But the opposition did not relent. Consequently, the bishop was induced to write a personally handwritten letter to Dean Goerdes in which he said:
More complaints have come from Olpe recently regarding the usurpation of the nursing activities by the Franciscan Sisters. These had the signature of the parish priest. As always I was unable to find guilt on the part of the Franciscan Sisters, but the Sisters of Charity are greatly irritated. The auxiliary bishop begged me most urgently to have the Franciscan Sisters move from Olpe, or at least forbid them to engage in nursing activities in Olpe. This is becoming very difficult. But on the other hand peace especially among religious communities is so great a good that I cannot but assume the responsibility to prevent scandalous conflicts, which under existing circumstances appear unavoidable if the Franciscans continue their activities in Olpe.
He added:
For the sake of peace, above all I wish the Franciscans would look around to see if they can find another suitable place in the surrounding areas outside of Olpe to make their foundation. I would be very pleased if Your Reverence would support them by counsel and advice in the choice of another special site. At my next visit I shall take the opportunity to confer with you and with the Sisters in person so that we can resolve this conflict favorably.
Shortly before writing this letter, the bishop had been in Olpe. He visited the convent of the Franciscans and held canonical visitation. On this occasion, August 26, 1861, he himself officiated at the investiture of nine candidates. The Sisters who had been invested on December 20, 1860, pronounced their vows. Among them was Sister Maria Theresia Bonzel. The bishop voiced his joy and praise that the young congregation developed so obviously under the blessing of God. Did he not endeavor at this time to guide the situation in such a way as to voice his expressed wish that the Sisters should not limit their activities to Olpe alone, but work prosperously within the confines of the entire diocese? Before he returned to Paderborn, he revisited the Franciscan convent. Certainly his words of appreciation, gratitude, and encouragement were not mere generalities. He undoubtedly informed himself of the existing situation and the controversial activity of the Franciscans. At all events this personal visit bore results. The bishop saw the situation in a different light although more time was still required to solve the controversy.
On March 21, 1862, the congregation received a new spiritual superior, Rev. Schmidt from Wenden. At the very beginning of his activities, he had to cope with disagreeable quarrels, as seen in a letter he received from Bishop Konrad Martin:
Acquainting myself first hand with the true conditions relative to the controversy in Olpe, I was favorably impressed. Even before I received your report I had to calm an apprehension. The district magistrate of Olpe had written a letter to the auxiliary bishop which he read to me in person. It was a scathing letter. In reply I wrote to the Board of Trustees of St. Martin Hospital informing them that I had no intention whatever of removing the Sisters of Charity from the hospital. This point had to be settled first. That the Franciscan Sisters do some home nursing should be no obstacle. They however are not to intrude themselves, but if their services are requested they may go in the name of God. It is hoped that in this way they may gain a firmer foothold in Olpe until something else can be worked out. Difficulties and obstacles will not harm the young congregation. These constitute a trial and bring out the good in the undertaking. You, dear Father, accept them with a kind and fatherly heart and consider the beautiful reward you will receive from God. Furthermore, I shall look into the situation of the Sisters in Olpe more closely and study the controversy with a view of further clarification.
This letter seemed to end the controversy; however, it was not solved until much later. Difficulties from this source repeatedly came to the surface. These continued almost to the end of Mother Maria Theresia’s life and terminated in the year 1900 when the Franciscan Sisters assumed the operation of St. Martin Hospital. One must be acquainted with these difficulties to understand why Sister Clara Pfaender searched for another place to relocate the motherhouse and found one in Salzkotten.
“Difficulties and obstacles will not harm the young congregation. They constitute a trial and bring out the good in the undertaking,” thus the bishop wrote. Difficulties were not wanting. Added to the external problems were those arising within their own ranks. In May 1861, Mother Clara became seriously ill. Sister Antonia Loeser who had nursed her, contracted the same illness, typhus. In the early days of their foundation in Olpe, she had established a close relationship between Mother Clara Pfaender and Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel. At that time, she little thought that the length of her convent days would be a meager five months. Her fellow sisters held her in high esteem for she lived her religious life of prayer and penance very seriously. As a native of Olpe, Sister Antonia rejoiced greatly to see the congregation firmly established in Olpe in 1861. Her happiness was great as they moved into their newly acquired house. She toured it but once and then had to return to bed immediately. The seriously ill Sister kept repeating, “Observe the rules! Observe the rules!”
When on Trinity Sunday the procession with the Blessed Sacrament was passing her window, she raised herself upright in bed with all her remaining strength, and in a weak voice joined in the processional singing, a hymn of praise in preparation for her death. In the afternoon of the same day she sank into a semi-conscious state. Sister Maria Theresia and Sister Francesca remained with her during the following night. In a moment of consciousness, Sister Maria Theresia asked the dying sister to beg our Lord that she also may soon join her in heaven. Sister Antonia in a certain and determined voice answered: “No, you will not die yet. You still have a long way before you.” On the following day she again and again called out: “The virginal crown! The virginal crown!” She must have recalled the exhortation her own sister once gave her. Her sister had entered the convent with the Clemens Sisters in Muenster, and on a visit had counseled her: “Regina, ever preserve the virginal crown.” The words seemed to have made a permanent impression on her for she lived her life accordingly. At the moment of death it must have been a great comfort for her, adorned with the virginal crown received at investiture represented by a circlet of flowers, to meet her eternal Bridegroom. She breathed her last quietly in the arms of the friend of her youth, Sister Maria Theresia Bonzel.
The cross marking the grave of Sister Antonia was not alone for long. On May 3, 1862, Sister Maria Theresia wrote in the chronicles:
Today the new superior, Rev. Schmidt, officiated at the investiture of the following sisters: Sisters Alphonsa, Mechtildis, Thecla, Ottilia, Liboria, Antonia, and several others. Sister Clara accompanied by Sister Maria Theresia and Sister Alphonsa, the latter ailing, traveled to Rosellen. For the interim period Sister Francesca was designated as temporary superior; but shortly before they left, the appointment was changed and Sister Agnes, the half-sister of Sister Clara Pfaender was to act as superior. Sister Clara and Sister Maria Theresia spent the first night of their trip in Cologne and Sister Alphonsa traveled on to Rosellen. His Excellency Bishop Dr. Konrad Martin was in Cologne at the time and from there, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Baudri, he would make his episcopal visit to Rome. Sister Clara and Sister Maria Theresia visited His Excellency from Paderborn in the archbishop’s residence to discuss various matters. Their stay in Cologne was prolonged to several days, and during that time they visited various convents in the city and purchased needed supplies. On Sunday they arrived in Rosellen where Sister Alphonsa awaited them in her parental home.
The superior Sister Clara contracted a cold and had to spend several weeks in bed. A priest, Vicar Adams, who understood the principles of homeopathy, took Sister Clara and Sister Alphonsa under his charge. Sister Maria Theresia became nurse. Sister Alphonsa’s condition worsened daily despite the excellent care she had from all sides. Because of repeated night watches and otherwise overtaxing of strength, Sister Maria Theresia’s strength began to fail. She was not strong physically. The physician-acting priest, Vicar Adams, asked Mother Clara to have another Sister come from the motherhouse to release Sister Maria Theresia to give her some rest.
In the meantime the presence of either the superior or her assistant, Sister Maria Theresia, was mandatory at the motherhouse because of the unbearable behavior of Sister Liboria. Sister Francesca came