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In Memory

Sr. Paul Anthony of the Cross
December 15, 1916 – February 9, 2012

Henrietta Florence Bolin known in Religious life as Sr. Paul Anthony of the Cross was born on December 15, 1916 in Philadelphia. She was baptized on December 31, 1916 at the Church of the Most Precious Blood in Philadelphia. She was a only child of her parents, Michael Bolin and Henrietta Ruch.
From our records she belonged to the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate from around 1939. Henrietta  loved dancing and art and had her own studio before she entered. She supported herself with clerical work and as a telephone operator.
She entered the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity on September 24, 1942. On August 15, 1944 she took her first vows and her final vows on March 25, 1949.

Her list of missions include: Jersey City,NJ; Osterville, MA; Southington, CT; Kiln,MS and Rockford, IL. In these missions Sister Paul Anthony taught Kindergarten  and Religious Education, made home visits and participated in the Parish activities. She was a true missionary and went wherever she was needed.

In 1959, while she was missioned to Kiln, Miss, Sister Paul Anthony spent a few days of rest at Camp Cullen in Mobile Al. She attempted to dive in shallow water and struck her head, breaking her neck. She was not paralyzed but put in traction and later in a steel cast. This was the beginning of her picking up her cross. Recovery from the broken neck was very slow and painful.
After her recovery she was sent to Don Bosco Settlement House in St. Mary Magdalen Parish. Here she asked the community if she could attend a Montessori Training Program. Sr. Marian Agnes made arrangements for her and she obtained a Montessori Method Teachers Certificate.

This helped her to be the great kindergarten teacher that she was. Her love of children was evident in the ability she had to teach, relate and entertain them.

Her last active mission was St. Paul’s Parish here in Philadelphia. It was dear to her heart. When asked what ethnic group she served she said, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

In 1993 she received the Archdiocesan Elementary Religious Education Department award for 50 years of CCD service to the youth of the Archdiocese. She was also recognized for her 25 years of Catechetical ministry at St. Paul’s. The pastor thanked her for the teaching of the Catholic Faith to the youngest of the children. Much praise was given by the people she taught.
Sister’s choice of her mystery was in a sense lived out in her life. While at St. Paul”s she became very sick with cancer. She endured months of chemotherapy, radiation and recurrences . Throughout the treatments she kept teaching kindergarten in the midst of it all.
 
Again in 1992 she was held up by a youth with a gun. He hit her in the head with the gun and she broke her collar bone and needed surgery.  While at 24th St Cenacle she suffered a massive stroke which paralyzed her left side and affected her speech. After Rehab she came to the Motherhouse.

Her spirit however, was never paralyzed. She brought many a smile or a tear to people’s eyes when you visited her. Her frustration at not being able to communicate with you as she wished was the hardest cross.

Of her life of ministry she said, “I try to offer the children a happy environment and help develop their own sense of being. When I hear them pray, I think of Fr. Judge’s words”: “save the child for Jesus”

She lived Father words “The hope of the future, the hope of the Church is the child. How we should thank God for the graces given to us to teach children, to do something for our Savior in the little children entrusted to our care.”