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Sister Martha Paulus Sister Martha Paulus is one of 650 Medical Mission Sisters in 19 nations trying to be present to others in the spirit of Jesus the Healer. Sister Martha Paulus, age 98, is the oldest living Medical Mission Sister. She and her twin sister, Felicia, were born into a large Catholic family in Chester, Illinois. Felicia joined the Medical Mission Sisters as a young adult. Sister Martha earned her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at St. Louis University, and worked as Head Nurse at St. Louis City Hospital, before joining our Community at age 32. In 1941, Sister Martha was missioned to our first hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, then in North India. "I loved midwifery," she remembers. "The wonder of a new life coming into this world never left me … but there were other things that needed to be done." She served as Director and Tutor at the School of Nursing, and held a number of administrative positions. Sister Martha was acting superior of Holy Family Hospital during the time when boundaries were re-drawn for India, and the new nation of Pakistan was formed. The Hindus and Muslims had to "trade places" and find new homes. For a month, the hospital grounds were filled with sick, hungry, exhausted people. Sister Martha led efforts to minister to the growing number of refugees affected by communicable diseases.
Assigned to Karachi, Pakistan, in 1948, Sister Martha helped to start Holy Family Hospital. She was responsible for planning, helping to secure funds, and ensuring the construction of the hospital, nursing school, and nurses' hostel. She also was very involved with the Trained Nurses Association of Pakistan, and worked tirelessly to ensure quality nursing in that new country. "After 31 years (mainly) in Pakistan, I returned to the United States," says Sister Martha. "It did not take me long to find something to do. There were people needing people all around me." Sister Martha went to Los Altos, California, to care for her twin, Sister Felicia, who was ill with multiple sclerosis. She was active in the Foster Grandparent program there for 7 years, until she moved with her sister to Philadelphia. After the sad loss of her sister in 1985, Sister Martha joined several of our Sisters in Tampa, Florida, in a special ministry to retired persons. "Although I am physically unable to do 'big' things, it does not matter," she explained at the time. "I feel Christ's presence in the 'little' things I do for people - He walks with me. Old age is a beautiful time of life, when hustle and bustle are absent." Five years ago, Sister Martha moved to Holy Redeemer Infirmary near Philadelphia. She lives with several of our Sisters, and supports our mission, donors, and friends through her prayers.
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