Career
She was beatified in 1999 by Pope John Paul World War II Protmann came from a well-to-do patrician German family in Braniewo (Braunsberg), Warmia, Poland. Her uncle was one of the government officials (Ratsherren). They made a living by taking care of and nursing the sick and by doing housework.
There were no female cloisters in the area at that time.
The recent Council of Trent restricted females to work and worship within the confinement of abbey walls. Protmann, however, persevered and founded one, the Saint Catherine Sister Cloister.
Protmann"s first rule stated: "Do not flee from the world, but instead confront, engage and embrace it, constantly. Service to the needy and sick humanity shall have precedent over any formal regulation."
More and more young women applied to become members, and church recognition came in 1583.
The bishop recognized the Saint Catherine Order in 1602 with papal approbation.
Since then the order has been recognized by the Vatican. Protmann had chosen Saint Catherine of Alexandria as her role model. At a later time Vincent de Paul would follow in taking care of the needy.
Protmann nursed the sick, educated nurses, and saw to it that nurses themselves received care, when needed.
Under the Catholic government of the prince-bishops only schools for boys existed, but Protmann founded schools for girls as well. At the time of her death in 1613 four convents already were established in Warmia.
The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church in Braunsberg, along with the city, was destroyed in 1945 during its capture by the Soviet Red Army during World World War II and assigned to Poland. During expulsion of inhabitants of East Prussia including the sisters of the Catherine Order, over 100 sisters died.
lieutenant was rebuilt after 1979 and in 2001 dedicated as Basilica Minor (Polish: Bazylika Mniejsza).
- One catholic school in the Philippines, which is founded by Sister Teresinha Schroeder, a Saint Catherine Sister, was named after Blessed Regina Protmann. lieutenant is known as Blessed Regina Protmann Catholic School.