It was on 12 April 1923, when the first five Tutzing Sisters arrived in Windhoek: Sr. Martina PÖPPELBAUM, OSB (Superior), Sr. Thaddaa PÖPP, OSB, Sr. Irmina PAULY, OSB, Sr. Priska FICHTL, OSB and Sr. Zita LUTZ, OSB. They were cordially welcomed by Fr. Prefect Joseph GOTTHARDT, OMI and Sr. Adelheid RAUTERKUS, the superior of the Franciscan Sisters at the hospital. On 16 April 1923, they officially took over the administration of the hospital. At first, the hospital was named “Maria Stern Krankenhaus”; later, it was called “Maria Hilf Krankenhaus”, and, in the mid-1930s, it was renamed as “Roman Catholic Hospital” to date.
On 10 February 1924, the new home of the Sisters, built near the hospital, was blessed and the Sisters moved in. As the population of the city had increased considerably by 1930, the Roman Catholic Hospital had to consider making another extension. A second floor was added to one wing of the single-story building. The sisters provided all the necessary equipment and medicine for the hospital with the help from families and friends as well as from their home parishes in Germany.
In October 1934 a new Missionary arrived Sr. Berlindis BITTL, OSB; she was a versatile person, with practical experience in many things. When the hospital bought its very first modern x-ray machine, she set it up herself on the ground floor. She also worked in the surgery, in the laboratory room and in the outpatient department.
In 1935, the hospital was enlarged and at the same time, the Sisters’ house because the number of Sisters had also increased and they could no longer be accommodated in their first convent. The seat of the Priory was also here from 1926 to 2000 with Novitiate that was started in 1994.
Today, RCH Community has 13 Sisters with the apostolates of the administration of the hospital, serving the sick, visiting the poor at the locations, secretariat to the Archbishop of Windhoek, campus ministry at St. Paul’s College and teaching at Sr. Hildegard’s Kindergarten. The Sisters also prepare children for Confirmation and participate in the parish services.
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