Our Sister Paula Schmidt, OSsR, entered heaven on July 10, 2026 at the age of 96. She was born in Grand Rapids and was the fourth of six brothers and sisters.
Here are some stories Sister Paula told about when she was little:
Paula was three years old when her
brother Tom was born. Her father told her that her mother received a note from God and that
she was to go downtown to get the
baby. Paula was a bright child – she
wanted to see God’s handwriting! She was
sorely disappointed when it was not saved.
When Paula was learning her prayers,
she thought that as boys said “Amen!”
and girls should say, “A-women!” An early
feminist in the making!
At one of Paula’s early visits to the
confessional, Paula told the priest she
had committed adultery. He said “Excuse me? When did you do that,”
‘Oh,’ she replied, ‘When I was trying to act and think like an adult.’
In 1950, she left college on Easter Saturday to enter
the Redemptoristine Nuns in Toronto, Canada. The nuns striking red, white and
blue habit symbolizes God’s abundant mercy and pure love. This set them apart,
not only visually, but the contemplative monastic charism spoke to this young
woman’s heart who took the name Sister Mary Peter
of Jesus at her first
profession on May 3, 1952. Five years later, she, with five other sisters, went the first foundation of Redemptoristines in the US on the property of Mount St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY.
Sister Paula was an avid
reader of spiritual books and the Commonweal magazine, as well as novels. She enjoyed studying
the writing of our Foundress, Bl. M. Celeste Crostarosa
and St. Alphonsus Liguori and sharing the charism. She also had a strong competitive side, whether playing table tennis or Scrabble.
A great letter writer, Sister Paula corresponded for many years with a man imprisoned and, with a circle of friends, helped gain his release in 2018 after 30 years of incarceration.
Sister Paula’s quiet, steady presence at meetings was a source of wisdom at many a Redemptoristine General Assembly in Italy. But most important to her was her life
of prayer to which she dedicated
many long hours. She was especially devoted to
the Holy Redeemer and Our Mother of Perpetual Help in remembering her family,
friends and the world in prayer. Sister Paula
died as she lived: a woman of great faith.
When we got the news that she had passed,
we opened Paula’s tote bag that still contained her birthday helium balloon and it escaped, taking flight up to the ceiling. What a wonderful sign that our Sister made to heaven.
Eternal light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Amen.
