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Sister M. Gudrun Konert
On April 28, 1958, I, Gisela Konert, was born in Holtwick, a district of the community of Rosendahl, county of Coesfeld. I grew up with 6 siblings on a farm with all the animals and everything else that belongs to a Münsterland farm. Since all siblings were born between 1958 and 1967, there was always "life in the hut". My mother took care of the big household. In addition to the seven children, my father's parents and some of my fathers' siblings belonged to the household. My father was a clog maker. He also worked as a farmer and as a carpenter.
After attending school, I finished a three-year training as a housekeeper and later on as an economist at “St. Anna Stift” in Stadtlohn. Then I completed a further education as a nursing assistant in the “Maria Hilf Hospital” in Stadtlohn.
My parents had almost expected my decision to live in a cloister. A great-aunt and an aunt, a sister of my father, lived in the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (of Hiltrup), so this way of life was already part of the family.
As a young woman, searching for the right path, feelings and emotions were important decision makers. The weekends of reflection in the Motherhouse of the Mauritzer Franciscan Sisters brought enlightenment: “That's it!” I felt comfortable and accepted in this community. The spirituality of St. Francis, his life and work is my vocation.
Looking back on my life, the decision was a good one. If I had my time over again, I would take the same decision, because I see my life as a vocation. After the decision for religious life, I joined the Congregation of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on April 27, 1983. The time of postulancy was a period of initiation. With the admission to the novitiate on November 27, 1983, the two-years of novitiate began.
It was a time that was marked by personal and community prayer and by the life in community, in the spirit of the Gospel and the Franciscan tradition. After this period, I made my first profession of vows on October 27, 1985. I professed my perpetual vows on July 1, 1990 and by these vows, I bound myself forever to God and the community.
The Communion is a great gift. I am not alone on the path. There is always someone to carry me: Psalm 23 verses 1+3: "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name!”
My hobby is baking. I like to bake and have been able to do it in various houses of our community, in convents in the Rhineland and Münsterland, as well as 15 years in the Capuchin cloister in Münster and 6 years in the convent in Werne. Since the end of May 2020 I have been living in the 'St. Anthony of Padua Group' in the new house of the Motherhouse in Münster. I live here with four religious sisters and take care of the various tasks in the house. I enjoy living here and I am grateful for my vocation. With regard to my religious life, I would like to conclude with St. Francis: “This is what I wish, this is what I am seeking, this I long with all my inmost heart to do.”
