Sister Mary Paule is one person in particular who has made an enormous difference to the lives of many, many people, especially the children of Bethany Home. 

Sister Mary Paule is the founder of Bethany Home.  An American by birth, Sister has lived in South Africa since 1952, most of her time having been spent in Mthatha.  Sister was “posted” to Ikhwezi Lokusa in 1974 as deputy principal at the school for special needs children.  Following retirement from the school, Sister took over the administration of Bethany Home, which was established as a place for poor women with sickly babies. 

However, the Police started to bring abandoned babies to Bethany Home and in no time the Home had outgrown its tiny premises (comprising just four rooms) and its original function and evolved into the Bethany Home of today – a place of safety for abandoned, abused, neglected or orphaned babies and infants from 0-6 years, located at Ikhwezi Lokusa.

Sister was tireless in her devotion to the children.  She would be there at 5am in the morning, would visit sick children at the hospital at all hours, and supervised the pre-school curriculum.  Sister was unfailing in her commitment and each night would visit the nursery at around 7pm to spend quiet time with babies.  Very tiny babies that arrived at Bethany as yet unnamed, were given a Xhosa name by Sister.

Sister Mary Paule is an extraordinary woman – one of those few people one meets in life who is truly awesome and whom you feel privileged to have met.  The seventy-seven year old’s diminutive stature belies a formidable strength and will and she has a warm and mischievous sense of humour. 

 But the end of an era came in August 2007 when Sister stepped back from the day-to-day running of the Home and a new director was appointed. 

However, Sister remains very much involved with Bethany Home and is a Life Member of the Board.  She is also Chair of the Board of Thembelihle Home, Bethany’s “sister” organisation which is a place of safety for children aged 6-16 years.

Sister has many projects with which she is intimately involved and committed to.  Apart from Thembelihle and Bethany Homes, Sister is on the Board of many not-for-profit welfare organisations and she runs a food parcels programme for desperately poor families who live on the rubbish dump (landfill) nearby.

 She makes a difference in every life she touches and so many individuals, families and communities have been blessed by the support, care, encouragement and guidance Sister has offered.