By Sr. Hedwig Joehl, Switzerland (Province of Austria/Switzerland/Czech Republic)
“Obedience is a shared pursuit of God’s will. That’s different than simply obeying a superior.” (Sr. Hedwig Joehl)
Finding and understanding God’s purpose for me has been both humbling and empowering. It is a path not just shaped by my personal relationship with God, but also by my interactions with others—the lives I touch and those who, in turn, touch mine. Through experiences of deep connection, shared humanity, and mutual respect, I have come to see my path as part of a greater, sacred tapestry that embraces people of all faiths and beliefs, or none at all. It is on this path that I’ve realized the beautiful, universal truth of a shared mission to safeguard, do no harm, and care for humanity.
A significant moment of my faith and purpose came when I faced an important decision about where I would live after leaving Geneva in 2016. My initial reaction was to confidently affirm, “I can live anywhere.” However, as I reflected deeply in prayer and sought God’s guidance, the decision carried more significance than I realized. It became clear that this was not just about geography but about intentionally living according to God’s will. After much contemplation and spiritual discernment, I moved to St. Gallen, Switzerland. There, I found not only a nurturing environment for my soul but also opportunities to serve through community engagement and connection.
This process reinforced a profound lesson for me—obedience to God’s will is not passive surrender but an active, mutual search for alignment with God’s divine purpose. It is in this shared obedience that trust is built, and the fulfillment of the calling becomes clear.
Understanding Through Connection
Through my life’s work, I have witnessed the power of connection rooted in faith and compassion. One particularly poignant relationship was with a Muslim woman from Syria whom I met through her husband, my hairdresser. Her face lit up when I reached out to her with the hand of friendship, something she deeply needed in an unfamiliar country. Despite language barriers, we fostered a connection built on trust, mutual respect, and shared experiences across different beliefs. Moments like holding her newborn baby in my arms—a sign of her trust and faith—reminded me of the depths of humanity that connect us all, regardless of religion or culture.
Learning about her faith, her unique practices, and her family life also opened my eyes to the nuanced expressions of spirituality in daily life. Ultimately, this relationship became a reflection of how living one’s faith authentically can bridge divides and create sacred spaces for understanding.
A parallel experience occurred in leading a faith-sharing program. Individuals committed to deep personal prayer and God’s Word showed remarkable growth in their faith journeys. These sessions weren’t just about scriptural knowledge but about living out these teachings in daily life. Watching this transformation affirmed for me the concept of faith in action, where the Word becomes life.
Our Common Journey in God
There is a profound interconnectedness in our spiritual journeys, particularly when it comes to caring for one another and safeguarding human dignity. While participating in Bible sharing circles, interfaith retreats, and my safeguarding work, I have observed how universal the principles of doing no harm, compassion, and upliftment truly are. Gathering with individuals who approach spirituality through different narratives always reveals a shared truth—we are on a common mission to reflect God’s love and justice in the world.
At the end of Ramadan this year, I witnessed this shared understanding of purpose as I engaged with Muslims in my local community. Their commitment to fasting and prayer, paralleled by my dedication to meditation and scripture, emphasized the universality of spiritual discipline. These moments of mutual reflection reminded me that safeguarding isn’t limited to protecting physical well-being—it also includes nurturing hearts, minds, and spirits and respecting the dignity inherent in every human life.
Lessons in Faith and Action
From these experiences, I learned that faith is not passive but calls for active obedience—engaging with God’s will through discernment and intentional action. I discovered that genuine connection can transcend borders of language, culture, and faith, grounded in shared values like trust and love. I also came to see that across different faiths, there exists a common mission to protect human dignity and care for the vulnerable. Most importantly, I realized that spiritual growth flourishes within community, where shared faith deepens our understanding of God’s Word and inspires lasting transformation.
Living Our Calling Together
Ultimately, my reflections reinforce the belief that our journeys, though personal, are deeply intertwined through a higher story written by God. Every interaction, every relationship, and every choice guided by faith offers a sacred opportunity to grow and uplift one another. Whether serving through safeguarding programs or connecting with someone across faith boundaries, my purpose is clear—to walk fearlessly in faith and compassion, as John the Baptist exemplified, while helping others on their spiritual and personal journeys.
My hope—and invitation to you—is to approach your journey of faith as a vocation to create communities where every human being feels seen, valued, and loved. Together, our individual paths can weave a collective story that illuminates God’s presence in our shared mission to care for humanity.
