By Thea Jarvis

It’s not every religious who celebrates her silver jubilee with the Pope.

But Sister Mary Paul Thomas, O.P., daughter of Jack and Alice Maertz of Christ the King Cathedral Parish, did just that.

Stationed in Nairobi, Kenya, at a semi-cloistered Dominican house of prayer, Sister Mary Paul and her small community were looking forward to the Pope’s visit to Africa last spring.

His tight schedule included a Mass for priests and religious in the Nairobi Cathedral and a visit with the Kenyan contemplatives at a nearby Nairobi Carmel.

On May 7^th, Sister Mary Paul and fellow members of her community set out by car for the Carmelite enclosure, having attended the Papal Mass the day before.

Pope John Paul II arrived shortly after the Dominican sisters, slipping quietly through the back gate of the Carmel. During his stay, he presented a rosary to each sister, calling each one up for a personal greeting.

When it came time for her to receive the rosary, Sister Mary Paul remembers, a friend told the Pope that it was her silver jubilee – the day on which she celebrated 25 years in religious life.

“He took my head in both his hands and sort of rocked it and then kissed me on the top of my head. I felt very special and privileged.”

For Sister Mary Paul, it may well have been the highlight of her African adventure, which began 15 years ago when she joined the group of Dominican sisters near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Africa.

Sister’s commitment to Africa is for life, according to her mother, Alice Maertz. “When she left for Africa, we were told that she would not be able to come home at all, although we were free to visit her in Nairobi.”

Relaxed restrictions, however, permitted Sister Mary Paul’s re-entry to the States for a three-month visit several years ago.

“She was able to spend a month at her motherhouse in Connecticut and two months with us here in Atlanta,” recalls Mrs. Maertz. “We visited all over and saw many of her old friends and teachers.”

It was in Africa, however, that Sister made a new friend, one with whom she celebrated a very special day.

By Thea Jarvis

It’s not every religious who celebrates her silver jubilee with the Pope.

But Sister Mary Paul Thomas, O.P., daughter of Jack and Alice Maertz of Christ the King Cathedral Parish, did just that.

Stationed in Nairobi, Kenya, at a semi-cloistered Dominican house of prayer, Sister Mary Paul and her small community were looking forward to the Pope’s visit to Africa last spring.

His tight schedule included a Mass for priests and religious in the Nairobi Cathedral and a visit with the Kenyan contemplatives at a nearby Nairobi Carmel.

On May 7^th, Sister Mary Paul and fellow members of her community set out by car for the Carmelite enclosure, having attended the Papal Mass the day before.

Pope John Paul II arrived shortly after the Dominican sisters, slipping quietly through the back gate of the Carmel. During his stay, he presented a rosary to each sister, calling each one up for a personal greeting.

When it came time for her to receive the rosary, Sister Mary Paul remembers, a friend told the Pope that it was her silver jubilee – the day on which she celebrated 25 years in religious life.

“He took my head in both his hands and sort of rocked it and then kissed me on the top of my head. I felt very special and privileged.”

For Sister Mary Paul, it may well have been the highlight of her African adventure, which began 15 years ago when she joined the group of Dominican sisters near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Africa.

Sister’s commitment to Africa is for life, according to her mother, Alice Maertz. “When she left for Africa, we were told that she would not be able to come home at all, although we were free to visit her in Nairobi.”

Relaxed restrictions, however, permitted Sister Mary Paul’s re-entry to the States for a three-month visit several years ago.

“She was able to spend a month at her motherhouse in Connecticut and two months with us here in Atlanta,” recalls Mrs. Maertz. “We visited all over and saw many of her old friends and teachers.”

It was in Africa, however, that Sister made a new friend, one with whom she celebrated a very special day.