TO RELIVE THE EVENT



Memory of the 50th anniversary of the death of Mother Frances Streitel
CASTEL SANT'ELIA, MARCH 6, 1961
Sr. M. Jolanda Windisch, in a notebook of the "Chronicle from the community of Castel Sant'Elia", written in German by several authors from 1934 to 1946, gives us news of the event with unique details. We read: "The whole Castel Sant'Elia was illuminated and in particular the road to the Madonna in Rupes. March 6 marked the 50th anniversary of Mother Frances Streitel's return to the Father’s House. It was clear to everyone that this year something happened (sic!) in honor of the Servant of God".
In fact, several proposals were made in honor of Mother Frances, such as the one by Father Aquilin Reichert: "To found an academy". On March 6th, the day of the commemoration of the Servant of God's death, Father Guardian Ambrosius of the Franciscan Convent celebrated Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. for the beatification of the Foundress Frances Streitel. At 9 am, Don Domenico Antonazzi celebrated the second Mass in the Sisters' Chapel. During these days many people from the parish visited the room where Mother Frances died and prayed on her relics in the festively decorated chapel. In the afternoon, Father Superior Juniperus also visited the tomb and Mother Frances' room. The nursery school dining room had been transformed by the sisters into a party room. The guests of Castel Sant’Elia and Nepi arrived for the scheduled time of the celebration, as well as His Excellency Msgr. Giuseppe Gori, Bishop of Nepi and Sutri. A bus with more than forty sisters, novices and aspirants together with M. Olivia Benz, General Superior and the Vicar Mother Melania Eberth, arrived from Rome. The annual spiritual retreats held at Borgo S. Spirito were interrupted for half a day. The dining room was packed. Besides Fr. Antonelli there was also Fr. Hugo Plassmann, General Bursar of the Franciscan Order, Father Guardian Ambrosius Pichler, Father Vicar Theodosius Richard and Father Friedhelm Schemi, as well as some friars from the Franciscan nearby convent. Father Domenico Antonazzi and Mayor Filipponi were also invited. Some priests from Nepi had also come. Bishop Gori of Nepi was the first to speak. He was happy that there were beatification processes in his diocese, especially that of M. Frances Streitel... Fr. Aquilino Reichert ... told us some unknown anecdotes of M. Frances’ life greatly appreciated with a warm applause. In the end, P. Antonelli took the floor. He was in charge of the various trials, postponed to the trial of M. Frances. He invited the sisters to follow the way of humility, courage and holy obedience. In the end the people of Castel Sant’Elia gave testimonies about the graces received from the venerated Mother Frances. All the participants were visibly happy and went home aware that they had met a great woman. Father Giuseppe Ranocchini, native of Castel Sant’Elia was unable to participate at the celebration. He sent a telegram which was read at the end. The local parish priest Don Domenico also gave a final greeting on behalf of the community asking for a street to be entitled to M. Frances Streitel".

