On March 15, 2024, a celebration was held in the convent in the St. Marien Berlin-Kreuzberg retirement home to thank Sister M. Rosa Pakosch for her more than 40 years of service in the pastoral care of the deaf in the diocese of Berlin.
This celebration, which began with a church service, was attended by the regional superior of the Sisters of Mary, Sister Cordula Klafki and the sisters’ convent in the retirement home, as well as the deputy head of the pastoral department representing the Archdiocese of Berlin, Mr. Sebastian Schwertfeger, and other full-time and voluntary staff of the deaf pastoral care, the home director and the care service manager of the St. Marien facility.
During the coffee break that followed, we talked about how Sister M. Rosa was perceived in her ministry. The statements all came down to the same point: Sister Rosa always took a back seat and did her work quietly and selflessly, preparing the celebrations and church services and when there were problems, the answer was: “You’ll manage”.
She also mentioned organizing vacations together with the deaf, which was not always easy – and she always found help from her fellow sisters. She received a lot of support from Sister M. Manuela and Sister M. Euphemia in preparing and following up the get-together with coffee and cake after the monthly services for the deaf.
In this way, Sister M. Rosa managed to give the deaf a home – a home where they felt understood and accepted. Initially, she did this ministry in collaboration with Sister Christiane Uhl, who was deaf herself, and thus familiarized herself with this work and the deaf. Due to the early death of Sister Christiane, most of the burden then fell on her shoulders.
She was the OHR for the deaf. Many home visits and visits to the authorities took her all over the city. It was important to her to stand by these people in need of help.
Now this service is being continued at another location in the diocese of Berlin.
Thanks for 40 years of service in the pastoral care of the deaf
