Blessed Helena Stollenwerk

Biography

Blessed Helena Stollenwerk, also known as Anna Helena Stollenwerk, Maria Stollenwerk, Maria Virgo, and Maria Elena, was born on 28 November 1852 in Rollensbroich, in the Archdiocese of Cologne, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany. She grew up in a devout farm family that actively participated in parish life and was deeply influenced by her religious upbringing.

During her youth, Anna felt a strong calling to religious life, which led her to join the Society of the Holy Childhood. She envisioned herself as a missionary in China and expressed her desire to Saint Arnold Janssen, the founder of the Society of the Divine Word, which had sent missionaries to China in 1879. Although Saint Arnold did not have immediate plans for missionary sisters, Helena was accepted into the society and began working in the mission kitchen. It was during this time that she encountered three other women who shared her same calling and were passionately engaged in the same work.

In 1889, Saint Arnold established the Sisters-Servants of the Holy Spirit to further missionary work in Argentina. Helena, alongside her companions, became one of the first twelve Sisters and officially joined the order on 17 January 1892. Taking the religious name of Sister Maria, she made her profession on 12 March 1894 and is regarded as one of the co-founders of the Sisters-Servants of the Holy Spirit. Her exceptional leadership abilities and deep sense of responsibility for the mission made her a respected figure among her fellow sisters. She treated everyone with motherly care and dedicated herself to serving others selflessly.

The Sisters-Servants of the Holy Spirit began their missionary work in Argentina in 1895, followed by their expansion to Togo in 1897. In 1896, Saint Arnold established a contemplative branch of the Sisters, emphasizing a life of prayer and deep reflection. This led Helena to leave the active mission field and transition into the contemplative life in 1898. However, her time in the missions had already taken a toll on her health, and she fell ill with tubercular meningitis in 1899.

On 31 January 1900, Helena made her profession as a contemplative sister. Sadly, just three days later, she passed away on 3 February 1900 in Steyl, Venlo, Limburg, Netherlands, succumbing to the ravages of her illness. She was buried in the tomb of the Missionary Sisters in the convent of Notre Dame. In 1907, her remains were re-interred in the cemetery of the convent before being moved again in May 1915 to the cemetery of the new Holy Spirit convent.

Helena's profound impact on the missionary work of the Sisters-Servants of the Holy Spirit continued long after her passing. The order, which she helped establish, has grown to include nearly 4,000 sisters who tirelessly serve in 37 countries worldwide. The devotion to her exemplary life and virtues led to her being venerated on 14 May 1991 by Pope John Paul II, who declared her heroic in her virtues. She was subsequently beatified on 17 May 1995 by Pope John Paul II, recognizing her as a blessed of the Catholic Church.

Some relics of Blessed Helena Stollenwerk are enshrined by the Missionary Sisters in Nettetal, Germany, while others are kept in Steyl, Netherlands since late September 1934, serving as a tangible reminder of her inspiring life and the impactful legacy she left behind.