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Heiligenkreuz Apostolic Visitor, Sister Christine Rod

Sister Christine Rod: "Religious life will always be relevant"


Secretary General of the Austrian Conference of Religious Orders about Austrian religious orders in a phase of reorientation, freedom for God, nuns in leadership positions, and the spiritual offerings of the orders

"Religious life will always be relevant. There will always be people who live their faith in committed communities and work together for something." - Sr. Christine Rod, Secretary General of the Austrian Conference of Religious Orders, once again demonstrated her conviction of this in a Kathpress interview. Even though the number of religious is declining, especially in Austria and Central Europe.

There are currently around 4,100 religious in Austria. For many centuries, however, there were perhaps no more than a thousand religious in Austria. It was only in the 19th century that the orders, with their large social, healthcare, and educational institutions, also experienced such significant personnel growth. This particularly affected women's religious orders. Rod spoke of "flagships that played a key role in building the European welfare state." This era is now, of course, over, said the nun from the "Missionaries of Christ." The Secretary General of the Conference of Religious Orders spoke of a time of upheaval or a reorientation for the orders. The crucial question is also: "What do people need today in a secular or post-secular society?" In any case, "people who live somehow with this God and also pass something on."

With regard to women's religious orders, Sister Christine Rod said that women religious today also reflect a piece of social reality. Young women religious are highly educated and often hold leading positions. Rod: "If a woman like Sister Teresa Schlackl is working today at St. Josef Hospital as the person responsible for values ​​and ethics in the highest management level, then that is an example of where women religious, based on their spirituality and their training, skills, and competencies, are important sources of inspiration."

Admittedly, the vast majority of religious women are elderly. But even these aging communities have their significance when it comes to "keeping the space open for God."

Rod referred to Pope John Paul II's post-synodal exhortation "Vita Consecrata" from 1996, which states that through the religious orders, God's work in the world should become more tangible and the world more humane and just. "Our life and work as religious should make a positive difference for others," the nun stated.

"Effective and present"

Rod emphasized that religious orders are committed to a good life in Austria in a variety of ways; be it in the areas of spirituality, education, health, care, culture, mission, social affairs, or responsibility for creation. This will be clearly emphasized again at the religious conferences from November 27 to 30 at the Cardinal König House in Vienna. The conferences are held under the motto "Effective and Present."

At the "Austrian Order Day" on November 28th, former Health Minister Rudolf Anschober will first speak on "Effectiveness in Public." Psychotherapist and director Johannes Neuhauser will then speak on "Effectiveness through Spirituality." Martha Zechmeister, a theologian and nun who teaches in San Salvador, will finally address the topic of "Effective Religious Life." Effectiveness is not always measurable, according to Rod, "but it is certainly recognizable and thus public."

Institute of Austrian Orders

As the Secretary General of the Austrian Order Conference further reported, the Institute of Austrian Orders is becoming increasingly important due to the age structure of the orders. The institute is an institution of the Austrian Order Conference with the purpose of taking over the assets of the orders and managing and developing them for the interests and concerns of the orders. The goal is the sustainable management of real estate, company shares, cultural assets, and other assets in order to give the works of the religious orders a future and enable new initiatives in line with the orders' aims. In this way, the assets of the orders remain in the hands of the orders for the long term, Rod emphasized. This is ultimately also an example of the effectiveness of the religious orders.

Spirituality is a completely different area. For example, a multi-year spirituality course offered by the Conference of Religious Orders is currently underway under the motto "Believe and Live," which is intended to lead to the traces and roots of Christianity. A second current spirituality course - "Lead and Live" - ​​is aimed primarily at leaders. Sr. Christine explained that they intend to offer more such courses in the future.

Expectations of the World Synod

When asked about the World Synod in Rome, Rod stated in the Kathpress interview that there were "quite remarkable new emphases". If the final paper proceeds in the three steps of "convergences - topics to be dealt with - proposals", then this is new. Admittedly, despite all the positive experiences of synodal dialogue, it is now time to make distinctions and decisions. With regard to the women's issue, Rod described it as positive that 54 women with voting rights had already taken part.

Christine Rod, born in 1959 in Lower Austria, studied theology and German language and literature in Vienna after completing her A-levels in Laa an der Thaya. From 1985 onwards, she worked in the pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Vienna. Between 1990 and 1992, she spent a period of study in the Philippines. In 2000, Rod joined the community of the Missionaries of Christ. From 2003 to 2013, she was head of religious development at Cardinal König House. In 2013, she took over the regional leadership of the Missionaries of Christ for Germany and Austria for six years. After a sabbatical in Israel, Rod returned to Austria. She has been Secretary General of the Religious Conference since May 2020.

Source

Statement from Heiligenkreuz

In a letter dated 5 June 2025, the 'Dicastery for Consecrated Life' informed Abbot Maximilian and the convent that it would like to "obtain a precise picture of the situation of monastic life and of the management of the Abbey" as part of an Apostolic Visitation. The Holy See asks us to "understand this as an expression of benevolent support aimed at promoting the sustainable development of this flourishing abbey and protecting it from possible internal and external threats". We gladly accept this. As a Cistercian monastery that has existed for almost nine centuries and has been blessed with many vocations in recent decades, but which also faces many new tasks and challenges, we see this as an aid to renewal and growth in order to serve the Church of today even better..


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