Eberhard Limbrock

Eberhard Limbrock SVD (born May 23, 1859 in Ahlen , Westphalia, † May 31, 1931 in Sydney , Australia) was a Steyler missionary in South Shantung , China and the first Apostolic Prefect of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land in German New Guinea .

Life

Origin and education

Eberhard Limbrock, son of the marriage of the master baker Bernhard and Gertrud Limbrock, née Seelige, first learned the metalworking and blacksmithing trade after finishing elementary school in Ahlen . In 1877, Father Arnold Janssen , the founder of the first German Catholic mission house, from which the Society of the Divine Word - SVD (Societas Verbi Divini) , developed, accepted him into the St. Michael mission house in Steyl near Venlo . Here Limbrock completed his high school and philosophical-theological studies as a working student.

China missionary

After his ordination as a diaconate, Fr. Arnold Janssen sent Limbrock to the young Catholic Steyler South Shantung Mission in China in 1883 . Limbrock left Europe on July 26, 1883 and arrived on November 19, 1883 at the central station of the young Steyler China Mission , founded in 1881, in Puoli near Yanggu , South Shantung. On February 21, 1896 Limbrock was ordained a priest in Puoli . Bishop Johann Baptist von Anzer , Apostolic Vicar of Scian-Ton Meridionale , entrusted the new priest with the leadership of the seminary of the Steyler Shantung Mission, a task that Bishop J. B. Anzer gave to Fr. Josef Freinademetz . In 1893 Limbrock had to take a vacation in Germany. In Steyl, the Netherlands, Limbrock was able to take his perpetual vows on October 20, 1893 as a member of the Society of the Divine Word ( Steyl Missionaries ).

Apostolic Prefect of Wilhelmsland in German New Guinea

In 1895 Arnold Janssen Limbrock proposed to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Propaganda Fide , Mieczysław Cardinal Halka Ledóchowski , as the first Apostolic Prefect for the Apostolic Prefecture of Kaiser Wilhelmsland established on February 24, 1896 by decree of the Holy See . On March 24, 1896, Pope Leo XIII. the appointment as Apostolic Prefect of Wilhelmsland in German New Guinea. On August 13, 1896, Father Limbrock, coming from China, reached Friedrich-Wilhelms-Hafen (Madang) in German New Guinea. With him came the new missionaries Fr Franz Vormann SVD (1868–1929), Fr. Josef Erdweg (1870–1925) and the missionary brothers Kanisius Johannes Hautkappe (* 1874), Gottfried Matthias Laubach (1861–1936) and Eustochius Franz, who had come from Steyl Tigges (1864–1906) to New Guinea. P. Limbrock received no permission from the New Guinea Company , which exercised sovereign rights in German New Guinea, to establish a mission station in the area around Madang. So he had to establish the first Catholic mission station 275 nautical miles further west on the Dudemaine island Tumleo Island off the coast .

It was not until 1905 that P. Limbrock was able to found a new mission station in Alexishafen , which he made the central station of the Steyler Heilig-Geist Mission in German New Guinea in 1909. P. Limbrock only succeeded in expanding the school system, in which he introduced German as the school language, with the help of the Steyler Missionary Sisters (SSpS) , who from 1899 did pioneering work in the education of the female population and in New Guinea's health care system.

In his capacity as superior of the order, Limbrock took part in decisive general chapters of his young missionary order in Steyl in 1897/98 and 1909/10. He suggested taking over the Divine Word missionary work in the Philippines and Indonesia , which took place in 1909 and 1913/14. In 1911, Superior General Nikolaus Blum (1857-1919) appointed Fr. Franz Vormann SVD, his own regional superior for New Guinea, a function that until then Fr. Limbrock had also performed. In 1914 Limbrock submitted his resignation as Apostolic Prefect, which on September 9, 1914 by Pope Benedict XV. was accepted.

Limbrock was able to set up 18 Catholic mission stations on the north coast of New Guinea between Madang and the border with Dutch New Guinea, mostly with mission schools. He had extensive plantings laid out at four stations. Alexishafen not only served as the administrative center of the Holy Spirit Mission, but also exercised a lasting influence on the development of the country in New Guinea as a school, training and health center. The future co-workers of the mission were trained in the central school, in the numerous workshops and in the catechist school. Limbrock had a very conflictual relationship with the New Guinea Company. Under Governor Albert Hahl this relationship turned into an amicable collaboration. Hahl saw Limbrock as the ideal missionary and man of action who significantly promoted economic development and the German language in the German South Sea colony.

A completely new situation arose when the Australian military captured German New Guinea in August 1914 and correspondence with Europe was severely affected. Therefore Limbrock exercised his official duties as prefect for another year before Fr. Andreas Puff was able to replace him as Apostolic Administrator in 1915. In 1914 the Holy Spirit Mission counted 4,200 Catholic Christians. The missionary staff consisted of 27 priests, 24 brothers and 44 sisters. By mid-1930 the number of Christians had grown to 18,600, while the number of foreign missionary personnel had increased only slightly with 29 priests, 29 brothers and 53 sisters. However, the number of local catechists and teachers had increased. In 1934 347 local catechists were counted for the now two Apostolic Vicariates of East New Guinea and Central New Guinea.

Papal audience 1910

As Apostolic Prefect of Wilhelmsland, Father Eberhard Limbrock was received in a private audience by Pope Pius X on September 22, 1910 . The Pope inquired in detail about the status of the mission, the progress of Christianization and the hopes the mission promised. Pope Pius X was particularly concerned that the mission had to suffer so much from the unfavorable climatic conditions.

Research trip 1912

From September 30, 1912 to October 9, 1912, P. Limbrock and P. Franz Kirschbaum SVD undertook an expedition into the hinterland of Boikin in order to find the access from the coast to the Sepik Plain and to become familiar with the tribes of the coastal hinterland .

Bush missionary and end of life

From 1919 to 1931 P. Limbrock was a simple missionary on the Boikin station. Here he learned the Boikin language and was able to publish various catechetical writings in this language. In November 1930 Limbrock traveled to the doctor in Rabaul, who removed a skin cancer for him, then went to Sydney, where he was able to live with the Marist Brothers as the second chaplain. His plan to travel to Germany was never carried out. He did not survive a cold at Pentecost, which was also accompanied by pleurisy. On May 31, Trinity Sunday 1931, Limbrock died at the age of seventy-two in Sydney / Australia.

Publications

• Messages from u. over New Guinea . in: Kleiner Herz-Jesu-Bote, 24: 5 (Febr. 1897) 36–37.
• From the annual report of the Mission in German New Guinea . in: Steyler Missionsbote, 36: 2 (Nov. 1908) 25-26.
• Kind invitation: to found a floating mission station in New Guinea . in: Steyler Missionsbote, 36: 7 (April 1909) 104-106.
• From the working field of the Steyler missionaries in Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land . From. P. Eberh. Limbrock, Apost. Prefect of Ost-Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land, in: Steyler Missionsbote, 41: 2 (Nov. 1913) 22-27.
• Bush trip into the hinterland of Beukin . From the High Lord Apostolic Prefect P. Eberhard Limbrock (Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land), in: Steyler Missionsbote, 40 vol. (1912) 126–127, 142–143.
• Catechism in Wewäk-Boikin , Techny, Ill .: Mission Press n.d.
• Biblical history in Wewäk-Boikin , Techny, Ill .: Mission Press, undated ;
• PE Limbrock, A bush journey into the hinterlands of Beukin , 1986, transl. by Paul Bernard Roscoe, Nancy Rand, 1986, 12 pp.

literature

• Hermann on the Heide SVD: The Apostles. Wilhelmsland prefecture. In: ders .: Die Missionsgesellschaft von Steyl. A picture of the first 25 years of its existence. Missionsdruckerei, Steyl 1900, pp. 465–495.
• Anton Freitag SVD: The Steyler Mission in Kaiser Wilhelmsland. In: ders .: The missions of the Society of the Divine Word. Missionsdruckerei, Steyl 1912, pp. 96-107.
• Perboyre Neuss S.Sp.S .: German New Guinea. In: ders .: The Steyler Missionary Sisters “Servants of the Holy Spirit”. A simple wreath for the silver celebration. Herz-Jesu-Kloster Steyl, Kaldenkirchen 1914, pp. 177–201.
• The Catholic Encyclopedia and its makers. Encyclopedia Press, New York 1917.
• Ralph Wiltgen: Father Limbrock of New Guinea proposes a Mission in Indonesia , in: Verbum SVD 10: 3 (1968) 218-226.
• R. Wiltgen: Catholic Mission Plantations in Mainland New Guinea. In: KS Inglis (Ed.): The History of Melanesia. Canberra-Port Moresby, 1969, pp. 329-362.
• Richard Hartwich SVD: Divine Word Missionaries in China I. Missionary development of Südshantung 1879-1903. (Studia Instituti Missiologici SVD - 32) Steyler Verlag, St. Augustin 1983, ISBN 3-87787-166-6 .
• Stewart Firth: The Holy Spirit Mission of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) , in: S. Firth: New Guinea under the Germans , First published Melbourne University Press 1983, WEB Books: Port Moresby (PNG) 1986, pp. 152-154, ISBN 9980-57-010-5 .
• Mary Taylor Huber: The Bishops' Progress. A Historical Ethnography of Catholic Missionary Experience on the Sepik Frontier , Washington - London: Smithsonian Institution Press 1988, 264 pp., ISBN 0-87474-544-6 .
• Mary Taylor Huber: The Bishops' Progress: Representations of Missionary Experience on the Sepik Frontier , in: Nancy Lutkehaus (ed.): Sepik Heritage: Tradition and Change in Papua New Guinea , Crawford House Press: Bathurst, NSW (Australia) 1990, ISBN 1-86333-014-3 : pp. 197-211.
• Paul Benedikt Steffen SVD: The beginnings of the Rhenish, Neuendettelsauer and Steyler missionary work in New Guinea . Excerpta ex dissertatione ad Doctoratum in Facultate Missiologiae, the 7 mensis decembris anni 1992, Pontificiae Universitatis Gregorianae. Tipografia Poliglotta della Pontificia Università Gregoriana, Roma 1993.
• Paul Steffen: Mission Beginning in New Guinea. The beginnings of the Rheinische, Neuendettelsauer u. Divine Word Missionary Work in New Guinea . (Studia Instituti Missiologici SVD, 61) Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1995, ISBN 3-8050-0351-X .
• Josef Alt SVD: »We made it day and night with our own hands«. Eberhard Limbrock SVD 13 years in China - 35 years in New Guinea. In: Steyler Mission Chronicle 1995/96. Steyler Mission Research Institute (Ed.). Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1995, ISBN 3-8050-0365-X , pp. 37-44.
• Paul B. Steffen: From Church to Mission. Assessment and Perspectives of the Catholic Church in Mainland New Guinea after Its First Hundred Years . In: Divine Word Missionaries in Papua New Guinea, 1896-1996. Festschrift. Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1996, ISBN 3-8050-0380-3 , pp. 231-258. (also in: Verbum SVD. 37: 1–2 (1996), pp. 231–258)
• Josef Alt: The Contribution of Arnold Janssen to the SVD Mission in New Guinea. In: Divine Word Missionaries in Papua New Guinea, 1896-1996. Festschrift. Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1996, ISBN 3-8050-0380-3 , pp. 11-40. (also in: Verbum SVD. 37: 1–2 (1996), pp. 11–40)
• Arnold Janssen SVD: Letters to New Guinea a. Australia. ed. u. commented v. J. Alt. (Studia Instituti Missiologici SVD 63) Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1996, ISBN 3-8050-0370-6 .
• Louis J. Luzbetak: Limbrock, Eberhard Michael. In: Gerald H. Anderson (Ed.): Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions. Simon & Schuster Macmillian, New York 1998, ISBN 0-02-864604-5 , p. 402.
• Josef Alt SVD: Arnold Janssen. The life path and work of the founder of the Steyler order. (Studia Instituti Missiologici - 70) Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1999, ISBN 3-8050-0427-3 .
• Josef Alt (Ed.): Arnold Janssen SVD, Letters to New Guinea and Australia. (Studia Instituti Missiologici SVD 77) Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 2001, ISBN 3-8050-0467-2 .
• Josef Alt: Journey of Faith. The Missionary Life of Arnold Janssen. (Studia Instituti Missiologici SVD 78) Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 2002, ISBN 3-8050-0471-0 .
• Paul B. Steffen: The Catholic Missions in German New Guinea . In: H. Hiery (Ed.): The German South Sea. A manual . 2. reviewed u. verb. Edition. Schöningh Verlag, Paderborn 2002, ISBN 3-506-73912-3 , pp. 343-383.
• Paul B. Steffen: Eberhard Limbrock, the founder of the Steyler New Guinea Mission, died eighty years ago. In: Verbum SVD. 52: 1-2 (2011), pp. 117-122.
• Paul B. Steffen: Father Franz Vormann SVD (1868 - 1929) from Billerbeck - co-founder of the Catholic Mission a. Church in New Guinea , in: Geschichtsblätter des Kreis Coesfeld, Kreisheimatverein Coesfeld (ed.), 36th year (2011) 105-119.
• P. Steffen: Father Eberhard Limbrock SVD (1859-1931). Apostolic Prefect of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland in German New Guinea. In: The winged eel. 30 (2012), pp. 98-110.
• PB Steffen: Father Eberhard Limbrock SVD (1859-1931). An Ahlen as a missionary pioneer in China a. Founder of the Steyler Mission in New Guinea a. apostolic prefect. In: Münsterland yearbook of the Warendorf district. 2012, vol. 61, pp. 323-331.
• Paul B. Steffen, Witness and Holiness, the Heart of the Life of Saint Joseph Freinademetz of Shandong , in: Studia Missionalia 61 (Roma 2012) 257-392, ISBN 978-88-7839-225-0 .
• Paul B. Steffen:  Limbrock, Eberhard. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 33, Bautz, Nordhausen 2012, ISBN 978-3-88309-690-2 , Sp. 774-784.
• Paul B. Steffen: VORMANN, Franz SVD (1868-1929) pioneer missionary in New Guinea , Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) 34 (2013) Sp. 1474-1481, ISBN 978-3-88309-766-4 .

Web links

• Ms. Eberhard Limbrock, leader of the first SVD mission in New Guinea. on: catholicpng.org.pg
• Catholic parish of Sankt Pankratius Vorhelm
• Paul B. Steffen: The founder of the Steyler New Guinea mission, The Voice of Peter ToRot Association of Papua New Guinea , died eighty years ago (2010)
• Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiserwilhelmsland. In: Catholic Encyclopedia [1]
• John Garrett: Footsteps in the Sea: Christianity in Oceania to World War II , Suva 1992, p. 28. [2]

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Limbrock, Eberhard. In: BBKL. 33 (2012), col. 774-784.
2. ^ Seminar for Chinese priests , in Kleiner Herz-Jesu-Bote 26 (1898) No. 11 (August) 165–167.
3. ↑ Hermann on the Heide SVD: The Apostles. Wilhelmsland prefecture. In: ders .: Die Missionsgesellschaft von Steyl. A picture of the first 25 years of its existence. Missionsdruckerei, Steyl 1900, pp. 465–495.
4. ^ Paul B. Steffen, Father Franz Vormann SVD (1868 - 1929) from Billerbeck - co-founder of the Catholic Mission a. Church in New Guinea , in: Geschichtsblätter des Kreis Coesfeld, Kreisheimatverein Coesfeld (ed.), 36th year (2011) 105-119.
5. ^ Paul Steffen: Beginning of the mission in New Guinea. The beginnings of the Rhenish, Neuendettelsauer and Steyler missionary work in New Guinea. Nettetal 1995, pp. 286-287.
6. ↑ Stewart Firth: New Guinea under the Germans , Port Moresby 1986, p. 152.
7. ^ Johannes Thauren SVD, Die Missions in Neu-Guinea , Steyl 1931, pp.19-20.
8. ↑ Paul Steffen: Missionsbeginn in Neuguinea , Nettetal 1995, 260-261.
9. ↑ “The Holy Father has a heart for the missions!” In: Steyler Missionsbote 38 (1910/11) No. 3 December 1910, p. 43.
10. ↑ Eberhard Limbrock, Bush trip into the hinterland of Beukin. Steyler Missionsbote, vol. 40 (1912) 126-127, 142-143.
11. ↑ Limbrock, Eberhard. In: BBKL. 33 (2012), col. 774-784.
12. ↑ cf. Paul B. Steffen, Father Eberhard Limbrock SVD (1859–1931). An Ahlener as a missionary pioneer in China and founder of the Steyler Mission in New Guinea and apostolic prefect , in Münsterland Yearbook of the Warendorf District 2012, vol. 61, Warendorf 2011, pp. 323-331.

predecessor	Office	successor
-	Apostolic Prefect of the Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land 1900–1913	-
-	Apostolic Prefect of the Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land 1913–1914	Andreas Puff SVD (Administrator)