As the report clearly shows, Vicar Adam, must have sensed tensions in the congregation. He counseled Sister Maria Theresia and also Sister Francesca to seek admission into some other congregation if they were not happy. The chronicles of Mother Maria Theresia continued as follows:
Sister Clara remained in Rosellen with Sister Francesca several weeks longer. After completing the milk diet, she returned to Olpe improved in health. Sister Alphonsa remained in her parental home until fall and then returned to the convent. After several weeks, she received the last anointing, pronounced her religious vows in the arms of her superior, made her Last Will and Testament leaving one thousand dollars to the superior, Clara Pfaender. She died on November 26, 1862, among her Sisters to whom she had been an inspiring example in sickness and in health. Soon thereafter Sister Bernhardine Schamoni died of tuberculosis; the superior had made a recovery trip with her to Paderborn, but to no avail. Our dear Lord called the saintly Sister to himself to give her the crown of faithful perseverance. Also some orphan children died.
Thus the young congregation in its early years stood beneath the cross. It was indeed bitter to see the Sisters die, who with all readiness had dedicated themselves to God to work for the welfare of the needy, to see them snatched from life before they had even begun their active apostolate.
Nevertheless the number of Sisters continued to increase. This enabled the superior to open the first affiliation, in October 1862, in Much in the archdiocese of Cologne. Sister Francesca Boehmer was appointed its first superior. She was assisted by two Sisters and a lay instructor. The daring venture of establishing the first foundation was richly rewarded. Mother Maria Theresia’s chronicle reports: “Soon many postulants entered from Much and the surrounding areas. These were accepted into the congregation.”
Since the existing obstacles to their active apostolate in Olpe did not lessen, Mother Clara determined to centralize the motherhouse in another locality, as the bishop had counseled at various times. Reverend Heissing in Verne, indicated to her that Salzkotten might be a good possibility. Thus accompanied by her assistant, Sister Maria Theresia, Mother Clara traveled to Salzkotten on November 15, 1862. Here she was able to purchase a larger house with barn and garden area in the eastern section of the town. To make it practical to move the motherhouse as early as possible, renovations were begun immediately. In the spring of 1863, all was in readiness. Sister Maria Theresia wrote:
On Easter Monday some of the Sisters left, several days later another group followed, and finally on April 25, Mother Clara and other sisters who were unable to make the trek on foot went by post. The convent in Olpe became an affiliation with Sister Maria Theresia as superior. Stationed with her were Sister Juliana, Sister Ignatia, Sister Ursula, Sister Johanna, Sister Margaretha, Sister Gertrudis, and one postulant, Miss Josepha. Fourteen sisters and fifteen postulants went to Salzkotten.
The situation in Olpe had become fundamentally different through this change of status. “Because of the decrease in [the] number of Sisters, it was impossible to continue the Perpetual Adoration in Olpe.” Sister Maria Theresia gave this as the first consequence. After that statement she placed in brackets how very sorry she was and closed it with an exclamation point. One can perceive how she valued adoration. She mentioned that primarily, for her Perpetual Adoration was the chief objective of the congregation. Only thereafter she enumerated further effects of the removal of the motherhouse from Olpe. It is understandable that the new motherhouse should be equipped with all requisites. Consequently, only the bare necessities were left in Olpe. Without any bitterness the new superior in Olpe wrote:
The Sisters full of joy over the great treasure of holy poverty, entrusted themselves completely to the loving providence of God. All endeavored to strive for perfection and through diligence and work to draw down the blessings of God upon themselves.
That Sister Maria Theresia Bonzel should remain in Olpe as superior, as she herself wrote, was in consideration of her relatives and friends in the town. It was not a matter of exclusive trust. Soon thereafter it became evident that an estrangement and a wariness had set in between the two who together with the deceased Sister Antonia Loeser had begun the new foundation. Mother Clara had secretly appointed a certain Sister in Olpe to spy on all that Sister Maria Theresia did and to report her conduct and the condition of affairs to Salzkotten. On her side Sister Maria Theresia was also informed of all that happened in Salzkotten. She herself declared that it happened “through blameworthy underhandedness,” and acknowledged openly: “I committed a great injustice in that I engaged in secret correspondence with a certain Sister in Salzkotten.” In this way Sister Maria Theresia learned all those things which the Sister thought might be of interest. This confession of her own guilt was most probably recorded later. At a time when others looked upon her with esteem and as an example, she acknowledged her injustice in humility. If she had covered her guilt with a cloak of silence, it could not have been established easily at another time.
What could have caused such an estrangement between the two co-founders? Mother Maria Theresia herself has referred to some of the issues. But it is worthwhile to consider other things also. In the first place the characters of the two Sisters were very different.
Consequently, they probably viewed the prospects of the congregation in different ways. Mother Clara came from an established congregation already engaged in extensive activity in various affiliations. With Mother Theresia all was new. One must also consider that between October 22, 1859 and April 25, 1863, the motherhouse was moved three times, involving much labor and restlessness; one affiliation was opened; and the superior was often ill and away from the motherhouse for weeks at a time. Where was the time for guidance so necessary for a young congregation? Guidance is so important in the very beginning that the congregation may mature in tranquility. But owing to circumstances this tranquility was never present.
Mother Maria Theresia’s decision as written in the chronicles in her own words is as follows:
From the very beginning it was determined to follow the Rule of St. Francis, but the Rule of St. Augustine was adopted as a basis with the promise and wish to convert to the Franciscan Rule later. The Augustinian Rule as basis was also very painful to Sister Francesca. Both sisters had developed a great love for holy poverty and felt that only as Franciscans could this great happiness be theirs. The Rule of St. Augustine was precious and dear to both Sisters for most congregations follow its precepts. Many have attained happiness and salvation through its observance. But here there was placed in the hearts of the two Sisters by God himself a desire to be poor, really poor and unassuming and this desire could not be fulfilled in the established congregation.
Sister Maria Theresia confided all her difficulties to Sister Francesca as the latter stopped in Olpe on her way from Much to Salzkotten. At that time Sister Maria Theresia was very weak physically and ill, so much so, that one feared for her life. The many worries of the immediate past had aggravated her heart condition. She considered leaving the congregation as the simplest solution. Sister persuaded her to postpone the decision at least for the present. In this matter of conscience, Sister Maria Theresia consulted not only the Superior Revered Schmidt, but also, outside the confessional, the Reverend Rector Hesse. Accordingly her spiritual director reported it to the bishop who summoned Mother Clara for a discussion in which Sister Francisca also participated. At this time it was also learned how Sister Maria Theresia had obtained such detailed information of all that happened in Salzkotten. Mother Clara determined to call Sister Maria Theresia to Salzkotten for a retreat after Pentecost, and in all probability, transfer her from Olpe altogether. But events took a different turn: Owing to physical weakness, Sister Maria Theresia was unable to travel, and because of lack of money, others could not do so either; besides, the Reverend superior forbade it, Mother Theresia reported later.
At that time it had not been known to Mother Maria Theresia that the bishop had written to the Superior of the congregation on June 5, 1863, in the following term:
I am convinced that under the prevailing conditions it is an imperative