Sister M. Alderika Schomaker

✝ Saturday, November 11th 2023

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"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38)

On the feast of St. Martin and four days before her 90th birthday, the merciful God called to Himself,  our fellow Sister, Sister M. Alderika Schomaker.  Sister M. Alderika was born on November 15, 1933.  Five girls from the Schomaker family in Westerndorf near Glandorf followed God's call to join the Congregation of Hospital Sisters of Saint Francis at St. Mauritz. Together with her sister Theresia, our Sister M. Ancilla, she entered at the age of 23. She entered our religious community on August 10, 1956. She made her first profession on May 3, 1959.   Her brother Alfons became a Franciscan priest and missionary in Brazil. The thirteen children grew up on their parents' farm, Schomaker, in a Christian family. They were familiar with praying the rosary regularly and the pilgrimages to the Mother of God at Telgte shaped their faith.

In addition to her nursing training, Sister M. Alderika completed a course in psychiatric nursing and received her main assignment at St. Rochus Hospital in Telgte (1974 - 1998), where she managed the St. Lukas long-term ward and lovingly cared for the residents. She then welcomed and entertained her fellow sisters and guests at the reception at St. Franziskus-Haus in Nordwalde for twenty years.

Sister M. Alderika spent her last three years at the Sylvia ward in Kroge, where people with dementia are offered a pleasant living atmosphere. Despite her health related limitations, she enjoyed this time very much and felt very comfortable there.  This afternoon, surrounded by her fellow sisters and staff, she gave her life back into the hands of God, safely guided by the protection of her patron saint, the Mother of God. We offer our deepest sympathy to Sister M. Ancilla and Sister M. Emilianis, who are with us at our Motherhouse community.   Their two other siblings, our Sister M. Gottharda and Sister M. Rosalia have already preceded Sister M. Alderika into eternity.

We gratefully bid farewell to Sister M. Alderika. We remember her in prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist and remain united to her. Together with her nephew, Canon Dr. Martin Schomaker, we will celebrate the Resurrection Mass for Sister M. Alderika on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Motherhouse Church in Münster. The funeral will then take place at the Sisters' Cemetery.