Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis

Sr. M. Entycha


I am Sister M. Entycha – and I am 100 years young!

I was born May 17, 1911, in Barßel, Oldenburg, in northern Germany. I was given the baptismal name Helene. My father was a master carpenter. My family had six children, three boys and three girls. Together with them I had a happy childhood and a very nice home. Of course, we were Catholics, and thus the foundation of Christian faith was laid in my parental home. I like to remember my childhood, i.e. paddling together with my brothers in a small boat on the water. We had a lot of fun! Often there was a horse carriage ride on Sundays.

I spent one year in a boarding school of the Sisters “Unserer lieben Frau” ULF  in Ahlhorn. I had to learn housekeeping. A young woman had to know sewing, cooking and housekeeping.

On September 1, 1934, I entered the congregation and received the name Entycha. After first profession May 1937, I studied nursing and pediatric nursing and then worked in different houses in the maternity and nursery departments.  I retired from this work which I loved very much in 1974. Then for 12 years I cared for the physical wellbeing of the sisters in the refectory. Even today I am quite competent in serving the dessert to some of my sisters.

Now, I am living as a senior sister in the St. Francis-House in Nordwalde for the last 25 years. I am happy and grateful that I am still fit and able to participate in daily life activities. I see my special task in the apostolate of prayer, and so I get up at 5 a.m. every morning to have time with and for my Lord. Children and young people are my special concern. So I like to take over sponsorship for a First Communion child; I pray for these young people every day that they may find a job which makes them happy.

I enjoyed the dear guests at my 100th birthday; the reason for this feast could be read in big letters at the entrance for those who might not know it. To all guests I could give a personally cultivated violet. And I enjoyed a boat trip, a gift from my family. It was a special surprise when one of my nephews presented a handwritten postcard, written by my father, announcing the birth of his daughter Helene – a 100-year old postcard!

Until today an elevator is a taboo for me because taking the staircase keeps me fit!

I thank my Lord for all the kindness He has given to me in my long life. God has called me to serve the people, and I am happy to have been called by Him. I never regretted becoming a religious. If the Lord wants it, I shall celebrate my Crown Jubilee (75 years in the congregation) in 2012.