The sociologist F. X. Kaufmann says, "Instead of talking with God, what we have now is talk of God, then talk about God, and soon nothing but talk of talk about God - talking about theology or religion." In my life it became clear to me: We do not deny God, but we also do not seriously take Him into account. Our God is neither to be feared nor to fall in love with.

How very different was the God of St. Francis of Assisi and the God of Mother Rose who founded our congregation. For me, largely prompted by the witness of her life, He has become a God to fall in love with. That is why I, Sr. Evamaria Buchholz, at the age of almost 40, gave up my profession as an assistant professor at a university and, after a period of searching, joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels in Waldbreitbach, Germany.

I had studied philosophy, psychology, and theology, and found that my work in academia, adult education, and counseling confirmed Kaufmann's words: We talk about everything and explain all sorts of things, but we're hardly able to tell others what it's really all about - living with God and out of God. He lived among us, walked on our streets, came into our houses, spoke to people, shared our problems, and helped and challenged - depending on the situation. And something that radiated from Him, from Jesus of Nazareth, provoked people to contradict Him or broke open their innermost soul, led them to their personal path in life and allowed them to hear God's invitation in a new way - "Walk before me and be my whole" (Genesis 17:1).

Francis and Mother Rose reinterpreted this for the time they lived in. Like them, I would like to do my part so that even today He speaks to people, provokes them to contradict Him, invites them to be His friends, and helps them find their way. Together with two fellow Sisters, I've been working for 9 years in Wetzlar, Germany, a town in the diaspora. We wish to be a place of encounter, of silence, and of dialogue - where body, soul, and spirit can draw breath, meet God and each other.

That is why our house is open for guests to share our life, our prayers, for days of silence, reflection, and retreats that we facilitate. Since we act in accordance with Francis' words, "If it feels good to you, then come," we are open not only to Catholics, but to all those who are searching for meaning and orientation. That is why facilitating dialogue via spiritual ministry, supervision, and therapeutic sessions plays an important role in our work.

Together with all who come, we try to hear in a new way and to address God's invitation to, "Walk before me and be whole". We do this with the help of mediation and spiritual impulses, creating a living, and personal connection to God and deepening faith. The afternoons of meditation, days of "oasis", daily spiritual exercises, discussion and reading groups, and a Franciscan support group that we offer, are meant to help achieve this.