---
title: "Pilgrim travels from St. Louis to Thuine, Germany; renewed commitment to pastoral care."
sdDatePublished: "2026-09-13T11:54:00Z"
source: "https://www.franziskanerinnen-thuine.de/media/acfupload/Reflections_on_a_Pilgrimage_from_Sr._M._Andrea.pdf"
topics:
  - name: "religion"
    identifier: "medtop:12000000"
  - name: "religious event"
    identifier: "medtop:20000689"
  - name: "religious ritual"
    identifier: "medtop:20000696"
  - name: "health"
    identifier: "medtop:07000000"
locations:
  - "St. Louis"
  - "Alton"
  - "Rockford"
  - "Emsland"
  - "Germany"
---


Pilgrim travels from St. Louis to Thuine, Germany; renewed commitment to pastoral care.

Microsoft Word - Text USA SMAndrea englisch.docx

Praised be Jesus Christ
Pilgrimage reﬂecƟon (June 1-July 14, 2026)
“We never know when the most beauƟful moment of our life is going to happen.” (Msgr. James
Shea 2025 retreat)
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will ﬁnd rest for
yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt.11:28-30)
AŌer nearly twenty-six hours of traveling from St. Louis to Thuine, Germany, my heart suddenly
felt an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement as we approached the gates of the
Motherhouse. Seeing all the sisters gathered outside to welcome us made my heart feel so full.
Reverend Mother Maria Cordis was the ﬁrst to greet us. The only words I could say were, “I am
home.” Home is a place of safety. This is what I experienced! This is where my family is; this is
where it began with the “yes” of our foundress, Mother M. Anselma. Her spirit lives on in each
sister. Mother M. Anselma became real to me as I walked and prayed where she did so many
years ago.
As I greeted the sisters, I felt loved. We may not speak the same language…but we speak the
language of love. Love for Jesus Christ Cruciﬁed, love for our CongregaƟon and love for each
other.
As we entered the Christ the King Church, it was as if Jesus was looking at me with such Fatherly
aﬀecƟon.
We arrived in Alton in the evening on July 14th. All the sisters were there to greet us. AŌer
singing “Holy God, we Praise Thy Name” we shared a few highlights from our pilgrimage. It was
not the places we went or the things we did that made this pilgrimage so blest-it was how the
Lord chose to work in my heart and soul.
I was back in St. Elizabeth Convent in Rockford in the evening of July 15th. As I knelt in our
Chapel the following morning, I experienced an overwhelming spirit of graƟtude for the
blessings the Lord showered upon me during the six weeks of pilgrimage. I read the gospel for
day. “Come to me…” Surprisingly my heart felt calm and peace. This passage came alive for me
that morning. Before beginning my pilgrimage, my heart was heavy and burdened by what I see
and hear from paƟents in the Hospital. I needed to go away and rest with the Lord and in His
immense love for me; and to be loved by Jesus and the sisters I met.
During my Ɵme away from the busyness of the Hospital, I came to a deeper understanding of
the need to make BEING with the Lord my priority; in this way I can share His love with those I
encounter in my Ministry of Pastoral Care.
This has been a renewal for me. I want to end by quoƟng from the song” Breathe” by Jonny
Diaz: “Breathe, just breathe. Come and rest at my feet and be, just be. Choas calls, but all you
need is to take it in, ﬁll your lungs, the peace of God that overcome. Just breathe. So let your
weary spirit rest, lay down what’s good and ﬁnd what’s best -just breathe.”