The Hindu : National : German honour for Sr. Willigard Dinasevika

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Saturday, Aug 25, 2007
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German honour for Sr. Willigard Dinasevika

BANGALORE: German President Horst Koehler has bestowed upon Sr. Willigard Dinasevika of the DSS Congregation the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. She was also commended for her unique contribution to Indo-German friendship.

According to a press release from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany here, Sr. Willigard has been rendering selfless service to the needy in India for over three decades.

Sr. Willigard, born 1931 in Germany, has dedicated her life and energy to the poor by joining in 1953 the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters in Olpe/Germany.

Inspired by the work of her close friend Petra Moennigmann who founded in 1969 at Pattuvam, Kerala, the Congregation “Dinasevanasabha — Servants of the Poor”, Sr. Willigard followed her to Kerala in 1975. After the demise of Sr. Petra, Sr. Willigard assumed responsibility of the Congregation with 300 sisters.

In 1989, she came to Bangalore to continue her mission and visited the remotest villages of Kannur and Kothanur. She was engaged in upgrading the lifestyle of the villagers by constructing houses for the homeless, assisting the poor for treatment and operations and providing educational help to the poor.

Homes for HIV positive

In 2001, she opened a home for the HIV positive children at Kothanur. In 2005, a home for the HIV positive women was also started in the same compound.

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