Sister Maria Stella ND 6165 PDF Download
Maria Reher
Maria Regina Province, Coesfeld, Germany
Date and Place of Birth: August 20, 1942 Schwege
Date and Place of Profession: August 09, 1966 Coesfeld
Date and Place of Death: February 05, 2023 Coesfeld, Kloster Annenthal
Date and Place of Burial: February 09, 2023 Coesfeld, Convent Cemetery
„The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!“ Psalm 23:1
The image of God as the Good Shepherd who takes care of her gave Sister Maria Stella security and support in all uncertainties.
Maria Reher was the seventhth child of the married couple Josef and Maria Reher. She grew up in Schwege with her six siblings. The early loss of her mother when she was only 3½ years old must have been very painful for Maria. Two of her father’s sisters took the place of her mother.
Maria attended elementary school in Schwege for 8 years. After her graduation in 1957, she worked on the parental farm for three years and attended the agricultural vocational school in Glandorf. In 1961/62 she became acquainted with the Sisters of Notre Dame in the Agnes Home in Münster, where she was a learning cook. The superior at the time attests in her work certificate to her good knowledge of cooking and baking as well as conscientious fulfillment of her duties. “Through friendliness and constant cheerful readiness to help she earned our full satisfaction.” After successfully attending the agricultural school in Iburg, Maria entered our congregation in Coesfeld in 1963 and, as a novice, was given the religious name Maria Stella.
As a junior, Sister Maria Stella ministered in the refectory in Gelsenkirchen as well as helping with sewing. After making her perpetual profession in Rome, Sister M. Stella was transferred to the Studentinnenburse in Münster in April 1972. This was the center of her life for 42 years. She took care of the reception desk and welcomed guests in a prudent and friendly manner. She loved the work as sacristan and was in good contact with priests and bishops. She reliably took care of the laundry and, together with the cleaning staff, was responsible for the cleanliness of the house. Her friendly nature made her popular with generations of female students.
In May 2014, after surgery, retirement began for Sister Maria Stella when she moved to the Annenthal Convent. She devoted most of the day to prayer and quietly and humbly went her way.
Lately, due to illness, Sister Maria Stella had the desire to go home to God; she was able to receive the sacrament of the sick and to bid farewell to her relatives.
On the morning of February 5, her wish was fulfilled; she went home to God, and the community of the sisters included her in the morning Eucharistic celebration on the day of her death. We confidently believe that her longing: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” has now been fulfilled.
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