Assisi Convent receives donation from Austria
Father Sebastian spoke to the Abbot of his monastery, Abbot Maximilian Heim.
The Assisi Convent in Oshabeni location recently received a donation of R35 000 from Austria.
It was handed to the convent’s Sr Dominica Mkhize by Father Sebastian Bezuidenhoudt.
He received the money from his monastery in Austria.
In December 2020, a number of sisters living at the convent died of Covid-19 related complications.
This prompted Father Sebastian to raise the funds.
He was born in Pietermaritzburg and was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood in Cape Town in 1998.
As he always had a strong attraction to monastic life, he left South Africa in 2001 to join a monastery in the Vienna Woods in Austria.
“A friend of mine, Patrick Vorster runs Galene Centre, a retreat house and training facility in Sea Park. Patrick and I studied together years ago, and have been good friends ever since. He has done training with the Assisi sisters on a regular basis, and he told me of their situation,” said Father Sebastian.
A regular visitor to the South Coast, he tries to raise some money in his parishes for a social project every year.
“In the past, we have organised soccer kits for a local soccer club; bought school shoes and uniforms for children in the rural areas and built a small home for a single father and his two children,” he said.
“When I heard about the sisters, I knew I had to do something. I did not want to burden my parishioners with financial requests this year, as the people there are also financially effected by Covid-19, and are anxious about the future.”
Father Sebastian spoke to the Abbot of his monastery, Abbot Maximilian Heim.
“The monastery gave me 2000 Euros for the sisters. After bank charges and the exchange rate, this came to just over R35 000. The sisters need the money for oxygen tanks and for professional nursing staff to take care of all the sick.”
Sr. Dominica wrote a letter to Father Sebastian after his visit:
“To me and the entire Abbey: “…when we needed love and care you rushed to lift us up to your bosom…. you have taught us what love is.”
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