Sr. Maria Lucia Feldmann

God smiled on Heinrich and Gertrud Feldmann of Ochtrup, Muenster (Germany) when their youngest child Antonia was born on April 21, 1930 for she would become 21 years later a religious Sister, our Sister Maria Lucia.
She entered our convent in Bad Driburg, Germany, on May 4, 1951 and a year later received the habit on May 21. She then made her first profession in our Motherhouse in Steyl on May 21, 1954 and for the succeeding three years renewed her vows. She was sent to our convent in Philadelphia after her third profession and had been in all the other US houses of the congregation, St. Louis, Austin, Lincoln and Corpus Christi. In Europe, she had been assigned not only in Bad Driburg and Steyl, but also in our convents in Soesterberg (The Netherlands), and Berlin. In whatever community she found herself, big or small, she made herself fit in.
The reminiscences of the Sisters in our St. Louis community spoke eloquently of the kind of religious sister she was. She had a special fondness for the Eucharistic hymn Adore Te Devote because for her it encapsulates what her religious vocation was all about and what she longed for in the life hereafter, and because she was such a devout adorer of the Most Blessed Sacrament, spending hours in adoration in the oratory during the day and taking the first hour nocturnal adoration. Until her most recent confinement in her room in the last two weeks of her life, she zealously prayed the Liturgy of the Hours and joined the Eucharistic celebration with the community in the oratory, even though it entailed the slow and painful walk to the oratory from her private room and back.
Likewise, she did not let her physical limitations hinder her from actively participating in community activities and joining the community at mealtimes even though it meant leaving her room way in advance so she would not be late for any gathering. She was indeed an inspiration in suffering quietly and patiently. Her fidelity and punctuality in following the daily schedule, both the spiritual as well as its lighter side like recreation, was exemplary.
Enclosed in the convent, she had a missionary heart nonetheless. She continued to be interested in what is happening in the world especially to her beloved Germany and to all the places she had been assigned. She was eager to hear news about her people especially their leaders and kept them in her prayers.
She was a good listener, but a better talker. She would willingly share her wisdom and advice to anyone who would ask. She was also witty and had a sense of humor. She was wont to see the better side of things that she usually smilingly quipped when things did not go the way they should: “It could be worst!”
She was very appreciative and grateful for even the smallest thing done for her but did not like the Sisters to make a fuss about her. Hence, it was so like her to leave the instruction that upon her death, “for the funeral, no need for any fuss; instead of flowers, etc., I prefer the money to be spent for Masses said for me and my fellow members in purgatory, especially for those who are there through my fault or negligence”.
We will definitely miss our dear Sister Maria Lucia. She was larger than life, vibrant and a shining light! We hope and pray that soon she will be forever with the One to whom she had given her heart and her life!