On January 7, 2025, Sr. Petra Maria Hothum took over the community leadership from Sr. M. Almuth Göke in the international community. This change was celebrated in the presence of Sr. M. Paula Wessel, Provincial Superior, with vespers and evening meal together.
Since 2017, Sr. M. Almuth has been in charge and—together with these sisters: Sr. Kerstin Maria, who came from the USA, Sr. MuYoung from South Korea, and Sr. M. Henrika from Indonesia—organized the beginnings. Two years ago, Sr. M. Selvi from India/Bangalore joined the community.
In the past years, the community has set an example in the neighborhood and beyond it that interculturality can be lived with all the challenges that arise in understanding the differences and similarities. The sisters are active in different areas: Sr. M. Henrika works in an integrative day care center for children, Sr. M. Selvi as a nurse in the Coesfeld hospital, Sr. Kerstin Maria as a care assistant for the elderly sisters in Kloster Annenthal and Sr. MuYoung as a translator for inquiries, especially from the Generalate.
Sr M. Almuth, who previously lived in the community in Vreden for a long time and was particularly active in the parish community, is now moving to the Annenthal convent. The sisters of the Emmaus community thanked her for her years of commitment with, among other things, a gift basket for her well-deserved holiday.
Her successor, Sr. Petra Maria, initially worked in the former Province in Mülhausen as a teacher and later as a formator and spiritual counselor and later moved to the Ashram Jesu, which she ran together with the Jesuit Bertram Dickerhof. This ashram was founded in 2003 on his initiative under the auspices of the Institute of Religious Orders and sees itself as a Christian school of life. Sr. Petra Maria, therefore, has a lot of experience in spiritual counseling.
This year there are some other changes in the international community. Sr. M. Henrika will return to Indonesia on March 1. Sr. MuYoung is going to the USA from February to June to improve her English language skills. As there are no pilgrims coming to Coesfeld this year, there is time for a transition and reorientation. With the support of the General Leadership, the international community–living in the place of origin of our congregation–will thus continue to contribute to keeping the history of the Sisters of Notre Dame alive in Coesfeld.
by Dreamhost