Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still and Trust in me. The words of Jesus to His disciples in the hours before His Passion describe the life and works of Sister Mary Paul Debbie who served God with her entire person in her life, her prayer and her ministry. So today as family, friends and Sisters we gather to celebrate how the life of Sister Mary Paul Debbie was gospel for us. How her life revealed her compassionate love of God.

We extend our love and sympathy to her family--her brothers Jack and Bill and their families, nieces and grandnephews. We are grateful that Patty and her family are here despite the snow. This would delight Sister Mary Paul for she would want us to enjoy these beautiful children as she did. We know a little of the delight and love you shared on her visits to Lake Saranac. Pam, her niece shared stories with us last evening. We watched you all grow through the photos and calendars each year. And all of us want to thank the staff at Siena Hall and all those who cared for sister Mary Paul. We know it was often challenging and you offered yourselves with love and faithfulness. For this, we thank you.

We read of Sister Mary Paul that she was born July 9, 1928 in St. Albans, New York, daughter of the late Anthony Debbie and Agnes O'Rielly Debbie—Doctor and Mrs. Debbie as many of us knew them. Sister Mary Paul as Patricia Debbie, began her relationship with the Dominican Family as a boarding student with the St. Mary of the Springs Sisters at Mary Immaculate High School, Eagle Park, Ossining. She entered the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor on September 8, 1948; made first vows March 31, 1950 and final vows May 31, 1953. Sister Mary Paul graduated from Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing and later earned a Bachelor's degree in nursing from the State University at Stonybrook. Later she studied at Boston College and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.

In her ministry with the sick, Sister Mary Paul was a community health nurse in the Bronx and Ossining, New York; Denver, Colorado ; Dayton, Ohio and Hampton Bays, New York. Here in Newburgh, she served at the Newburgh Ministry and St. Patrick's Soup Kitchen. Later, through her ministry in pastoral care, she was a chaplain at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital and in 1994 she volunteered at Skyview Nursing Home in Croton, New York. That year she retired from active ministry and in 1999 moved to the Newburgh Center of Hope. On Thursday, December 11, 2003 after a long and troubling illness she entered eternal life surrounded by her Sisters.

These are the bold stokes of the 75 years of Sister Mary Paul's life among us. Certainly there is so much more. The music and the Scriptures that she selected for today's Liturgy give us a glimpse of the God she trusted and served. Indeed "The Strife is O'er" as we sang to begin the Liturgy. The God who bears her on eagle's wings speaks of the trust she lived and the Prayer of St. Francis is the prayer every minister of the Gospel wants to become—an instrument of God's peace.

We heard from the Book of Wisdom "they who trust in God will understand the truth. . . the faithful will live in God with love." A simplicity and trust in her God as shepherd, marked Sister Mary Paul's life. She loved and delighted in the family God gave her. Her joy extended to the children she knew and she was always looking for just the right gift for a birthday. In season and out of season, she cared for Misty and Charlie—the two four-footed members of the Hampton Bays Community. These two Labradors awaited her return from vacation and retreat. Her simple, direct faith could find her kneeling at her bedside with rosary or office book—a true daughter of St. Dominic, who prayed with heart, mind and body. Sometimes her simple faith was distressing for her Sisters in Community as she set out to visit families with a gas gauge on empty—only to visit and return home safely—telling us, "See, God takes care of me." And sometimes her convictions, again born of faith, came across to us as strong willed or even stubborn. This same determination fueled her ministry with the sick.

Sister Mary Paul spent her life in caring for the sick poor. Along with her simple, direct faith, she had a wordless healing presence that comforted and sustained families. Certainly she had nursing skills but mostly through her own faith she enkindled understanding, love and encouragement in patients and families. She brought her whole person to her ministry with understanding that was born of having faced life's happenings with her faith. Sister Mary Paul lived a deep life—one she could not always find words to express. To follow her with a family was only to be met with, "where is Sister Mary Paul; is she all right; will she be back?" Today so many people remember her kindness. Almost anyone living in Hampton Bays can testify to this.

Yet, many things were not easy for Sister Mary Paul. The changes encouraged by Vatican II, discussions, meetings and sharing were outside the realm of her patience. And, you, who know her well know her very special way of saying "no." Sharing house responsibilities, like cooking, was difficult for her and hard on the members of the community who in self defense soon relieved her of her share. Pam reminded us of the time she separated the eggs, brown from white, in an effort to make a cake. Thankfully, friends were there to help. Yet, her determination in ministry was constant.

When she chose the prayer from Ephesians for us to hear today, it reminded me of a very special time in Sister Mary Paul's life. Sister had just returned from pastoral training where she met an unusually understanding woman religious whom I wish I knew today. Sister helped Sister Mary Paul explore the question of who was she in ministry in the changing times of Vatican II. In prayer, study and conversation, Sister Mary Paul had learned to deepen her trust in God. She learned of the hidden self that her patron, Paul, proclaimed. Sister Mary Paul grew even stronger, so that Christ could live even more in her heart through faith, and planted in love and built in love, she brought even greater compassionate care through her pastoral visits. She enthusiastically shared the personal and revealing evaluation of her growth and participation in the course work. Her brown eyes were beaming. She was excited about all that was happening for her. Neither of us thought that she would be called to take part in Jesus' sufferings so profoundly. It was soon after this that Sister Mary Paul suffered severe aneurysms. Her life was changed, memory lost, ordinary tasks, once taken for granted, were difficult and simple actions a burden.

This is when many of you here first met Sister Mary Paul and walked with her through the last years. This time was not easy for her or anyone else. Her determination and faith endured as she suffered with Christ. Certainly, the events of Sister Mary Paul's life and her leaving us so quickly brings up a lot of questions we cannot answer. Why such a long illness for someone who served God so entirely? The scene from Matthew's Gospel where he describes the last judgment came to mind for my own consolation. Jesus comes in glory and tells those close to Him, "Come and receive the Kingdom prepared for you, telling them 'when I was hungry, you gave me something to eat and when I was thirsty, you gave me to drink, and when I was sick, you cared for me'" Sister Mary Paul spent her life visiting Christ in the sick poor and in receiving the care of others. Her trust in God and service to His poor brought her to the place God has prepared for her. And, as Jesus promised, I shall return to take you with me so that where I am you may be too. May she who has pleased God enjoy eternal life. We will miss you, Sister Mary Paul.

Fran Whelan, OP
December 15, 2003

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