Strahlfeld Abbey

The St. Dominikus Monastery in Strahlfeld is a monastery of the Missionary Dominican Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Strahlfeld near Roding (Cham district) in the Diocese of Regensburg.

During a recreational holiday, which was extended by the First World War, Sr. Ignatia Hasslinger and Sr. Alacoque Moosmann acquired the dilapidated Strahlfeld Castle to prepare young girls for missionary work in Africa as nuns. On May 29, 1917, they moved into the old castle estate with three other candidates. With great effort and dedication, they rebuilt the ruin. Two years later, a newly arrived candidate commented on the state of the monastery: "This is supposed to be a monastery!"

By the time of the canonical establishment of the monastery, it had become a respectable monastery, and the number of candidates had already reached 26. Despite great poverty, many young women who wanted to join came. In 1924, the first missionaries from Strahlfeld could be sent to Zimbabwe. In 1971, the 493rd and last young sister was sent on a mission.

In Germany, the sisters were active in agriculture, horticulture, and fruit tree cultivation, etc. In 1923, a domestic science school for girls was opened, which existed until 1993, except during the Second World War.