I deeply believe that my vocation began with God’s intense YES to my life. I was deprived of my space for movement and development in my mother’s womb, so a major abdominal operation became necessary. This was followed by days of difficult childbirth, which demanded a lot from my mom and me. Despite this strain, I was born healthy, albeit skinny. Yes, God wanted my life!

As a small child, I met Jesus through an illustrated children’s Bible. For a long time, I was preoccupied by the image of the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof in front of Jesus. I saw four pairs of hands, but next to them was written “The five friends”. Jesus was the paralytic’s “fifth” friend. So, Jesus could also be my friend.

8 years old, I had an encounter with God that left a deep impression on me. Our school was right next to our church. One time, I felt an irresistible desire to be alone in this church. During the school Mass, I had always slipped into one of the pews at the side, but this time I was drawn by a magnet to the center aisle. I walked upright through the middle to the front. I felt lovingly looked at and called, just as I was. There was no image on the altar that I liked, no audible voice or light, but a deep sense of affirmation and acceptance within me. From that point onwards, I went to Mass every week for many years, and I took my younger twin sisters with me. I was completely there, listened to the Gospel and the homily. On the way home I enthusiastically interpreted what had been said to my sisters. I was increasingly drawn to the Eucharist.

A difficult time followed, during which I sought and found help in prayer. Then a painful event occurred, so that I felt I could no longer bear the burden. I gave up my relationship with God. In the months that followed, an inner emptiness and a lack of meaning took hold of me. In my restlessness, I opened a bookcase one day and a Bible was unexpectedly placed in my hand. I began to read and discovered with every page that it spoke of God’s unbroken love for me and all people. I had turned away, but he was looking out for me.

My relationship with God not only began anew but became more and more intense. I felt called to give my life away in response to God’s love. I came across the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who lived according to the Gospel and from the Eucharist. I met one of our sisters in service to the sick and learned that she was a Franciscan and that her community motherhouse was in Salzkotten. At that time, there was no quick search on the Internet, so I suddenly and unexpectedly stopped at the Salzkotten train station on my way to a seminar. Although I knew nothing more about the sisters’ congregation, I felt that I would one day be in this place. A short time later, my visit to the motherhouse confirmed my spontaneous feeling. The Franciscan hospitality, community life and simplicity, the longing to live the Gospel, to be there for those in need and to draw strength from the Eucharist/Adoration touched me deeply. Many encounters with our sisters allowed me to find my home in the Franciscan charism of our congregation founded by our Mother M. Clara Pfänder. First in various communities and in the ministry to the sick in Germany, later in the responsibility for formation in Romania and now worldwide in the accompaniment of our sisters and companions, I am deeply enriched. I can live my vocation ever more deeply out of love for God and his creation. As in every human life, it involves questions and uncertainties, joy and fulfillment, searching and finding but living my vocation remains a great gift for me, a fullness I am constantly rediscovering. I am grateful for God’s accompaniment and trust in his guidance. I am grateful for the rich life testimony of our elderly Sisters, the lively dedication of our young Sisters and the creativity of our companions. May everyone find the fulfillment in living creatively love in today’s world!