Capuchinesses in Baden

Maria Anna experiences personally the closure of that convent

In 1840 Father Theodosius opened the boarding school of the Coronation of Our Lady. The school was meant to train "able teaching sisters". He also developed plans for the reform of the school education.

Father Theodosius intended to begin his plan of the education of society at large in the convent of the Capuchinesses in Baden. The enemies of the church would be fought with its own weapons i.e. promotion of education of society, especially through education of girls.

He was able to pursue his plans because of his position as chaplain of that convent since the autumn of 1838

Maria Anna Heimgartner (17 years), Anna Kramer (16 years) and Walburga Maeder (15 years) allowed themselves to be stirred by the enthusiasm and dynamism of the Capuchin. They became students at the pensionate of the Coronation of Our Lady, 1839. At the time Sr Seraphina Bochelen was superior.

2 February 1841 the sisters had to leave the convent in the midst of winter within 48 hours. The Canton government had declared the closure of the eight convents in the Canton Aargau and the arrest of Father Theodosius.

The rights of the catholic church were severely hampered by the Articles of Baden. The three girls had to discontinue their education and return home.