Sister M. Edelbertis Gevers

On February 22, 1939, I was born as Ludwine Gevers in Vreden-Dömern, municipality of Winterswijk, on the Dutch border – the eleventh of thirteen children, ten girls and three boys. We had a very happy and varied childhood with our mother. We always remember this time fondly. Our father, in addition to working on the farm and in the garden, worked at the Vreden post office and also as a “meat inspector” (inspecting slaughtered animals), but was always there for us children in the evenings.

All of us children learned a trade. Four of my siblings worked at the post office. I trained for two years in a canteen kitchen in Lüdinghausen, as my father always thought thet this basic training was important for a woman. My eldest brother served as a soldier from 1943 to 1944. In 1947, the year of my First Communion, my eldest sister Mathilde joined the Hospital Sisters of Münster St. Mauritz, followed by my sister Juliane in 1960, while my sister Elfriede joined the Clemens Sisters in 1958.

During my housekeeping year, I got to know Sister Acharis, a Franciscan Hospital Sister, who was head of the canteen kitchen. I really appreciated this Sister. Until then, I was still unsure whether a life as a Sister could be right for me. This Sister made me realize that I was also called to religious life. In 1962, I decided to join the Hospital Sisters. After my formation, I first made my temporary profession and then my perpetual profession in 1970.

My professional path now began in the Congregation. I completed my training in nursing with my exams in 1965. I then fell seriously ill and was employed in the administration of the St. Rochus Hospital in Telgte a year later, after my recovery. Two older sisters worked there – Sister M. Blasia and Sister M. Edmunda – as well as a younger one – Sister M. Adelharda. All of them accompanied me very well and also supported my recovery with understanding. I gradually got well again. Their example of a life in the Congregation also greatly strengthened me in my vocation. When I started working in the administration, I only knew how to type on a typewriter. Then I was given some time to practise and was also allowed to take a course in shorthand. With good support, I then learned the 10-finger system on the typewriter. This was a great joy for me.

Our Congregation has chosen nursing care as its apostolate. Due to my illnesses, I never worked in nursing. I found a great deal of understanding from the Congregation’s leadership, at that time General Superior Sister Odilia.

From 1972 onwards, I was able to work in various hospitals of our Congregation at the receptin and in patient admission, including Bremen, Lohne and Lingen. From 1983 to 1987, I worked as a Provincial Secretary under the direction of the Provincial Superior, Sister M. Plauta.

Due to my health problems, I was only able to take on tasks for limited periods of time. This was not easy for me, but thanks to good support and understanding fellow Sisters, I was able to get through this time well. I was happy to take on small periods of temporary help or assistance in certain areas and was also able to accept my limitations.

From 1991 to 1995, I was assigned to the reception area in Damme. I then had to end my assignment because I became seriously ill with Hodgkin’s disease. That was not easy for me to bear. How much I would have liked to continue working in the job I loved. I received good support from the leadership of our Congregation and from many of my fellow Sisters in the form of encouragement and prayer. They always believed with me that I would be able to get through this time of illness well. And so it came to pass.

In 1997, I had recovered from my illness and was able to work in the patient admission department at St. Franziskus Hospital in Muenster. It was a great pleasure for me to be in touch with people and to offer them help, especially in times of illness. Due to my own health limitations, I knew how people feel in such times of illness or other infirmities when they are received with understanding and goodwill, especially in hospital.

In 2012, after 15 years at the reception of St. Francis Hospital, I was happy and grateful that I was asked to work at the reception of the motherhouse. Here, I was happy to help visitors and fellow Sisters and carry out small tasks. I was also able to use my personal time a little more for prayer, walks, painting, etc. I still enjoy painting nature pictures and other motifs. Even though I don’t see myself as a great “artist”, it gives me fulfillment and satisfaction.

In the meantime, I have taken on fulfilling tasks in the motherhouse convent and I am grateful to God that I am allowed to follow in his footsteps. In times of silence and prayer, I think again and again that I now have the time, even on this last stretch of my path, to reach the goal that I repeatedly promised myself at the beginning of my religious life. Rainer Maria Rilke compares life to a “tree and life in growing rings”. Through my illnesses, I have repeatedly experienced other “rings”, and I hope that I can still experience the last one with His strength.

?!My recipe for a happy person: Keep your faith! Don't lose hope! Pray for healthy days! Give thanks for everything you have experienced so far!