Sister Maria Ludmillis

Sister  Maria  Ludmillis        ND 4217              PDF Download
Maria  Brinkmann

Maria Regina Province, Coesfeld / Germany

Date and Place of Birth:       October 05, 1923  Ermke / Molbergen, Germany
Date and Place of Profession:   April 08, 1948   Mülhausen
Date and Place of Death:     November 09, 2015   Vechta, Marienhain-Salus
Date and Place of Funeral:  November 13, 2015   Vechta, Convent Cemetery

Jesus, I trust in you. I believe in your love for me.

Maria Brinkmann was the third child born to Gerhard and Anna Brinkmann in Ermke – Molbergen. She had 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Her oldest brother Gerhard was killed at the age of 21 during the Second World War in Russia. That was a painful experience for the whole family.

Maria grew up in a rural and Christian environment. After completing basic primary and secondary school, she attended an agricultural school. Then she helped in her parental home.

At her investment in Mülhausen in 1946, she received the name Sr. Maria Ludmillis. During her second year as a novice, she returned to the Oldenburger Land for one year and did domestic work in Marienhain, Vechta. After her first profession, she was transferred to Duisburg Ober-Meiderich. In 1951, she willingly accepted her transfer to the motherhouse in Rome. Our motherhouse was to be her living and working area for 49 years. For 42 years, she first assisted in the sacristy and later she became the sacristan.

She experienced turbulent times, especially the time of the Second Vatican Council. In addition there were general chapters and different international meetings. As a co-sister from her time in Rome told us, Sr. M. Ludmillis prepared Eucharistic celebrations and other prayers and decorated the chapel with great attention and love. All the priests, whether cardinal, bishop or… appreciated her very much.

Her service was not only limited to the sacristy. She helped wherever help was necessary in the big motherhouse.

Many sisters from Germany came to know Sr. M. Ludmillis during their tertianship in Rome as a calm and deeply spiritual co-sister who often spent her time praying in the chapel.

On June 21, 2000, she returned to Vechta, Marienhain, and joined the community of the then provincial center. She did small jobs as she was able. In 2003, she had a bypass surgery, which brought her some relief. Ten years later, in 2013, she moved to the infirmary but she was still ready to help with little tasks.

During all these years, she maintained lively contacts to her relatives and there are only few nieces and nephews who have not visited her in Rome. Sister was always happy when they came to see her in Marienhain and they liked celebrating together. Her iron jubilee in 2013, e.g., was a joyful feast. Some months later, they all came together again for her 90^th birthday. Sr. M. Ludmillis could fully enjoy the celebration. Since her jubilee, a vine has been growing in Marienhain and some months ago, sister could enjoy the first grapes.

During the last weeks, Sr. M. Ludmillis’ health was failing so that we felt that she would soon return to God. She walked the last part of her journey, trusting in Jesus in whose love she firmly believed. Her nieces and nephews came one after the other to take leave of her. In the early morning of November 9, she peacefully went home to God.

We, the sisters in Marienhain, are very grateful that Sr. M. Ludmillis lived with us and completed her journey in a calm, content, and simple way – putting all her trust in God.