Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Sister Elisabeth Hugoline Deseilers, missionary of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), arrived in Indonesia in 1967. Since then, she has spent 50 years of mission full of joy, bringing love and hope to those in need and alleviating the suffering of patients, in particular those with terminal illnesses.
"After serving for 50 years of missionary work in Indonesia, I thank God for the gift of the mission and the vocation to work among the Indonesian people,” she said. “I am but a small instrument of God to bring hope and joy to the suffering and the needy, in the service of the Gospel and in the light of my faith".
Inspired by her brother, a missionary priest of the Divine Word (SVD), Sister Hugoline joined the SSpS at the age of 23 years. "I used to visit my brother priest in Steyl (Austria). It was he who introduced me to the Missionary Servants. Some of their communities were nearby,” she said to explain her vocation.
Although Indonesia was not her preferred destination, she accepted the mission out of obedience. After she arrived in Jakarta on 16 March 1967, she became seriously ill. But fidelity to her to promise to God, to whom she entrusted her health, helped her get better and give her life to the mission in the Asian country.
The SSpS arrived in Indonesia in 1917. In the past 100 years, many Indonesian missionaries left for different parts of the world. At present, more than 700 sisters from Indonesia are serving in five provinces, and East Timor.
"I am happy to witness the growth of vocations to the religious life among Indonesian women. This is the result of our missionary work for which we thank God,” Sister Hugoline said.
"I would like that our 100 years of missionary work (1917-2017) increase the commitment of all the SSpS sisters to their life in the mission and that the Holy Spirit offer us many other vocations."
