of recovery, this was performed at once.

We were at home and soon able to give joy to our dear Mother Liboria and fellow sisters and help them with their work in the hospitals. We were four nurses from Anelaua. That was for dear Mother Liboria a great help, and even more. When a year later Mary’s Mount came in view, dear Mother Liboria and her council could dare, after considerable deliberations, to buy the beautifully situated house for the congregation. She said, “Without the sisters from Anelaua and their help we would not have been able to do it.”

(Our dear sisters who have gone through this experience of the war in the Pacific, were strong and courageous women of faith. Their journey is a challenge for our journey today.)

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

• When you get in touch (emotionally, spiritually) with this story, what do you admire and value most about the way those sisters lived our MSC mission in the context of their time? (Identify 3 points)
• What are the urgent needs in our world today to which we are called and best suited to respond? (Identify 3 points)