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Surrounded by fellow sisters, family members, friends and residents of the home, Sr Hilke celebrated her 80th birthday on 14 May at the Kist retirement home, where she has been living with her fellow sisters since January 2023.

It was a successful and cheerful birthday party full of surprises:

first she had to blow out the candles on the homemade birthday cake, then she was presented with gifts and celebrated through various contributions. In addition, surprise guests did not miss the opportunity to congratulate her.

Sr Hilke was born in Mainz-Bretzenheim in 1946 and grew up there in a Catholic environment with an older brother and an older and a younger sister. When she talks about the past, it gives the impression that she had a happy childhood and youth. The simple, down-to-earth lifestyle on a farm certainly shaped her just as much as the proximity to Mainz, a carnival stronghold, with its exuberance and joie de vivre.  She was active as a group leader in the parish youth group and involved in the celebrations of the church year.

After finishing school, she completed an apprenticeship as a pharmacy assistant at the ‘Anemonen Apotheke’ in Mainz, where she worked for a total of six years and where her friendly and reliable nature was appreciated by everyone.

On 1 September 1967, she entered the Dominican Sisters in Neustadt – together with Sr. Magdalena Stauder, who also comes from Mainz-Bretzenheim. On 30 May 1970, she took her first vows, and on 1 September 1973, she bound herself to the Oakford Dominican Sisters through her perpetual vows.

From 1972 to 1976, she studied at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences for Social Work in Paderborn and graduated with a diploma in Social Work.

She then worked for a year at Caritas in Lohr. When St Michael’s House, a rehabilitation centre for young people with mental health issues, was established on the grounds of the convent in Neustadt in 1977, she was involved from the very beginning and worked there to great benefit for 36 years until 2013, when she retired. Even today, former residents keep in touch with her, which she is very pleased about. She enjoys recounting stories from that time and is often still moved by the life stories and developments of those once entrusted to her care.

Within the Congregation, she served for many years as novice mistress, as well as prioress and subprioress in Neustadt. After her retirement, she took care of the province’s accounts and was actively involved in the parish.

She received her first transfer at the age of 76 when the sisters were due to move from Neustadt to the retirement home in Kist.

Although leaving Neustadt, letting go of what had long been familiar to her, and parting with her parish work were difficult for her, she settled in very quickly in Kist and feels very much at home there. She has thus found new areas of responsibility: as prioress, caring for the sisters in collaboration with the coordinator Irene Schneider, and as sacristan during the regular services in the community. She also visits the seriously ill and dying in the care home and is a member of the home’s advisory board. And once a week she goes to the primary school to provide one-to-one reading support to children, which she finds very rewarding.

Her fellow sisters describe her as modest, unassuming, content and grateful. And she is well-known and popular with many staff members and residents in the home.

 “Life is a school of trust, courage and devotion …” – these are the words Sr Hilke chose to mark her birthday.

May Sr Hilke continue to experience her coming years in this way,

may she continue to grow in trust, courage and devotion,

may she be granted health and strength for her life and work

and may she experience joy in life and be accompanied by God’s abundant blessings.

Text and photos: Sr Christiane Sartorius, Irene Schneider