The editorial team of St Elisabeth community in Trier. Left to right: Sisters Maria Weis, Hildegard Nagel, Theresia Waldorf, Roswitha Hoen, Margret Tovar et Anna Karl.
In a world characterized by fast-paced life and uncertainty, we continue to live our mission – not just as a task, but as a lifelong call to spread
God’s love and hope and to be close to people.
In old-age our mission is shaped by the knowledge and experience we have gained over the years. It is not always the great deeds that are in
the foreground, but rather the quiet, discreet actions of everyday life that make up the true depth of our vocation. We help to enrich life in
the community by being mindful of creation – whether by picking up litter or treating natural resources with respect – and small daily tasks
such as shopping, making coffee or simply listening to our fellow human beings.
Mission becomes above all an attitude to life. As Pope Francis emphasizes, “I am mission”; this is more than a call to action – it is
an attitude that encourages us to bear witness to God in our daily lives through compassion, patience and prayer.
This attitude shapes our encounters with others, in conversation with our sisters or in accompanying people who are going through difficult stages in their lives.
We live our mission through the caring presence and empathy that we show to our fellow human beings in retirement and nursing homes,
when visiting sick sisters or other patients in hospitals. Prayer and pastoral conversations, often over the telephone, are part of the services that require patience and dedication.
A special area of our mission is our involvement accompanying people in their last phase of life with love and dignity. In these moments of farewell and transition, we experience how profound can be just being present and praying for and with the dying.
Accompanying refugees and sharing with family and friends are also essential parts of our mission. We sisters try to convey joy in life, hope
and comfort.
We have come to realize that our community has a great wealth, not in material riches, but in love given, faith shared and missionary
experiences. This “wealth” is not only shown in visible deeds, but above all in the willingness to be there for one another – in prayer, in listening, in accompanying and in sharing. It is an asset that we pass on and share every day as a blessing for ourselves and for everyone we meet.
The editorial team at St. Elisabeth, Trier, Germany
