Roden honors Sister Hermiona: A Street for Mother Teresa

Roden honors Sister Hermiona: A Street for Mother Teresa

On June 15, 2025, a path in Roden, a district of Saarlouis, was renamed in honor of Sister Hermiona. This remarkable woman, also known as “Mother Teresa” von Roden, worked for the elderly and sick in the community for decades. Their tireless work has not only impacted the lives of many people, but has also left a lasting impression on the community. The Rodena local history association, led by Rosa-Maria Kiefer-Paulus, applied to name a street after her in November 2021. The application was addressed to the then mayor Peter Demmer and focused on a planned new development area on Ritschstrasse.

However, the project took an unexpected turn. In November 2023, Mayor Demmer Kiefer-Paulus's secretariat informed that a development plan would first have to be drawn up before the city council made the final decision on the street name. Unfortunately, the planned construction area was abandoned due to the devastating floods over Pentecost 2022, which further complicated the situation. Nevertheless, the local history association's continued commitment ultimately led to the path being renamed.

Culture of remembrance in street naming

The renaming of streets is often at the center of social discussions, especially when it comes to honoring personalities who have committed themselves to certain values. In Berlin, the example of renaming streets in the African Quarter shows how a culture of remembrance and honor can be created in urban spaces. Following an expansion of the implementing regulations of the Berlin Streets Act in 2020, streets whose names are associated with colonialism, slavery or racist ideologies can be renamed. This regulation illustrates the change in the perception of history and its actors.

In the Mitte district, several streets have already been renamed to reject colonial-influenced names and instead honor people from African history. Renaming initiatives have existed since the 1980s, initiated by various organizations that have since then been working to comprehensively come to terms with the city's colonial past. An example of this is the renaming of Mohrenstrasse to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse to honor a historical figure of African origin.

Focus on society and identity

The debate about renaming streets is not only linked to historical connotations, but also to the question of social identity. For years, numerous organizations have been calling for racist terms and connotations to be removed from the streetscape in order to make room for inspiring personalities from Africa. The “LEO African Quarter” initiative in Berlin aims to examine colonial history and include the perspectives of black people in this process.

Overall, it shows that both the renaming in Roden and the trials in Berlin are part of a larger social change that aims to appreciate and remember people who have worked for the common good. Sister Hermiona is just one example among many whose work should not be forgotten. The discussion about street names is an expression of our values ​​and our collective memory that must be actively shaped.