Our Missionary
Mother Herlinda Moises was born on July 3, 1928, in Bad Hofgastein (Austria), and passed away on November 20, 2006, in the district of Pasacaballos, a small fishing village located on the banks of the Canal del Dique, which flows into the Bay of Cartagena.
She was a woman recognized for her ability to serve and love others, committed to social work and the well-being of her adopted community, Pasacaballos, and its surrounding areas.
“Austrian and Colombian, or Colombian and Austrian. Two nationalities that always remained in Herlinda’s heart, because from Austria she drew the strength and support to carry out her work, while in Colombia she carried her heart and conscience. Because the Afro-descendant and mixed-race communities of Pasacaballos and its surroundings were woven into every fiber of her being, into the folds of her conscience and into the pores of her skin.”
Ignacio Madera Vargas, Salvatorian priest, foreword to the book Missionary, Hope for the Helpless. 2007
She gave words of encouragement, mercy, and kindness. Her capacity for work knew no limits, especially dedicating herself to education and healthcare.
Her pastoral mission continues to live on through the foundation.
The Beginning of the Mission
On July 5, 1949, four years after the end of World War II in Austria, she graduated as a teacher and made the decision to join the congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians in Gaissau, Vorarlberg, western Austria.
It was at that time that she received her new name as a member of the community: Sister Maria Herlinda.
On October 29, 1951, Sister Herlinda made her first profession of vows, which meant saying goodbye to her parents, since only two months later she would travel by ship with her companions Mathilde Larcher and Hildegard Binder to Colombia, with no possibility of returning to Austria being expected.
On January 12, 1952, they arrived on Colombian soil in Cartagena de Indias and went to the convent of Obra Pía, located on Calle de la Media Luna in the Getsemaní neighborhood, where she began her evangelizing mission in the Chambacú neighborhood.
As a Teacher
As a teacher, she got to know other places in Colombia, such as Medellín, where she taught at Palermo School in the El Poblado neighborhood; the city of Guarén, where she worked at San Francisco de Asís School; and Sahagún, where she served as principal of María Auxiliadora School.As an educator, she was not limited to her academic work in the classroom, but instead strengthened her bonds with the entire community, where she sought to instill Christian values and radiated her love and dedication, leaving an indelible mark.
In 1965, Mother Herlinda Moises was deeply impacted when she arrived in the district of Pasacaballos, where the many needs of its inhabitants encouraged her to deepen her work in this community.There, she founded the Bahía Missionary Team (EMBA). With the support of Fathers Pedro Nel Luna and Rafael Geney, a group of pastoral agents, and some members of the community, they planted the seeds of hope forever in the region.
Mother Herlinda promoted development projects in Pasacaballos and in communities along the Canal del Dique. She founded preschools, paved streets, supported artisans and fishermen through literacy programs, built a medical center, among many other initiatives.In fact, there is no development project in the community that is not connected to the human and spiritual commitment of Mother Herlinda Moises.
The Persecution of the Mission
In 1976, due to her social struggles and advocacy efforts, Mother Herlinda and her companions became targets of those who felt their economic interests were threatened.In October of that year, Cartagena Marine Infantry troops violently entered the parish office in Pasacaballos in search of hidden weapons or other evidence that would demonstrate support for subversive groups, as the missionaries had been accused of assisting such movements.The raid lasted six hours, and the parish priest Rafael Geney, a farmer, and Mother Herlinda were detained.
The National Security Doctrine in Colombia at that time led many to fear the worst. In addition, two other priests were detained, causing the imprisonment period to last five months, during which the treatment received by the detainees was not dignified.Mother Herlinda stated that she suffered psychological torture during this period.The efforts of the Archbishop of Cartagena at that time, Monsignor Rubén Isaza Restrepo, the pressure from human rights defense organizations, and the work of lawyers Hermes Luján and Jorge Enrique Cipagauta played an important role in the release of the prisoners.However, the persecution of the mission continued. In 1979, Mother Herlinda had to witness how a longtime collaborator of the foundation, Segismundo Acosta, known as “Segito,” was detained by secret service agents for interrogation.During his detention, he was tortured, causing severe damage to his arms due to the hanging torture inflicted upon him. Later, he traveled to Austria to undergo specialized therapy.
Awards
1982: Mother Herlinda and Segismundo Acosta received the Monsignor Óscar Romero Award in Salzburg.
1993: Recognition for her work for the benefit of the community of the Department of Bolívar, awarded by the Government of Bolívar on International Women’s Day.
1994: Award from the Austrian Government for her constant efforts on behalf of people in need.
1995: Honorary Mention and second place in the Cafam Woman of Colombia Award.
1996: Received from Mayor Guillermo Paniza the plaque recognizing her as a Master Teacher.
1998: Recognition for her continuous missionary work and her commitment to helping people in need, granted by the Archdiocese of Salzburg, Austria.
2001: Recognition from the city of Cartagena and the Cultural Center for 36 years of cultural work in the communities of the Canal del Dique and the Bay of Cartagena.
2002: Recognition to Fundación Social Cristiana for its 37 years of service promoting peace, awarded by the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia.
2005: Civil Order of Merit “Historical and Cultural Heritage of Humanity” in the rank of Grand Officer, awarded by the District Council of Cartagena.
2005: Honor of Merit to Fundación Social Cristiana for its 40 years of service to those most in need. CEDAL.
2005: Honorary Mention to Sister Herlinda Moises for her unconditional dedication during 40 years of service.
2006: Monsignor Eugenio Biffi Cross.
