Amid Europe’s declining vocations, the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood (CPS) have revived their mission in the Netherlands by offering sanctuary to refugees, turning a historic convent into a home of hope for families fleeing war in Ukraine.
By Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS
In Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands, a centuries-old castle that once housed hundreds of Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood (CPS) now shelters families fleeing the horrors of war.
What was once a Mother House alive with prayers and hymns has become a sanctuary for refugees seeking safety and hope.
Across Europe, declining vocations have forced many religious congregations to sell their convents and downsize. But the CPS Sisters chose a different path.
Guided by the words of their founder, Abbot Francis Pfanner, to “read the signs of the times,” the sisters transformed their historic home into a refuge for the displaced.
This decision echoes their tradition of hospitality, dating back to 1914 with the Red Cross, when they sheltered Belgian and Croatian refugees during the First World War. Today, with only 15 sisters of an international community remaining in the convent, they have revived that mission of service.
When news of the war in Ukraine broke in February 2022, the sisters prayed for guidance. With support from the local community and the municipality, they welcomed their first group of 40 refugees. Today, 60 Ukrainians live in two wings of the convent.
Sr. Madelene with a government official and some refugees
The sisters minister to the refugees, ensuring families are settled and are comfortable, in conjunction with the municipality of Laarbeek.
Privacy is a priority—each family has its own space and cooking facilities. Mothers help with household tasks, and the garden has become a shared space where refugees and sisters grow vegetables. Young people are encouraged to explore their talents in art, music, baking, and cooking.
Residents work in the garden and plant vegetables
Abbot Francis Pfanner insisted on reading the signs of the times for their ministry to be fruitful, and this is what it means for the sisters today.
At 83, Sr. Ingeborg Müller plays a vital role in helping refugees learn English, giving them a tool for integration. “It’s not easy, but many are improving,” she shares. Skills training and shared responsibilities help restore dignity and hope to those uprooted from their homes.
Young Ukrainian refugees studying English
Yet, hope persists. Ukrainians join the sisters in daily prayers for peace in their homeland and for the world. Their gratitude for safety, shelter, and companionship transforms the convent into a place of shared resilience and faith.
“This house, once a place of prayer, is now a place of survival and hope and also a place they now call home,” says Sr. Müller.
The ministry is not without challenges. The convent is old and in need of repairs, and transportation remains a major hurdle. Adjusting to communal living is also difficult for some families.
Yet, despite these obstacles, gratitude fills the air. Ukrainians join the sisters in prayer for peace, creating a community bound by faith and resilience. “The refugees’ gratitude keeps the mission of the sisters alive.”
This large convent, once filled with chants and hymns, now echoes with laughter, gratitude, and the sound of hope.
At a time when many question the relevance of religious life in Europe, the CPS Sisters stand as a testament: mission is alive whenever love takes action.
Ukrainian refugees celebrate together with the sisters