English
Deutsch
Sister Marieta Stohldreier
I, Sister M. Marieta Stohldreier, was born on February 20, 1934 in Ochtrup, Westmünsterland. My parents - Heinrich and Amalia, the former Amalia Ostendorf - gave me the name Martha. I grew up on the parents' farm with seven siblings.I experienced the time of the Second World War. By and by, three of my brothers were sent to the front. A brother, 19 years old, was wounded in Russia and died from the injuries. The other two brothers came back from the war - seriously ill. As the youngest in the family, I was 14 years old, I had to assist my mother in the household and to help with field work. My sister was not interested in agriculture; she left the house when she was 20 years old.My father died in 1945 from the consequences of a robbery and a turmoil.
I left the school in 1948 and continued to help with various tasks on the farm. During the war many beggars from the Ruhr area came and knocked at our door. Sometimes they were 20 - 30 women, often Mothers, who had saved a few remainings out of the ruins, to exchange it for food. Sometimes, my mother said "no". Then I saw the sad eyes of the mothers.
I secretly went to the chicken house, took out eggs and ran after the women. It was probably the social conscience, that I inherited from my father. My heart was always devoted to the poor. When I was 16 years old, I came to a decision: I wanted to be there for many people. The desire urged me more and more to become a religious.
At the age of 20, I entered our Congregation against the resistance of my mother, my sister and my brothers. First, I did a six-month internship in the hospital.
After I learned nursing, my path led more and more into the work for the homeless in Münster. Later I worked for a soup kitchen in the former “German Democratic Republic” for 10 years. After the closure of the convent, I lived with two other sisters in a small town. There I visited old and sick people and I was actively rooted in the parish.
Today I live in the Motherhouse and as far as I can I visit old people in our adjacent home for the elderly. I am grateful for my vocation to serve in the healing ministry.
