On the occasion of the 130th birthday of Blessed Restituta Kafka, an ecumenical service was held at the State Hospital Mödling. Additionally, a monument was blessed in her honor.

Ecumenical Memorial Service for the 130th Birthday of Blessed Restituta

Mag. Martin Leitner, Director of the Leopoldinum Heiligenkreuz, and Pastor Mag. Anne Tikkanen-Lippl, Evangelical Parish A.B. Mödling, led the ecumenical memorial service for Sr. M. Restituta. The musical accompaniment was provided by Mag. Heinz Purrer, who composed a mass for Sr. M. Restituta in 2023 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of her beatification.

In his address, Director Mag. Martin Leitner emphasized:

“With her love for the crucified Christ, with her love for fellow human beings, without barriers of race, nationality or religion, Blessed Restituta may be a powerful intercessor, an encouraging role model, and not least a warning call for us in this intense time of the 21st century.”

Monument by Clemens FüRtler and Michaela Seiser in Honor of Blessed Restituta

After the ecumenical celebration, a monument by artists Clemens Fürtler and Michaela Seiser was blessed in the entrance hall in honor of Blessed Sister Maria Restituta, and a traveling exhibition about her history was opened.

“Sr. Restituta Helene Kafka spent almost half of her life (from 1919 until her arrest in 1942) not only working as an energetic First Operating Room Nurse (nickname ‘Sr. Resoluta’) in this hospital, she also lived here, this was her home, here she was popular among the population for her competent helpfulness and her humorous, unconventional manner, here she courageously stood up for faith, justice, and Austria in resistance against the criminal Nazi dictatorship – and was ready for martyrdom”,

Sr. Dr. M. Ruth Beinhauer emphasized in her speech.

“Her steadfastness and courage make her a role model for faith, bravery, and resistance against oppression”,

honored keynote speaker Hans Stefan Hintner, Mayor of the City of Mödling.

Traveling Exhibition about Blessed Restituta

The exhibition is set up in the entrance hall of the State Hospital Mödling and can be viewed by the public during daytime hours in May.