Germany
History
The very first contact with the ideas of the Grail, and the “Firstlings“ of the Women of Nazareth, came to Germany through Agnes Feldhege – belonging to the initial Group and being a German.
In 1932, a Grail group was organized with some Grail women from the Netherlands introducing the community in Berlin. The Grail in Germany was established and helped young women to proclaim the Christian faith’s good news actively. As part of an international youth movement, our work was ended by the Nazi Government. Due to the circumstances, our Dutch members had to leave Germany in 1938.
Led by Alberta Luecker, we started anew after World War II in 1945. Internationality is a key characteristic of the Grail in general but it is very particularly a lived reality of the Grail in Germany. Many members have long-term experience of living and working in another culture, having served especially in West and East Africa, mainly in the medical and social fields.
In recent years, our community has continued to take significant action, bringing our competencies to groups of civil society. Some of our accomplishments include church renewal in social work and a project with migrants and children, in which we helped unfold their human and social capacities.
About our Community
Since the year 1932, until the 31st of December 2023, the Community of the Grail women in Germany was a responsible and an active part of the International Movement of Christian Women: GRAIL (except during the years of the second Wordwar 1939 till 1946) The mumber of members were between 45 and 11(now), including a group of Nucleus Members numbering 19 (now 3)) plus 15 active participating Grail-Friends. Members belonged to four regional Affinity groups. Several Grail participants were elected as part of the International Leadership Teams, others served in International Committees. The International Initiative Hochfeld, in Duisburg, was a very successful and visible Project caring for children of foreign workers, and refugees. Professional co-workers trained women in skills and language, supported children in their school-work and integrated them into their social surrounding in Duisburg, organized holiday camps – for more than half a Century.
For several years responsible Grail women reflected and discussed the future of the Grail in Germany with the outcome that no new or younger women could be introduced into the community – many of the deeply commited participants have died, or suffered from old age and diseases, limiting greatly their strength, so that it was difficult to select women in leadership, and continue the volunteerly work, the programmes and engagement.
A decision was reached that the The Grail Centre, with the secretariat in Mulheim, and all official tasks, will be resolved, with an official dissolving to be completed by April, 2025.
All remaining Grail women, still healthy, are ready to continue with meeting in the remaining group and also with their duties as long as it is possible. They do feel part and parcel of the International Grail and look forward to a good and intensive exchange and work together.
The decision was: the Grail-Academy-e.V. – the Grail Centre, with the secretariat in Mülheim, the Bank account, all official tasks plus the Project in Duisburg (now in the hands of DIAKONIA Germany) shall be dissolved. Saving Accounts went to the International Finances in the Netherlands.
As the winding up of the office, archive, accounts etc. needed time to finalize, the 2 part time Secretaries were ready to serve on. Mrs. Klapdor will end her employment now in December 2024 and Mrs. Wiensgol will work on till April 2025. This date is the official deadline for a complete dissolution.
All remaining Grail women, still healthy, are ready to continue with meeting in the remaining group and also with their duties as long as it is possible. They do feel part and parcel of the International Grail and look forward to a good and intensive exchange and work together.