Sister M. Elsy

I was born in 1968 in the village of Purapuzha in the Idukki district of Kerala. My parents are Mrs. Mariyam and the late Mr. Devassy. I am the third child among six siblings (two boys and four girls). My father was a farmer, and my mother is a homemaker.

Initially, I lived with my grandparents in Ramapuram. Seeing their deep prayer life, the seed of faith began to grow in me. They encouraged me to learn all the prayers and took me along with them to church.

Later, my parents moved from Purapuzha to Upuzha in the Thrissur district, and since then, I stayed with them and my siblings. I gratefully remember and cherish the wonderful time we shared as a family. I always thank God for my parents, who were role models in both physical and spiritual growth.

I studied at St. Anne’s Girls High School and stayed in the hostel run by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC Sisters). There, I had the opportunity to take part in the Holy Eucharist every day, which helped me realize the importance of being close to God. The Sisters organized various spiritual and cultural programmes to guide and inspire us to choose the right path in life. Looking back, I had no intention of becoming a religious sister during my early school years, even though the CMC Sisters often spoke about vocations to religious life.

Sometimes, God speaks to us through friends, family members, people of faith, and even through life’s circumstances. These moments of insight can awaken thoughts we never had before. When I was in 9^th standard, a priest who worked in North India visited our school and shared his missionary experiences. I was deeply inspired by his service and felt that Jesus was calling me too.

I am especially grateful to Sr. Baylon of the CMC sisters, who encouraged me to attend vocation camps. These helped me discern my calling to religious life. When I expressed my desire to her, she invited me to join their congregation. However, I felt a strong desire to be a missionary in North India.

I shared this with my elder sister, who was in Indore at that time. She connected me with the Medical Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in Pithora. Later, Sister M. Gerburg contacted me through Father Thomas Vadakekary, the then parish priest of Pithora, who was on home holidays. Everything that followed felt like a miracle in my life.

Two other girls from Kerala joined me to travel with Father Thomas. We reached Pithora on December 7, 1985.

During my candidacy, I was sent to Tatibandh for my Higher Secondary studies at an English medium school run by the Sisters of the Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph (JMJ). After completing this two years’ curriculum, I went through the various stages of formation that helped me discern and commit myself to Jesus Christ.

I made my First Profession on January 25,1992 and my Final Vows on December 9, 1997. I celebrated my Silver Jubilee in 2017.

“What shall I render to the Lord for all His goodness to me?”
(Psalm 116:12)

Over the years, I have lived in different communities. At present, I am serving as a Lab Technician in the hospital at Anjali Niketan, Pithora. I am happy and content in my religious life and ever grateful to God for His countless blessings. I thank God for His mighty hand upon me throughout these years.

Lord, I thank You for choosing me and using me for Your mission. Direct and guide me as I continue this journey with You.

Sister Gertrude O’Connor, OSF

I was born in a rural area near O’Fallon, Illinois, on January 4, 1939, and the oldest of nine children in a family with Irish, German, French, and Italian heritage. As a child, I would visit the Motherhouse in Springfield, Illinois where Sister Joyce Gerardi, my aunt, lived.

When the time came to choose where I would attend high school, my parents gave me permission to leave home and enroll at St. Francis High School at the Motherhouse. After completing three years of education, I also sensed that my call in life was to be a member of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. On September 8, 1956, I entered the Community. I completed my education as a postulant while beginning formation. Soon after earning my diploma, I became a novice and focused my attention on learning about religious life.

Following my first profession of vows in 1959, I enrolled at St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield, and it was during my surgery rotation that I felt most at home. I have served in surgical nursing at our hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin, as a faculty member at St. John’s School of Nursing, the supervisor of Loretto Home at St. Francis Convent, and as a clinical nurse specialist for surgery at St. John’s Hospital (Springfield). In addition, I have served in community leadership and on the board of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS).

In 1971, I earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marillac College (St. Louis, Missouri). I also earned a master’s degree in nursing education from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, Illinois) in 1979 and a master’s degree in nursing from Rush University (Chicago, Illinois) in 1988.

My 66 years of religious life have been filled with many blessings. Each day, I have prayerfully journeyed with the Spirit who has led me along a beautiful path. I give thanks to God for this wonderful life.

Schwester M. Camilis Zysk

Im Jahr 1939, am 26. August wurde ich  in  Gladbeck, geboren. Meine Eltern, die Mutter, Helene geb. Hartmann und mein Vater, Anton Zysk, waren gut katholisch. Mein Vater, der Bergmann warm, wurde einige Tage vor meiner Geburt schon einberufen, so dass er mich nicht mehr kennen lernte. Und so wurde ich mitten im Ruhrgebiet groß. Ich besuchte die Kath Volksschule am Rosenhügel. Nach dem 8. Schuljahr wurde ich entlassen. Wir lebten in ganz normalen Verhältnissen, wie sie nach dem Krieg eben waren. Reich waren wir nicht, aber meine Eltern haben uns eine gute glückliche Kindheit geschenkt. In unserem Drei-Mädel–Haus  hatten wir alle von einem bestimmten Alter an unser kleinen Aufgaben mit zu erledigen. Da meine Mutter krank war, und ich die Älteste, fielen mir schon früh viele Aufgaben zu.

Bei uns gingen oft die Schwestern von der Familienpflege durch die Straße. Schon sehr früh, ich kann mich nicht genau erinnern wann, habe ich zu meiner Mutter gesagt, so will ich auch werden. Doch wie das so ist, dieses Hingezogen sein verlor sich später bis hin zu dem Tag, der für mich die Entscheidung brachte.

In der Rückschau auf mein Leben, fallen mir besonders einige Ereignisse ein, die zwar klein sind, aber für mich weg- und lebensweisend sind. In meinem Elternhaus wurde  das Tischgebet immer gut gepflegt und uns Kindern wurde das Beten auch gelehrt. Für meine Mutter war die Kriegszeit eine sehr schwierige Zeit, da wir immer mal wieder in eine andere Gegend evakuiert  wurden. Aber meine Mutter hielt im Glauben stand und führte auch uns Kinder dorthin.

Dann bekamen wir auf einmal Post aus Amerika und  meine Großtante, Schwester M. Camilla, geb. Klara Achtermann  meldete sich.  Sie war Mauritzer Franziskanerinn und schon als Postulantin nach Amerika  gekommen. Dadurch entspann sich nun nach dem Krieg ein reger Briefwechsel. Ich durfte dann immer die Briefe schreiben und aus unserem Alltag berichten.

Nach meiner Schulentlassung fand ich Arbeit im Horster Krankenhaus, zunächst an der Pforte und später im Labor. Ich begann die Schwestern zu beobachten, ihre Art mit den Menschen und auch mit den Mitarbeitern umzugehen. Etwas wurde in mir wach, was ich nicht zu deuten wusste Da ich jung war, ging ich auch oft mit einigen Arbeitskloleginnen zum Tanz, doch manchmal  hatte ich das Gefühl, da nicht hin zugehören und die Lust am Tanz verging mir.

An einem Sonntagnachmittag war ich in der Kapelle. Dann kamen die Schwestern und als  Ruhe eingekehrt war, gab es ein Klopfzeichen und alle Schwestern erhoben auf einmal die Hände zum Gebet. Das war für mich ein erschütterndes Erlebnis, das mich sehr lange beschäftigte. Einmal sprach ich mit Schwester M. Gilduina darüber und sie erklärte mir das. Ich glaube, dass dieses Erlebnis den Ausschlag gegeben hat meinem inneren  Anruf zu folgen. 1959 fand ich Aufnahme bei den Mauritzer Franziskanerinnen. Meine erste Profess legt ich 1962 ab und 1967 die ewige Profess.

Die Ausbildung zur Krankenschwester fand im Franziskus Hospital statt. Nach dem Krankenpflegeexamen fand ich meinen ersten Einsatz in Havixbeck , einem kleinen Krankenhaus auf dem Land. Einige Zeit später in Emsdetten im Labor und Röntgen Nachdem ich dann  9 Jahre in Haselünne meinen Dienst tat, sollte ich eine andere Aufgabe übernehmen. Über die Diözese Münster machte ich ein Bonn beim Borromäusverein eine Ausbildung zur Büchereiassistentin. In dieser Aufgabe  war ich viele Jahre tätig  und habe vier Büchereien in den Krankenhäusern in Emsdetten, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven und Leer eingerichtet. 2002 begann ich ein Fernstudium zur Leiterin von Wort Gottes Feiern an Sonn-und Feiertagen über das theologische Institut Trier, welches ich dann 2004 mit Erfolg abschloss. Dankbar war ich meiner Oberin, dass sie mir dieses Studium erlaubte.

Viele Wort Gottes-Feiern habe ich für die Gemeinde und im Krankenaus gehalten. Diese Aufgabe habe ich mit viel Herzblut getan. Nun heißt es Abschied nehmen aus Alters- und Gesundheitsgründen. Ich weiß, dass viele Schwestern, auch in den USA, meinen Weg mit ihrem Gebet begleitet haben. Viele davon sind schon lange heimgeholt zu Gott, aber ich denke noch immer an sie. Ein besonderer Dank gilt aber meinen Eltern, die mir Vorbild und Beispiel waren und uns gelehrt haben was wichtig ist im Leben.

Sister M. Celina

We know that God makes all things work together
for the good of those who have been called according to his decree.
(Rom. 8:28)

In 1941, I was born in Tottori, the second of four children.  When I was 20 years old, I received the gift of Baptism.  In Nursing School, a classmate invited me to go with her to see the church.  Both of us had just entered nursing school and were not acquainted with the area.  One day, we found a small church. Timidly we opened the door and found a sign: “Little Flower Kindergarten” and “CATHOLIC KURAYOSHI CHURCH”.  On the first floor was the kindergarten, and on the second was the chapel.  The kindergarten teacher introduced us to the pastor, who was a young Jesuit priest.  Then my friend and I started instructions on the Catholic teachings from this priest.  I told the priest: “I would like to hear the teachings, but I will not receive the Catholic baptism”. At that time, I was afraid that if become a Catholic, I would be tied up by restrictions, and loose my freedom. 

We came regularly to listen to the priest.  However, I noticed that my friend who invited me to go with her, had quit coming after a while. I was alone to receive the instructions.  Father used romaji script, and was not fluent in Japanese, but with all his heart talked about the Scriptures.  This little church community was like a family, and the Christians were very friendly and kind.  After the Mass on Sundays we mixed familiarly in the conference room and spent precious times.

During a period of two year experience, I joined the activities of the Legion of Mary, visiting the sick in the apartment next to the Church and in the surrounding area. During that time, I began to realize that I would not become as restricted as I thought.I received the grace of baptism at the age of 20.

Thinking of my past experiences, I had become familiar with the words of Scripture at the age of 16. About the time we graduated from Middle School, as classmates we exchanged messages in a notebook which we passed around.  When my notebook was passed back to me, the message that caught my eye was: “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it.  But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is narrow, and there are few people who find it.” (Matthew 7:13).  When I looked at who signed the message, it was that of our music directress, and I felt a whole new impulse.  However, at that time, I did not search for the Scripture at the church.

In a certain book I read an article:  “In that person ‘the Word of God’ may be found fermenting as yeast. It takes time for the yeast to ferment within me, and it may be guiding me…” 

When I was thinking of religious life, Father Van de Vijver (CICM) was the pastor.  As I went to speak to Father about it, he said, “I only know of communities in Himeji”, and referred me to this Community.  I had worked at St. Mary’s Hospital for a while from April, 1965, as a nurse, and knew it was an Order which came from America, and from which Sister Ruth came, and Japanese Sisters belonged.

In September 1965, I entered the Community with two other candidates, and pronounced First Vows in 1968. I studied the Sophia University Religious course two years in Osaka; then I was sent to St. Francis Hospital in Nagasaki, where I worked as a nurse. For me, it was a great grace from God that I could meet with the people of Nagasaki, who had a history of deep faith. In October, 1973, I pronounced my Final Vows.

In 1986 I was appointed as the religious formation director for the junior sisters for four years.  After which, I was sent again to St. Francis Hospital in Nagasaki.

From January, 2000, I went to the American Province to study English. From September 2000 to July, 2001, I took the ETU Religious Formation Course in Chicago.  This was a very interesting opportunity and afforded me precious experiences in meeting these international students.

In October 2001, as the beginners’ formation directress, I stayed for a short time in the Formation House of our Province in Seoul (of which Sister Laetitia was the responsible person).  I lived with the Korean Candidates, and was able to get a feeling for the Korean culture.

In the autumn of 2004, at the invitation of a Conventual Franciscan Father, I participated in a vocation activity in which five Religious Communities of Sisters visited Ho Chi Minh, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang Provinces.  This was an incentive for which we have been gifted with new energy and membership.

 Dear God, please renew daily my heart, wanting to live always according to your will!

Schwester Pacis Bao

Am 8. April 1921 wurde ich in Shan-Tung, China geboren. Mir wurde der Name Yuan Ying (Catherine) gegeben. Ich war das jüngste Kind von vier Mädchen und drei Jungen. Meine Eltern, antichinesische Landbesitzer, waren angesichts der zunehmenden Präsenz der Japaner, die gegen die römisch-katholische Kirche eingestellt waren, sehr um meine Sicherheit besorgt. Deswegen brachten sie mich im Jahr 1925 in ein Waisenhaus mit Schule im nahe gelegenen Ping Yin. 1932 wechselte ich zu einer weiter entfernten Schule in Jinan, China. Dort lernte ich die Krankenschwestern des hl. Franziskus kennen. Schwester Clementia, zusammen mit anderen Schwestern, besuchte uns mehrfach und sprach über das Ordensleben und die Arbeit im St. Joseph’s Hospital in Jinan. Ich war sehr beeindruckt von ihnen und beschloss, mich ihnen nach Abschluss meiner Ausbildung anzuschließen.

Am 8. September 1944 trat ich in die Gemeinschaft ein. Es war die Zeit des Zweiten Weltkrieges und die Schwestern kümmerten sich um die verletzten Soldaten. Am 17. Oktober 1945 wurde ich eingekleidet und erhielt wegen des gerade unterzeichneten Friedensvertrages den Namen Pacis, der „Frieden“ bedeutet.

Am 24. September 1947 legte ich meine erste Profess ab. Aufgrund der zunehmend instabiler werdenden politischen Situation in China mussten die Schwestern gehen, und so segelten einige von uns am 12. Mai 1948 auf dem Passagierschiff „SS General Meigs“ Richtung USA. Nach unserer Ankunft in San Francisco, Kalifornien, fuhren wir mit dem Zug nach Springfield, Illinois, und kamen dort am 5. Juni 1948 an. Der Plan war, drei Jahre zu bleiben und dann nach China zurückzukehren. Da sich die Bedingungen in China jedoch nicht verbesserten, kehrten wir nicht zurück und hatten über 30 Jahre auch nur sehr begrenzten Kontakt mit unseren Familien.Leider waren viele Mitglieder meiner Familie getötet worden.

Ich bin Absolventin der St. John’s Krankenpflegeschule in Springfield, Illinois (1963). Ungefähr fünf Jahre lang war ich als Krankenschwester im St. John’s Hospital in Springfield und im St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, tätig. Im Jahr 1968 verbesserte sich die politische Situation in Taiwan und die Schwestern beschlossen, eine Mission zu eröffnen. Drei chinesische Schwestern und ich meldeten uns freiwillig, um den Armen in Kaohsiung in der „Star of the Sea-Klinik“ zu dienen.

Im Jahr 2000 besuchte ich einen Gebetsgottesdienst über Vergebung in Kaohsiung. Ich wusste, dass ich denen vergeben musste, die meine Familie getötet hatten, dass ich den Hass loslassen musste, den ich seit fast 50 Jahren hatte. Es waren über 5.000 Menschen im Gottesdienst und der Heilige Geist kam zu mir und berührte meine Seele. Ich war endlich in Frieden und vergab ihnen. Nach 34 Jahren in Taiwan kehrte ich 2002 nach Springfield zurück und bin seither aktiv geblieben. Heute, halte ich täglich meine Gebetszeit und ich verehre weiterhin in besonderer Weise die Gottesmutter.

Schwester M. Gudrun Konert

Ich wurde am 28. April 1958 als Gisela Konert in Holtwick, einem Ortsteil der Gemeinde Rosendahl im Kreis Coesfeld geboren. Aufgewachsen bin ich mit 6 Geschwister auf einem Bauernhof mit allen Tieren und was sonst noch so zu einem Münsterländer Hof dazugehört. Da alle Geschwister zwischen 1958 und 1967 geboren sind, herrschte immer „Leben in der Hütte“. Meine Mutter versorgte den großen Haushalt, neben den 7 Kindern gehörten noch die Eltern und einige Geschwister meines Vaters dazu. Mein Vater war Holzschuhmacher, arbeitete als Landwirt und Schreiner.

Nach meinem Schulbesuch absolvierte ich im St. Anna Stift in Stadtlohn eine 3-jährige Ausbildung als Hauswirtschafterin und später als Wirtschafterin.

Mit der Entscheidung für ein Leben im Kloster haben meine Eltern schon beinahe gerechnet. Eine Großtante und Tante, Schwester meines Vaters, lebten in der Gemeinschaft der Hiltruper Missionsschwestern, so ist diese Lebensform bereits Bestandteil der Familie. Als junge Frau auf der Suche nach dem richtigen Weg, waren Empfindungen und Gefühle wichtige Entscheidungsträger. Die Besinnungswochenenden bei den Mauritzer Franziskanerinnen brachte die Erleuchtung: „Das ist es!“ Ich fühlte mich wohl und aufgenommen in dieser Gemeinschaft.  Die Spiritualität des Hl. Franziskus, sein Leben und Wirken ist meine Berufung.

Im Rückblick auf meinen Lebensweg war die Entscheidung gut so. Ich würde mich heute wieder so entscheiden, denn ich betrachte mein Leben als eine Berufung. Nach der Entscheidung für das Ordensleben, trat ich dann am 27. April 1983 in die Gemeinschaft der Mauritzer Franziskanerinnen ein. Die Zeit des Postulates diente als Einführungszeit. Mit der Aufnahme ins Noviziat am 27. November1983 erfolgte die zweijährige Noviziats Ausbildung. Inhalte dieser Zeit waren das persönliche und gemeinschaftliche Gebet und das Leben in der Gemeinschaft, vertieft und geprägt vom Geist des Evangeliums und der franziskanischen Tradition. Nach dieser Zeit legte ich am 27. Oktober 1985 die erste Profess und am 1. Juli 1990 meine ewige Profess ab, in der ich mich für immer an Gott und die Gemeinschaft gebunden habe.

Gemeinschaft ist ein großes Geschenk, das ich nicht alleine auf dem Weg bin, das immer einer da ist, der mich trägt: Psalm 23 Vers 1+3:“DerHerr ist mein Hirte, nichts wird mir fehlen, er stillt mein Verlangen, er leitet mich auf rechten Pfaden, treu seinem Namen!“

Mein Hobby ist das Backen. Ich backe gerne und konnte dieses in verschiedenen Häusern unserer Gemeinschaft ausführen, Konvente im Rheinland und Münsterland, sowie 15 Jahre im Kapuzinerkloster in Münster und 6 Jahre im Konvent in Werne. Seit Ende Mai 2020 lebe ich in der St. Antonius von Padua Gruppe im neuen Haus des Mutterhauses in Münster. Ich lebe hier mit 4 Mitschwestern und sorge für die vielfältigen Aufgaben im Haus. Ich lebe gerne hier und bin meiner Berufung dankbar. Mit Blick auf mein Ordensleben möchte ich schließen mit Franziskus: Das ist es was ich will, das ist es was ich suche, danach verlange ich aus meinem Herzen!

Sister M. Rosa, Yuriko Tsutsumi

My name is Sister Rosa, Yuriko Tsutsumi. I was raised in a devout catholic family. I was born in Wakayama, which is south of Osaka, and I have seven siblings: three older brothers, two older sisters, and a younger sister.

I was baptized on the third day after I was born. My father had come up with a spiritual name for me, after the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph). My baptismal name is Mary. Joseph holds Jesus and a staff with lilies in bloom, so my Japanese name is Yuriko. ‘Yuri’ means lilies in Japanese. My father was a catechist who was mainly an interpreter for French missionaries. He was born in Hirado, Nagasaki, the first place where St. Francis Xavier landed in Japan.

I learned about the Religious life when I entered the mission school “Osaka Shin-Ai Jogakuin High School”.

I came to know about our Congregation through my father’s hospitalization at St. Francis Hospital, Nagasaki. I felt God’s grace as my father recovered from his near-death condition and was able to leave the hospital. When I was 23 years old, I got a job at St. Francis Hospital.

The following year, as I was watching Sister Fridolin and Sister Barbara at work, I began to think, “I want to be a part of this.” That’s what good medical nursing looked like, from serving patients and taking care of their meals to cleaning.

However, I felt I couldn’t follow the Latin prayers coming from the convent’s chapel which is connected to the hospital. After the Vatican Council, Sister Asumputa and I attended a religious study group once a week, and gradually my heart changed. As if carried by a wave, I was led into the Congregation.

Looking back on it now, I feel that I really wanted to become a Sister for a while, because I saw my two brothers going to seminary and trying to become a priest. I prayed for them. One of my two brothers received ordination to the priesthood and I was thinking of becoming a Sister. The other brother started working at an orphanage in the diocese of Osaka. At that time I forgot that I want to become a religious Sister.

At the age of 27, after giving my mother a hard time – she was the one who most desired to see me as a Religious – it gradually became clear to me, that Jesus is the one I want to marry.

The following year, 1967, at the age of 28, I joined the Congregation, and made my first vows on September 3, 1970. I professed my final vows on September 3, 1977, the year we became a Province. I worked as a nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Nagasaki, St. Mary’s Hospital in Himeji and Easter Village in Ashikaga.

In 1990, I went to Korea as a foreign missionary. I worked hard to learn the Korean culture. In Korea, I cared for the elderly and served the poor, and in 2008, after finishing my time in Korea, I returned to Japan. Even today I have a missionary zeal for Korea.

In 2020, I celebrated my 50th anniversary of religious life. I look back in gratitude. Everything happened by God’s grace.

Sister M. Dietmara Ahlmann

My story of life

Being asked about my age, I gladly reply:
“I am two months younger than our Pope Francis.” I really appreciate him. His positive attitude towards life, his outgoing personality and his love of freedom repeatedly opens up pathways, according to the scripture:  “You set me free in the open.” For this I thank the Lord and the people who walk the way with me.“

Childhood, youth and education

My family home is located directly on the church square in Lüdinghausen, a small town in the Münsterland. So our family, church and community life were a natural unity. I grew up with four siblings and a large number of cousins. Our kindergarten and later the high school were run by Franciscan nuns and one of my aunts was a Franciscan, too. Four cousins felt called to the priesthood, so I was very close to the church and the religious orders. I also felt the call to become a Religious Sister.

After my graduation from the school of nursing it seemed natural, that I felt drawn to the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, especially since I went on a pilgrimage to Rome / Assisi together with my mother, on which I got to know St. Francis in a very new way.

And the certainty grew, that in a special way, I want to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis according to the gospel. A Franciscan, a Sister, a nurse. Yes, that’s what I wanted to be.

Entrance in Community

In 1962, I joined the Congregation, at that time together with 27 like-minded young women. It was a blessed, a wonderful and a carefree time.

But then everything turned out differently: Shortly after my first profession, I was called to the former General Superior, Mother Odilia. She told me: “In the future, we need a dentist with exam for the community” and she added: “We thought about it and we want you, to go for study.”

Of course I was very scared and also disappointed. It saddened me to stop working as a nurse in the future. And I also expressed my doubts whether at all I can complete such a long course successfully.

After a period of reflection, I said with a heavy heart: “YES, I will try it.” I had just recently professed my first vows, and as it says i n our vows, “I place myself completely at the disposition of this community for the service of the church.”

With God’s help and the invaluable support of my Sisters I passed the state examination and earned a doctorate.  I am particularly grateful to my Sisters, who worked for years in the dental practice with great dedication and who supported me with advice, practical help and prayer.

Working as a dentist became my new profession and gave me a lot o joy. The environment grew. In addition to the Sisters’ treatment, I assumed emergency services in the hospital and beyond. Especially the work with children/people with disabilities in ‘Stift Tilbeck’ was challenging. As a Sister, however, I had a special advantage, because our Sisters in Stift Tilbeck were persons of trust to the patients, and that’s where I belonged.

In many other situations, I experienced help and encouragement from people by my side, and especially from my Sisters.

And all in all, I feel that God is on my side. I do not know situations like God-forsakenness or threatening danger. Maybe I have worries, but in everything, again and again, I experienced what Jesus promises to us “I am with you every day”.
For me, this promise has become an encouraging word from the Holy Scripture.

Due to my profession, the motherhouse remained my permanent residence for almost 60 years. Sisters were jokingly saying, that I became a so-called ‘motherhouse pillar’.

The terms in office in the General- and Provincial Leadership are very precious to me. In this time my “mother house horizon” grew worldwide, for which I am very grateful. It is important in everyday life, to support and to shape the tasks and the aims of the community.

Now, at my age, my life is getting shorter and the thoughts of the end of life or of eternal life are coming more often. What will happen and how will it be? For me, heaven is a symbol for eternal home with God, a symbol for security, peace and joy and that is what I wish for all who were or are still with me on the way here.

For the many shortcomings or difficulties in everyday life, I always like to take St. Francis as a model. He loved the church despite all weaknesses and shortcomings. Through his life he gave the church a new face and he said:

“Lord, let it begin with me.”

Sister M. Gifty Njarackavelil

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born,
I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5

I was born as the elder daughter to my parents on February 04, 1992 in Cherthala, Alappuzha District, Kerala, India.

God thoughtfully selected my parents who have very strong catholic faith. I firmly believe; God had a wonderful plan even from the time of my conception. One of the events that I heard from my parents is:  my parents took me to the church for my baptism. Holy Mass was being celebrated on the other side altar of the church and it was the time for offertory. The priest who gave baptism for me told to my parents: “This child is baptised at the time of offertory and she will be for the Lord forever”. And it became true.

As the years passed, I had a desire to become a nun. I was interested in reading books; therefore, the religious sisters in our parish gave me many books of saints.  This helped me to create an intense desire to live and die for Jesus. During these years, I happened to read a book about St. Francis. Thus, my desire became strong to be a Franciscan nun. My aunt Sister M. Archana is in our Franciscan congregation.  I consulted her for her opinion of my desire to be a Franciscan religious.   She asked me to complete my higher secondary education. 

As I completed the higher secondary, my father was not willing to send me to a far place to become a religious; as state of Chhattisgarh is 1,300 kilometres away from Kerala.  This was very challenging for me. Every day from morning till night, my tears were rolling down my cheeks. Finally, father agreed with my decision. My parents and aunt helped me to prepare myself to respond to God’s call.

Fulfilling God’s plan, on August 01, 2009 I joined our Congregation.  After five years of initial formation, I professed on May 07, 2014. At present I am studying for Chartered Accountant in Trivandrum, Kerala.

The main focus of my religious vocation is to possess Jesus completely and to proclaim Him through my life. I say with St. Paul; I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ.  Philippians 3:8.I wish to glorify God in all the little things assigned to me in my religious life.

Sister M. Marieta Stohldreier

I 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 my parents’ farm with seven siblings. I experienced the time of the Second World War. Soon, 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 severely 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 the following 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.

Schwester M. Maris

Am 16. Juni 1943 wurde ich, Maria Elisabeth Keller, als Zweitjüngstes von 11 Kindern meiner Eltern Maria und Franz Keller in Ibbenbüren geboren. Mit fünf älteren Brüdern und fünf Schwestern verlebte ich meine Kindheit, vertraut mit Tieren und Landarbeit, die Basis war für unsere christlich religiöse Großfamilie.

Da mein Vater im Hauptberuf auf der Zeche unter Tage beschäftigt war, mussten besonders die Brüder und auch die älteren Schwestern bei der Landwirtschaft helfen. Alle waren neben ihrer Berufsarbeit – ob im Büro, bei der Post, als Schneider oder in der Fabrik – täglich im häuslichen Betrieb eingespannt. Alle packten nach Kräften mit an. Auch wir Jüngsten waren nach dem Unterricht in der Schule bei der Feldarbeit eingeteilt. Mir machte die Arbeit schon im Kindesalter viel Freude, besonders wenn ich die großen Flächen der Felder mit unserem Pferd Flora pflügen oder eggen durfte. So wuchs wohl die Hoffnung meines Vaters, ich würde später die Landwirtschaft übernehmen.

Bei mir aber reifte der Wunsch, nach der Schulzeit (acht Jahre Volksschule) einen kaufmännischen Beruf zu erlernen, den ich auch einige Jahre zur großen Enttäuschung meines Vaters ausgeübt habe. Doch meine „innere Stimme“ regte sich vermehrt immer häufiger, einen religiösen Beruf ergreifen zu wollen, aber da war mein ganz persönliches Empfinden mir im Weg, nämlich eine Furcht vor Krankenhausbesuchen.

Um dem entgegen zu treten, ließ ich mich zur Malteser Hilfs-Schwesternhelferin ausbilden, zu dem auch eine Praktikumszeit im Krankenhaus gehörte. Durch diese Konfrontation im Krankenhaus wuchs meine Begeisterung zu diesem Einsatz und ich verpflichtete mich –  neben meiner beruflichen Tätigkeit als Verkäuferin im großen Kaufhaus – zum 14-tägigen Wochenenddienst im St. Elisabeth-Hospital in Ibbenbüren bei den Schwestern vom Heiligen Franziskus. Jetzt war ich nach meiner dreijährigen kaufmännischen Lehre nebenbei meinem inneren Wunsch, „für andere da zu sein“, sehr viel nähergekommen.

Nach einigen Jahren wurde der Wunsch nach einem geistlichen Beruf in mir immer stärker, wohl auch durch meine Aufgabe als Gruppenleitung in der CAJ, wo sich doch meine „Unruhe des Herzens“ immer wieder meldete. So machte ich eine Ausbildung als Caritas-Krankenschwester im Jahre 1964 in Ibbenbüren. Diese Aufgabe machte mir sehr schnell deutlich, dass hier meine Stärken lag Menschen helfen zu können, und die mich ganz ausfüllte. Hier fühlte ich mich am Arbeitsplatz, im Krankenhaus und im Kontakt zu den Ordensschwestern ganz zu Hause. Doch ich war noch immer nicht am Ziel meines Weges, „was will ER noch von mir“ beschäftigte mein Herz und meine Gedanken über etliche Jahre im Beruf. Im Juni hörte ich die Predigt eines Franziskanerpaters zum Thema „Nachfolge“, da zündete endlich bei mir das Wort „Folge mir“ wie ein Funke. Noch am gleichen Tag rief ich im Mutterhaus in Münster an und bat um einen Vorstellungstermin bei der Noviziatsleiterin.

Endlich hatte ich mein Ziel vor Augen, kündigte meine Anstellung zum 1. Oktober und trat am 2. Oktober 1969 in den Orden der Mauritzer Franziskanerinnen in Münster ein. Ich war inzwischen 26 Jahre alt. Für meine Eltern war es sehr schwer, da die Weiterführung der Landwirtschaft nun nicht mehr gegeben war. Keiner meiner Geschwister hatte sich für diesen Beruf entschieden und somit wurde unser Landbestand zu Bauland erklärt und auch so genutzt. Unter Tränen haben meine Eltern aber meine Entscheidung akzeptiert, meine Geschwister dagegen reagierten mit Unverständnis.

In der mir noch unbekannten Atmosphäre eines Klosters durchlief ich mit zwei weiteren Postulantinnen die vorgegebene Postulats–, Noviziats- und Junioratszeit. Beim Arbeitseinsatz in der Krankenpflege waren meine Kenntnisse nicht relevant, eher hinderlich, denn wir hatten überall zu dienen und zu fragen.

Nach der zeitlichen Profess 1972 schlossen sich Einsätze auf den Stationen im Hospital an, die mich auch ganz forderten, beruflich wie auch im Ordensleben. Doch dies war die Zeit, wo wir gebraucht wurden und die meinem Ideal entsprach, ganz für Gott und die Menschen da sein zu wollen. Meine ewige Profess legte ich im Jahre 1976 ab.

Von 1984 – 1985 absolvierte ich die Ausbildung zur Pflegedienstleitung und Lehrtätigkeit an Krankenpflegeschulen.

Nach einigen Einsätzen in verschiedenen Hospitälern war ich fast 13 Jahre im Stift Tilbeck, einer Einrichtung für geistig Behinderte und akut psychiatrisch erkrankte Personen. 1986 wurde ich zur Provinzratsschwester der Rheinischen Provinz Christkönig gewählt; diese Aufgabe habe ich neben meiner Tätigkeit bis 1989 ausgeübt.

Während meiner Zeit im Stift Tilbeck durfte ich aktiv mitarbeiten im Vorstand des Katholischen Verbandes für Behinderte auf Bundesebene, Fachverband des Deutschen Caritasverbandes Freiburg. Es gab mir Kraft und Weitblick, in diesem Gremium aller Leiter von Katholischen Behinderteneinrichtungen sechs Jahre als gewähltes Mitglied als einzige Ordensfrau mitzuarbeiten zum Wohl der Behinderten.

Aus gesundheitlichen Gründen beendete ich 2001 die Tätigkeit im Stift Tilbeck. Nach einer Auszeit übernahm ich im Elisabeth-Haus (Seniorenheim) in Emsbüren die Seelsorge und Betreuung der Bewohner für zehn Jahre. Es war eine sehr interessante und vielseitige Aufgabe, die ich gern ausgeführt habe in enger Zusammenarbeit mit der Leitung und den Mitarbeitern des Hauses, wie auch mit den Dorfbewohnern und der Kirche.

2011 erbat der Bischof von Osnabrück eine Schwester für die Seelsorge im Gefängnis in Bremen. Ich habe diese Aufgabe gern angenommen und fast vier Jahre durchgeführt. In vielen Glaubensgesprächen und Schuldbekenntnissen der Gefangenen konnte ich oft nur zuhören, aber auch den Betroffenen Hoffnung auf einen Neuanfang vermitteln.

Nebenbei war ich in der Schule St. Josef in Oslebshausen in der Betreuung der Kinder beim Mittagstisch und bei Aufsicht der Schulaufgaben eingesetzt. Der interreligiösen Kontaktgruppe der Gemeinde mit den muslimischen Frauen war ich sehr verbunden und habe regelmäßig an den Treffen und dem Austausch teilgenommen. Gemeinsam haben wir durch intensive Gespräche erörtert, was uns verbindet und trägt.

2014 übernahm ich für zwei Jahre eine Aufgabe im Pfortendienst in Telgte im Haus Maria-Hilf. Anschließend hatte ich einen Einsatz in der Seelsorge mit Sterbebegleitung und Betreuung der Kapelle im St. Marien-Hospital Vreden. Diese intensive Aufgabe forderte mich sehr stark.

Seit Oktober 2019 lebe ich nun wieder im Mutterhaus in Münster im Konvent. Für mich ist es nach vielen unterschiedlichen Tätigkeiten und Einsätzen wie ein Zurückkommen nach Hause, wofür ich dankbar bin und hier anfallende Arbeiten gern übernehme. Um unseren gemeinsamen Auftrag „Christi heilende Gegenwart“ zu vermitteln, bin ich wöchentlich im Münsterschen Kirchenfoyer anwesend und aufnahmebereit für viele Begegnungen. Ich hoffe, noch viele Jahre unserer Gemeinschaft, den Mauritzer Franziskanerinnen, dienen zu können, zum Zeugnis der Kirche in dieser Welt.

Sister M. Marlene Schmidt

“I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, Do not fear, I will help you.” 
 (Isaiah 41:13)

This quote from the Book of Isaiah has deeply influenced my life in the community and was especially significant at the beginning of my religious journey.

I was born on September 24, 1951, in Friesoythe-Neuscharrel, a small town in the Oldenburg region, within the district of Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony. My parents, Anna and Bernhard Schmidt, were farmers. I grew up with two brothers and two sisters in a multigenerational household that also included our grandmother, two aunts, and a cousin. From an early age, I experienced the richness of community in this setting, which gave me a sense of security and belonging. However, living in such a household also meant contributing to the family’s farm, household chores, and fieldwork, which I particularly enjoyed.

The Christian faith was an integral part of my family’s life. The Sunday church service, attendance at weekday church services, the communal prayer of the rosary in October, and the May devotions in the family — all these were the most natural parts of life and were never questioned; they simply belonged to my life. My brothers and sisters and I were actively involved in the church. For my brothers it was the ministry as altar servers; for my sisters and for me it were the lector ministry, the parish council,the girls’ groups, charity collections, and library work. My parents always encouraged us in these activities.

I attended elementary school in my hometown of Neuscharrel for nine years and then the intermediate commercial school in Friesoythe. After graduating from commercial school, I worked in the office of a slaughterhouse for 17 years. The serious phase of life began.

The year 1974 was a very difficult year for my family. At the age of 55, my father died of a brain tumor. This was a very serious blow of fate for my family and me. My youngest sister was just 11 years old. During this time I got to know the Mauritzer Franciscan Sisters. After my father’s death, I volunteered there on Sundays for 12 years and got to know sisters who helped me a lot with my grief for my father. In 1978, my mother died at the age of 59. During this time I experienced not only grief, but also learned what it meant to have a family where untity is a priority. I also completed additional training as a teacher and taught shorthand and typing to young people at various educational institutions.

During that time, I often asked myself if that is all there is. I did not really want to enter a religious community. In my free time I had many contacts with Religious.  A Sister once asked me, when I was going to enter the Congregation, and I replied, “When Easter and Christmas will fall on the same day.” To prove to myself that I didn’t want to do that, I indeed built a house, although I never moved in. For a long time, I reflected on whether God was calling me to follow Him. I participated in weekends of reflection in the Motherhouse, I talked with sisters from different communities. The decisive factor in my decision to join a Franciscan community was the Catholics’ Convention in Aachen in 1986. A sermon given by Bishop Hemmerle on the theme “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” touched me, spoke to me, and brought a restlessness to me. Just at that time, the company where I worked was dissolved and I had to look for a new job. At that time I made a ‘deal’ with the dear Lord. I prayed to find a new job. I didn’t want to enter because of not having a job, because then I would have thought that the religious life was an emergency solution. But suddenly I had the opportunity to get several jobs at once. And so I was able to decide freely to accept God’s call.

In 1987, I entered the religious community of the Mauritzer Franciscan Sisters in Münster. The beginning was not easy, and in a crisis, when I wanted to leave the Congregation, God gave me the Bible verse from the Book of Isaiah. This was a promise of God to me personally. In 1989, I professed my first vows. In the retreat before the day of first profession, I had doubts and God gave me another Bible verse from the Gospel of Luke: Let the dead bury their dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God. For me, this was both; a mission and a mandate. In 1997, I professed my perpetual vows.

During the years of Juniorate, I often worked in the patient reception and in this time I also graduated as an office clerk. But at the same time, I felt the desire to work in the pastoral care, in the parish.

My wish was fulfilled in 1992/1994, when I attended a further qualification measure in pastoral care,  in the work with the elderly. Following this, I worked in various facilities and parishes. From 2000 to 2003, I completed a further training in hospital pastoral care in the Diocese of Münster. After my certification I got a job in Recklinghausen as a hospital pastoral care worker, but with the assignment in the pastoral care of the elderly. I am still there today and have been working for 18 years in two homes for the elderly and in a large parish. During this time I was able to complete additional studies in palliative care and grief counseling. Since the Bible is important to me and my life, I also had the opportunity to be trained as a bibliologist in the Diocese of Münster. I am very grateful to my community for my training and further education.  I really enjoy working with the elderly and working in the parish of St. Peter in Recklinghausen.

Looking back, I can say: God goes with me on all paths and the Good News is the direction for my life. Because the promise of Jesus: I am with you always is a very personal promise for me. That is why I look to the future with confidence, because I am on the way in the name of the Lord.

Schwester M. Annette Ferneding

Es war im Vorkriegsjahr 1936, als ich in die Familie Ludwig und Anna Ferneding am 10. September in Nikolausdorf geboren und auf den Namen Elisabeth getauft wurde. In der Geschwisterreihe von 7 Kindern war ich die 5, mit 4 Brüdern und 2 Schwestern. Zur Familie gehörten auch die Großeltern. Ich erlebte das friedliche Sterben meiner Großmutter und einer Schwester, bald nach ihrer Geburt. In einer gläubigen Familie fühlte ich mich geborgen und bin froh aufgewachsen.

Eines Tages verbrannte ich beine Beine mit heißem Wasser. Zum Verbinden meiner Brandwunden kam an jedem Tag Schwester Nacalis mit dem Fahrrad angefahren. Ich habe mich schon gefreut, wenn ich sie ankommen sah – mit wehendem Schleier und lachendem Gesicht. War sie die Erste, durch die der Berufungs-Gedanke in mein Kinderherz gelegt wurde?

In meiner Schulzeit erlebte ich den 2. Weltkrieg und besonders 1945 harte Angriffe zwischen den Fronten. Viele Tage verbrachte ich mit einem entzündeten Bein im Bunker, bis ich durch eine Sondererlaubnis in das St. Josefs-Hospital Cloppenburg kam und gerade noch rechtzeitig operiert wurde. Während der langen Zeit im Hospital erfuhr ich die 2. liebevolle Pflege der Franziskanerinnen.

Nach dem Krieg erlebte ich mit der Familie die große Freude: den ersten Heimatbesuch meiner Tante, Schwester Odalgera. Das war die 3. Begegnung mit unseren Schwestern. Es faszinierten und prägten mich auch die Lebensbeschreibung der Kleinen Therese von Lisieux: „Ich will Jesus immer Freude machen“ und das Motto des heiligen Don Bosco: „Fröhlich sein, Gutes tun und die Spatzen pfeifen lassen.”

Meine Jugendjahre verbrachte ich im Elternhaus. An Sonntagen traf ich mich mit den Schulkameradinnen. Jede steuerte ein Ziel an. Da begann in mir wieder dieser Funke zu glühen: So fröhlich wie Schwester Nacalis möchte ich auch Kranke pflegen. Ich meldete mich im Mutterhaus der Franziskanerinnen in Münster als Kandidatin an und am 09. Oktober 1959 begann ich dort mein Klosterleben. Bei der Einkleidung bekam ich den Namen Schw. M. Annette, abgeleitet vom Namen meiner Mutter: Anna.        

Beginn der Arbeit in der Krankenpflege und in sozial-pädagogischen Einrichtungen

Nach dem Krankenpflege-Examen und der Arbeit in St. Franziskus-Hospital 1961 -1964 bekam ich eine neue Aufgabe. 1966 übernahm ich nach Erreichung der Bildungsreife und dem Examen für Sozialpädagogik die Leitung des neuerrichteten Kindergartens in Lindern/Cloppenburg. Leider erkrankte ich und musste ein Jahr Kuraufenthalt in der Lungen-Heilstätte Neuenkirchen machen. 1971 kam ein neuer Einsatz in Steinfeld/Vechta und 1974 in Steinbild/Emsland. Nebenberuflich erlangte ich zum Fröbel-Diplom das Diplom in Montessori-Pädagogik. In der Pfarrgemeinde Steinbild ermöglichte ich – übrigens als Leiterin der Borromäus-Bücherei – den Kindergarten- und Schulkindern Lese- und Gestaltungsangebote. Einen Abend in der Woche widmete ich den Eltern und den Jugendlichen.

Einmal im Jahr trafen wir als Erzieherinnen tätige Schwestern uns. Das gegenseitige Erzählen unserer Freuden und Sorgen, das Vorstellen von Neuem im Kindergarten gab Freude und Kraft. Es folgten Weiterbildung und zusätzliche Ausbildungen: 1970 begann ich das Fernstudium in Theologie, 1980 die Erlangung der Missio Canonica. Nach Absolvierung der Lehrproben und des Examens in Religionspädagogik vor den Schulräten, erhielt ich die bischöfliche Lehr-Erlaubnis, in den Schulen bis Klasse 12 Religion zu erteilen. Es war eine Freude, die Klassen 3 und 4 zu übernehmen, so hatten die Kinder die Möglichkeit, den Schulgottesdienst musikalisch mit Flötenspiel und Orffinstrumenten mitzugestalten. Anderen machte es Spaß, sich als Lektor*in oder Messdiener*innen einzubringen. So verbunden mit der ganzen Pfarrgemeinde fühlte ich mich im Einsatz, die Freude an Gott zu verbreiten, ganz richtig am Platz. 

1987 erhielt ich die Möglichkeit, eine Auszeit einzulegen und in Regina Mundi in Rom an einem spirituellen Erneuerungskurs teilzunehmen.  Die Feier meines 25jährigen Ordensjubiläums und die Erlebnisse Florenz, Assisi, Subiaco, Manopello waren für mich Taborzeit!

Am Ende des Schuljahres 1989 stand das Abschiednehmen – schwer und dankbar – von allem, was mir lieb geworden war, an. Im Jahr 1990 bekam ich in der Akademie der Diözese Osnabrück, im Ludwig-Windhorst Haus in Lingen, ein neues Arbeitsfeld im Ressort: Bildung für ältere Erwachsene. Als Referentin bot sich mir die Möglichkeit, viel Neues zu organisieren: Studienfahrten mit dem Europapolitischen Bildungswerk in unterschiedlichen Dreiländerecks, Sommerfreizeiten, Ausbildungsseminare für Tanzleiter*innen, spirituelle Wochen für die Festtage des Jahres für Ältere. Es machte mir große Freude, für Menschen verschiedenen Alters, in unterschiedlichen Lebenslagen und Interessengebieten Lebenshilfe anzubieten: Wenn die Augen der älteren Menschen beim Verabschieden leuchteten, war ich selbst auch eine Beschenkte. Mit meinem Bestreben, älteren Menschen Freude in ihren Alltag „zu zaubern“, habe ich meinen franziskanischen Auftrag „Option für die Armen“ erfüllen können.

Selbst absolvierte ich Ausbildungen in Meditation und Sakralem Tanz, im Seniorentanz und Tanzen im Sitzen.  Diese Tanzausbildungen waren vielbegehrt, ebenso Tanzfreizeiten mit Erkundungen des Emslandes, die ich gern organisierte und durchführte, was mir und den Teilnehmer*innen viel Freude bereitete. Wichtig war mir ein Theologischer Fernkurs und die Studienwochen in Wien „Glaubend Älter werden“, 1992 – 1994. Ein Zertifikat und den Auftrag „Seelsorgliche Begleitung älterer Menschen in Gemeinden und Altenheimen“ erhielt ich nach drei Lehrgängen.  Ganz dankbar für 10 Jahre Bildungsarbeit im Ludwig-Windthorst-Haus wurde ich mit einem Konzert des Flötisten Hans-Jürgen Hufeisen verabschiedet.

Nach einem halben Jahr Arbeit für die INFAG und einem Einsatz in St. Stefano in Assisi kehrte ich im Jahr 2000 zum Mutterhaus zurück. Dort hieß es: Wir warten schon auf dich. In Zusammenarbeit mit Sr. M. Gabrielis war ich viele Jahre im ordensinternen Bildungsreferat tätig. Wir erstellten einen Flyer mit Angeboten: Seminare für Schwestern in der Altenpastoral und Tagesveranstaltungen für Schwestern und Interessierte in der Beschäftigungstherapie und in der Seelsorge. Für die Begleitung von Frauen, die eine Auszeit wünschten, stand ich zur Verfügung. In der Weggemeinschaft wirkte ich mit.  Sehr gern habe ich Meditative Tanztage als Glaubensverkündigung vor den Festen angeboten, ebenso die Oasentage für Frauen. Als ich in den Pfarrgemeinderat von St. Mauritz berufen wurde, setzte ich mich als Katechetin und bei Pfarrfesten ein. Es machte allen Spaß, sich in einer Pfarrgemeinde einzubringen, miteinander   zu feiern und mit den Frauen „Sister Act“ in der Pfarrgemeinde und im Mutterhaus aufzuführen.

Im Jahr 2010 wurde mir eine Überraschung geschenkt, ich durfte nach Amerika reisen. Ich besuchte die Mitschwestern im Mutterhaus in Springfield und meine Schwester in Baltimore, die schon 20 Jahre nicht mehr in der Heimat war.

In dieser Lebensphase wirkte ich gern „für meinen Herrn“, für Ihn und zu meiner Freude zu tanzen. Wie „Myriam“ fühlte ich mich, die ihre Pauke nahm, um mit den Frauen für die Rettung zu danken und zu tanzen. Ja, lobet mit mir Gott mit Pauken und Harfen, singt und tanzt Ihm, meinem Herrn!

Jetzt, nach 20 Jahren intensivem Einsatz im Mutterhaus, war die Zeit gekommen, Abschied zu nehmen.  Ich darf im Kloster St. Anna-Stift in Lohne-Kroge mit Mitschwestern das letzte Lebensdrittel in Ruhe und Gelassenheit, in Einsatzmöglichkeiten füreinander und miteinander froh und heiter leben – solange Er will.  Denn noch immer ist „Die Freude an Gott meine Kraft, Halleluja!“

Sister M. Dolly Kunnel

“I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1

I was born in the Idukki District in Kerala. My parents are Mr. Mathew and the late Mrs. Mariyakutty. I am the fourth of eight children. I have one elder brother, two elder sisters, two younger brothers, and two younger sisters. My father was a farmer, and my mother was a housewife. I was born and brought up in a Catholic family. My parents are God-fearing and attend Holy Mass daily. I received good faith formation at home. My parents and my teachers at school inspired me to practice the Christian faith and live according to its values. The life of the religious Sisters in my parish was also a source of inspiration.

I completed my primary education at a school administered by our diocese. My high school education was at a government school. During my high school years, I developed the desire to become a nun. After completing high school, my desire to become a religious grew stronger. Fr. Thomas Vadakekary, then the parish priest of Pithora, introduced me to our congregation. On September 9, 1985, I arrived at Pithora without knowing anything about the place or the congregation. My parents and teachers played a vital role in my vocation. I thank the Lord for the precious gift of my vocation.

I had a deep desire to become a Sister and a missionary to serve the poor. During my formation, I became more convinced of my choice. I was so grateful that I could join our congregation. During my early days of formation, I felt called to listen to the cry of the poor. This calling remains deep within me even today. The formation period was a time when I deepened my faith in God and experienced God’s immense love and mercy.

I made my first profession to the Lord on January 25, 1990, and my final profession on February 2, 1995. I celebrated the Silver Jubilee of my religious profession in 2015.

After my first profession, I continued my academic studies. I had the opportunity to study for a diploma in Theology and faith formation in Bangalore, as well as a one-year religious formation program at St. Louis University in Missouri, USA. In 2006, I completed my Master’s in Social Work. I also had the chance to attend several short courses, including those on Leadership, Spiritual Direction and Counseling, and Capacity Building.

I was entrusted with the formation ministry for a three-year term. I then served in many of our communities and participated in collaborative ministries with other organizations. At present, I am in the second term of office serving as the Provincial Superior of our province.

I found real joy and satisfaction in working with the poor and marginalized people wherever I served. I was deeply touched in my heart by giving my love to the poor and needy through social service. I am grateful to God that He used me as a blessing to the poor. It was an experience of encountering Jesus through the powerless and poorest of the poor. I realized the joy of my own vocation.

I thank the Almighty God for using me as an instrument for His people. I thank my parents for sowing the seed of faith in my life. Their faith and religious practices in our family enabled me to face the challenges of my missionary journey. I thank the Lord for the love, care, and acceptance I constantly receive from my parents, brothers, and sisters. I thank my Congregation for nurturing me through timely guidance, their trust, support, and prayers. I am grateful to all my superiors and formators for placing their trust in me and supporting me throughout the years of my committed life.

What I am today is a gift from God. I have gained nothing except the joy of belonging to Him. I am grateful to my parents, brothers, and sisters, and especially to my Congregation, for giving me various opportunities to spread His love. I also thank my friends who helped me experience the love of Jesus and supported me in facing the challenging situations of my personal life. May the good Lord bless everyone!

Sister Ann Mathieu

I grew up in Chicago, Illinois and learned about the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis from my best friend’s older sister who was a student in the Aspirant School at the Motherhouse. My friend and I visited a few times and I was touched by the experience. After I completed high school, I decided to enter the Community on August 22, 1957 and I professed first vows on September 8, 1960.

While it was my hope to be a nurse, my first career was in dietetics. I graduated from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri in 1964 and served four years at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator, Illinois. Soon after, I was back to school and earned a nursing degree from Marillac College in St. Louis, Missouri. I served as a nurse at St. John’s Hospital and at St. Monica’s Home, a home for pregnant teenagers, both located in Springfield, Illinois.

From 1975 to 1982, I was the Administrator of the Franciscan Apostolic Center that was located at the Motherhouse. In 1982, I was elected to the Provincial Council and served in that role for three years. For the next four years, I used my nursing education while working with chemically-addicted individuals at the L.E. Phillips Center in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

From 1989 to1995, I served as the local coordinator of St. Francis Convent and at the end of this time I embarked on a very meaningful chapter of my life. I was blessed to practice as a massage therapist from 1998 – 2006. I studied at the Chicago School of Massage Therapy and I also developed an interest in Reiki and energy work and pursued additional education. As a certified massage therapist and healing touch practitioner, I found this to be a call within a call, which is how Saint Theresa of Calcutta described her own vocation. The gift of being present to those I served was powerful, as they found relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief, personal growth, and healing.

The recent years were filled with leadership responsibilities in Loretto Home, as the Provincial Secretary, and as a volunteer at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach.

Several years ago, I found my diary, and on one of the pages from 1957, I wrote, “After visiting the Motherhouse these past days, I would love to stay there forever.” I am grateful to have made that visit many years ago.

Sister Marguerite Cook

I was born on August 4, 1950 in Indianapolis, Indiana and I grew up near Washington, DC (District of Columbia). Currently, I reside in Decatur, Illinois and I volunteer at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital.

My interest in religious life began with the Sisters of St. Joseph who were teachers at St. Rita School in Alexandria, Virginia, where I attended grade school. While I was fascinated by the Sisters, I felt that I was destined for more exciting things than being in a classroom. I wanted to be a missionary and serve in the medical profession where I could be of service to those in need.

I came from a military and government-oriented family. My father worked in civil government, and two uncles served in the military. Eventually, my interest in government drew me into the armed forces as I joined the U.S. Navy in 1968. I worked at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, in labor and delivery and after completing my three years of service; I continued my education and found work as a bookkeeper.

In 1980, I decided to investigate my thoughts of religious life. I wrote to religious communities that advertised in the Catholic Digest, a national publication, and I received some responses including a letter from the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis who were looking for bookkeepers. The year that followed was a time of prayer and discernment so I could learn how God was calling me. I remembered the letter from the Hospital Sisters and so I decided to visit Springfield, Illinois and that visit was what I needed to confirm my decision as to what God had in mind for me. I entered the Hospital Sisters on August 27, 1983 and professed first vows on May 30, 1987.

I have a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy and an associate of applied science degree in alcohol and other drug abuse. Throughout my ministry, I have been rewarded in the understanding of and caring for people with mental health issues and their journey to recovery. I have served my community as an occupational therapist, alcohol and drug counselor, bookkeeper and cashier, membership invitation minister, and on several of our hospital boards including presently at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, Illinois, and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, Illinois. I have been blessed with serving God’s people in Illinois, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Schwester M. Riji Kannampuzha

„Kommt und hört alle, die ihr Gott fürchtet,
während ich erzähle, was an mir geschehen ist”.
(Psalm 66,16)

Wenn ich meine Geschichte mit dem Herrn und die vielen Segnungen, die er mir geschenkt hat, Revue passieren lasse, scheint es, als hätte ich ein Gebirge in meinem Hinterhof entdeckt, das ich vorher nie bemerkt hatte! Mein erstes Geschenk des Herrn war, dass ich am 8. März 1974 in ein sehr warmherziges und liebevolles Zuhause hineingeboren wurde, wo ich als älteste von zwei Geschwistern in einem ländlichen Dorf in Kerala aufwuchs. Durch den in meiner Familie gelebten Glauben wuchs ich in den Glauben hinein. Einer der Höhepunkte meines jungen Lebens, an den ich mich noch sehr gut erinnere, war der Empfang meiner Erstkommunion; Jesus ‘stahl mein Herz’, als ich zur Erstkommunion ging. Getreu meiner ersten Liebe habe ich von diesem Moment an freudig gebetet, dass er mich zu seinem Eigentum mache. Ich kann nur sagen, dass Gott von diesem Tag an mein Herz vorbereitet hat.  

Gott überraschte mich mit einer Berufung, als ich in der zehnten Klasse plötzlich daran dachte, Ordensfrau zu werden. Schwester Mary aus meiner Heimatgemeinde riet mir, unsere Kongregation auszuwählen. Zusammen mit Schwester Siji reiste ich am 21. August 1989 nach Nordindien und kam am 23. August 1989 in Pithora an. Meine Ankunft in unserer Kongregation ist für mich der erste Schritt auf dem langen Weg der Gaben und Gnaden, auf dem der Herr mich geduldig und gnädig mein ganzes Leben lang bis heute geführt hat. Wenn ich an meine Reise denke, erinnere ich mich an die Worte des Gebets von Thomas Merton: “Ich hoffe, dass ich nie irgendetwas getrennt von deiner Sehnsucht tue.Und ich weiss, dass du mich die rechte Straße führst, wenn ich das tue, auch wenn ich davon nichts wissen mag.”

Mir gefiel der Rhythmus des Ordenslebens. In der Anfangsphase des Ordenslebens stellte ich fest, dass ich nichts über den heiligen Franz von Assisi wusste, dessen Spiritualität ich folgen sollte. Dann las ich zufällig ein Buch über den hl. Franz von Assisi und war gefangen von seinem Feuer und seiner Liebe zu Jesus. Ich liebe seine Spiritualität und seinen Traum, die ganze Welt mit Liebe zu evangelisieren. Gott rief mich während meiner Ausbildung immer wieder näher zu sich, aber es gab viele Momente, in denen ich versuchte, ihn wegzuschieben, und mir einredete, ich müsse „mehr vom Leben erfahren”. Gott schenkte mir einige der besten und zuverlässigsten Mentoren, die mir zeigten, wie es aussieht, ein Ordensleben freudig und authentisch zu leben, auch wenn es nicht immer einfach ist. Im Laufe meines Lebens bin ich mit vielen spirituellen Programmen gesegnet worden, die von der Gemeinschaft angeboten werden und die mein geistliches Leben und mein Gebet bereichert haben.

Im Laufe der Jahre bin ich zu der Überzeugung gelangt, dass meine Berufung zum Ordensleben ein Geschenk ist, das mich auffordert, offen genug zu sein, um mein wahres Selbst zu werden. Es ist nicht immer leicht, „Ja” zu Gott zu sagen, aber mit Seiner Gnade ist alles möglich. Darüber hinaus habe ich die Erfahrung gemacht, dass Gott mein Glück will und dass ich meine Talente so einsetzen soll, dass sie anderen und mir helfen. Meine Beziehung zu Gott wurde zentral, und mein Engagement für das Ordensleben als Krankenschwester des Dritten Ordens des Heiligen Franziskus wurde real. Mit diesem Bewusstsein blicke ich der Zukunft und dem ganzen Leben mit einem bereitwilligen Geist entgegen, im Glauben, dass Gott bei jedem Schritt auf dem Weg mit mir sein wird. Mit den Worten des heiligen Franziskus: „Er wird mich auf diesem Weg niemals allein lassen!“  habe ich mit dem Unterrichten begonnen und tue dies heute noch. Seit mehr als 25 Jahren bin ich nun eine Ordensfrau. Möge Gott mir noch viele Jahre in dieser Berufung schenken, damit ich voller Eifer weitermachen kann, Jesus bekannt zu machen, und so die Menschen Jesus lieben lernen können.

Sister M. Agnelda Schulenkorf

I am born in the ‘Münsterland’ as the sixth of ten children. We lived on a small farm. It was not so easy for my parents in the post-war period. Father occasionally went peat cutting and helped on other farms.

Since my mother fell ill at an early age, we girls did not learn a profession but instead worked in the household. After completing school, I lived on a large farm for several years, where I learned housekeeping. When my sister joined the Hiltruper Missionary Sisters, I had to work at home on our farm, since my mother was ill and my sisters and brothers were still in school. Mother’s health deteriorated to the point where she regularly had to spend several weeks in the hospital.

Despite all the work, I enjoyed my youth.  With neighbors and friends, we took small trips and went to festivals and celebrations in the surrounding area. I felt called to religious life at a very early age. The big question for me was ‘Where should I go?’. I put forward some insignificant reasons why I did not choose the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hiltrup. The Franciscan Sisters were active in our hospital and I did not want to become a missionary Sisters under any circumstances. Although only one of the five religious Sisters in the hospital was sympathetic to me, I decided to join the Franciscan Sisters. At that time, I knew nothing about Franciscan life. Only later, I realized that I had been praying St. Francis ‘Canticle of the Sun‘  every Sunday after Mass. It was in the prayer book called ‘Laudate’ and I liked it very much – Coincidence or providence?

In 1965, my eldest brother married, which opened the way for my entry into the congregation. In 1965, my eldest brother married, which opened the way for my entry into the congregation. By that time, my mother was already severly ill.  She died during my pre-noviciate. I entered our congregation in August 1965, and was trained as a dietician from 1970 – 1972. After completing my training, I worked in different houses as head of the kitchen for 15 years.

In 1987, the Provincial Leadership offered me training in nursing care for the elderly, which brought me great joy. I especially enjoyed liestening to the experiences, adventures and stories from the lives of the elderly. Those were years full of blessings. A vacation in Esterwegen made me curious about the history of the place and the events of that time. I felt called to live there. Since November 2015, I have indeed been living in Esterwegen, and it is a wonderful task for me. Here I have time for meeting people, conversations and prayer. I find it particularly beneficial that I can still work as far as my strength allows. I have many enriching encounters, but I am not required to achieve or perform in any specific way. I hope that this will continue for a long time.

Sister M. Margret Steggemann

I grew up as the oldest of three girls in Stadtlohn, a small town in the beautiful Münsterland. Before and during the World War II, it housed many weaving and spinning mills.

When I was born in 1944, my hometown was a heap of ruins. This sight was quite normal for me, especially when I started school, as I didn’t know it any other way. In fact, playing in the debris was actually interesting for a child.

For my parents however, great worries and hardships soon followed.  My mother fell ill with pulmonary tuberculosis after her second child was born. I can only remember small moments with her. Due to her death, my sister and I were separated. For about one year we lived with our grandparents. I lived with my mother’s parents, and my sister lived with my father’s parents. Soon, after my mother’s death in 1949, my father’s younger sisters took care of us.

My father’s parents’ house had been badly damaged during the war. Nevertheless, several families lived there. We also lived there temporarily. It was a very difficult time for my father and the rest of the family.

However, I don’t remember it being particularly burdensome to me. There were still three children my age at my grandmother’s house and we could play together. Especially “Aunt Toni”, Papas sister-in-law, always had an open ear.

Soon after my mother’s death, I started school, which was very hard for me. My father and sisters worried a lot because I didn’t want to go to school and often fell ill. 

Then my father married a second time. I got along with my second mother very well. Sadly, she already died in 1969. I had to be strong for my sister, who was six years younger than me.

After school, I wanted to learn a profession. I would have liked to become a dressmaker. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a certificate for my visual impairment.

In 1958, the newly built hospital in Stadtlohn urgently sought staff to work at the entrance and in the wards. I immediately was drawn to this job, because I wanted to help the sick people. My mother accompanied me to the hospital, to talk to Sister Superior; and that’s how I became a staff member. In the first years, I often thought that I would never want to lead such a strict life as the sisters did.

I enjoyed taking part in all the festivities that were held in Stadtlohn and the surrounding area. That was not not necessarily viewed favorably by the Sisters.

After a few years, I realized how important proper nursing education was, so I enrolled in the local nursing school. But then, everything took an unexpected turn. An inner voice – the voice of God – called out to me, asking for my complete commitment to Him. I found no peace. After much deliberation and discussion with pastors and religious sisters, I requested admission to the Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Münster – without completing my nursing exam. My family was shocked, especially my older sister, but my mother supported me and eventually persuaded my father as well.

I arrived in Münster Mauritz on August 15, 1964. I began the usual religious formation, including the postulancy and novitiate periods. Sixteen women joined our Congregation that year. Our group was very active, and we shared a lot of fun and lively moments together.

The preparation period for the first profession of vows in 1967 was marked by a deep inner struggle: “Is this the path God is calling me to follow? Can this be a decision for a lifetime?”  During this time I experienced God’s guidance very intensely.

After making my first profession of vows in 1967, I entered the juniorate period, during which I obtained my intermediate secondary school certificate, completed my nursing exam, and gained practical experience at our St. Francis Hospital. Following several years of work in healthcare, I pursued further education to become a director of nursing. After passing the required exam, I assumed the role of head nurse in various hospitals.

Bidding farewell to the ‘care directly at the patient’s bedside’ became exceedingly difficult for me. Therefore, I was glad to be asked to assume the director’s ministry at Elizabeth Hospice in Datteln. It was the best time in my professional life.

After more than four years, I was appointed to the board of directors of the Order’s own hospitals. Here I was able to pass on a lot of my experience, especially to our nursing staff.

In 2005, I was elected to the Provincial Council. Later, after four years as a Provincial Councilor, it was my wish to go to Berlin to support Sr. M. Juvenalis and Sr. M. Hannelore in their work for people suffering from AIDS. It was my chance to work here in Berlin as a pastoral care worker in the Caritas Hospice Berlin, which just opened.

After almost 10 years, at the age of 75, I retired from my active ministry but I continue to volunteer at the TAUWERK hospice service and at the Caritas Hospice Berlin.

I thank God for each day of life He has given me and that I can still share His graces with full hands.

Schwester M. Princy Vadakadath

Ich wurde am 18. Oktober 1962 in einem Dorf namens Poovathussery, Trichur Dt., Kerala, Indien, geboren. Herr Varghese und Frau Rosy sind meine Eltern. Ich bin das älteste von fünf Kindern und ich habe drei Brüder und eine Schwester. Bis zur siebten Klasse besuchte ich die kleine Schule im Dorf meiner Mutter, weil die richtige Schule sehr weit von meinem Haus entfernt war. Danach besuchte ich die High-School im Dorf Poovathussery. 

Meine Klassenlehrerin in der ersten Klasse war eine Ordensschwester, die sehr einfach und bescheiden war. Ich mochte sie sehr und hatte den Wunsch, so zu werden wie sie. Ich ging in die Kirche, wann immer es einen Feiertag gab – und oft suchte ich Rat bei den Schwestern.

Als ich die 10. Klasse abschloss, kam mein Onkel, der Priester war, in den Ferien zu Besuch. Bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt hatte ich meinen Wunsch, ins Kloster einzutreten, noch niemandem gegenüber geäußert. Wenige Tage bevor mein Onkel zur Missionsstation zurückkehrte, sagte ich meiner Großmutter, dass ich Ordensschwester werden wollte. Zu dieser Zeit war mein Vater im Krankenhaus, so dass ich ihm nichts davon erzählen konnte. Innerhalb weniger Tage waren alle Vorbereitungen für die Reise nach Pithora abgeschlossen. Mein Vater kam aus dem Krankenhaus zurück, und ich machte mich zusammen mit meinem Onkel auf den Weg nach Pithora. Als wir in Bhilai ankamen, holte mich Schwester M. Gerburg ab. Es war Regenzeit, und so konnten wir Pithora nicht erreichen, weil der Weg durch Regenwasser versperrt war. Wir nahmen einen anderen Weg und erreichten Pithora am 8. September.

Mit Freude behalte ich die ersten Jahre meines Lebens in der Kongregation in Erinnerung. Dankbar erinnere ich mich an die Führung und Hilfe, die mir unsere Schwestern gaben. Die Ausbildungszeit ermöglichte es mir, meine Persönlichkeit zu formen und zu gestalten und meine Berufung zu vertiefen. Ich folgte dem Ruf Gottes und legte am 25. Januar 1988 meine Erste Profess ab. Ich war in verschiedenen Konventen angefangen in Pithora, und genieße mein Ordensleben in der Gemeinschaft. 

Ich bin glücklich, wenn ich auf mein bisheriges Leben zurückblicke. Ich danke Gott für alle, die mich bereichert haben, die mich den Reichtum des Lebens gelehrt und mir geholfen haben, im Leben zu wachsen. Ich danke Gott für alle, die mich in den Höhen und Tiefen meines Lebens begleitet haben, damit ich meine Berufung in ihrer ganzen Fülle leben kann.

Sister M. Zita Hisako Sugita

My name is Sister M. Zita Hisako Sugita. I was born in 1938 in Yashiro, Asago-cho, Asago City, in the Hyogo prefecture. My family’s religion is Buddhism (Zen). I have two brothers. My mother died when I was three years old, and my father’s cousin (my adoptive father) took me in. My adoptive father lived alone and raised me up.

When I was at Junior Highschool, a man from the Ikuno Catholic Church came to the school and distributed devotional pictures. It was through these pictures that I first encountered Catholicism. After that, a relative in Kyoto introduced me to a dentist’s family, and I went to work there as a housekeeper. Everyone in the house was Catholic. Next door to the dentist was the Saiin Church. I attended that church with the members of this family and received the grace of baptism. My baptismal name is Gracia.

Then I returned to my birthplace. I belonged to the Ikuno Church. My adoptive father heard me praying before my meal and became interested. I began to teach him the Catholic catechism. When my adoptive father became ill, he was entered to St. Mary’s Hospital. He was baptized by Fr. Daniel, the chief priest of Ikuno Catholic Church.

I worked at Himeji St. Mary’s Hospital for about three years through the introduction of Fr. Daniel. I met sisters here and learned about religious life. Then four young women I met at Ikuno Catholic Church entered the Congregation. This led me to consider religious life, and at the age of 23, I decided to entered our congregation. However, my adoptive father was against it and strongly recommended me to get married. I spent my time taking care of my adoptive father, keeping my mind set. After seven years, my adoptive father passed away. Before he died, he told me to live the happiest life, and knocked on the doors of our congregation.　

I joined our congregation on February 11, 1973, made my first vows on April 18, 1976, and pronounced my final vows in 1979. I worked in the laundry of our convent after my first vows, and after a while I also worked as a housekeeper at St. Mary’s Hospital.

After pronouncing my final vows, I worked in the kitchen of Francis Villa in Tokyo for 4 years, in the kitchen of St. Mary’s Hospital for 3 years, and then in the laundry for 8 years. I worked for 2 years as an assistant in the rehabilitation department of Nagasaki St. Francis Hospital. At that time, the Korean mission had started already. It was asked to go on a mission to Korea, so I volunteered. There, I spent a year at a formation house in Seoul, sharing the Bible once a month in Japanese, and helping out at a
nursing home（belong OFM）in Jang Seong prefecture. When I went shopping, I communicated in broken Korean.

After returning to Japan, I spent 2 years as a volunteer at Nibuno Villa, where a retired priests and sisters lived. And I have spent 11 years as a volunteer with sisters at the chapel of Himeji convent and Maria Villa. I have experienced many places of apostolate and had many encounters.

One of the most memorable moments for me was when I was doing my apostolate at the chapel of Himeji convent. A man of about 65 years came to the chapel every day crying and praying. I asked him what happened. He told me his son had committed suicide, his wife had died trying to help him, and he had buried both of them. I listened to what he said and replied, “If you cry every day, your son in heaven must be incredibly sad. Your son would be so relieved and pleased to know that you are living a positive, happy, and healthy life.” About a week later, he came to the chapel and changed completely, became cheerful and energetic, and thanked me. I was so happy and thanked God.

Currently, I am a flower attendant at the Ritiro chapel of the Retreat House in Himeji, and my apostolate is prayer. I grow flowers and vegetables in a small space in a field. The flowers are displayed in the chapel. I also spend time with my hobbies, calligraphy and Japanese paintings.

I give everything to God through what I can do. I thank God for the religious life and apostolate God has given me since my first vows.

Sister Christa Ann Struewing, OSF

As I observe my 60^th Jubilee in 2024, I reflect on my life.

I was born in Carthage, Missouri, on December 26, 1940, the youngest of ten children. Our parents believed that a Catholic education was one of the most valuable gifts and so they took turns driving us about 20 miles to attend the Catholic grade and high schools. After graduating from McAuley Catholic High School in Joplin, Missouri, I enrolled at Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas. During my two years there, my interest in religious life grew. While I had known the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis as a youngster in Carthage, my mother re-introduced them when I came home during college breaks. (The Sisters served at Our Lady of the Ozarks Home Nursing Center, Carthage, from 1945-77.)

In 1961, I entered the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in Springfield, Illinois and I made first profession of vows in 1964. After earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1967 from Marillac College (St. Louis, Missouri), I served the next 20 years as a hospital staff nurse, a home health nurse, and a nursing educator. From 1990 until 1995, I served in leadership of Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) for the five Wisconsin hospitals. The subsequent 29 years have been spent serving my Sisters as a member of the provincial leadership team along with the leadership of St. Francis Convent. I also have had many years of service on the board of directors of our hospitals and HSHS. I have been blessed to meet our Sisters in Germany, Poland, Japan, India, Taiwan, Haiti, Tanzania, and the Czech Republic. These visits have strengthened me in the common bond of our international community and Franciscan charism.

My journey over these 60 years has brought me to a deeper sense of my calling and my service to those in need.