A SEAL BEACH PARISH HAD much to celebrate as the great aunt of one of its own became a saint on World Mission Sunday. Holy Family Catholic Church celebrated the canonization of Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis on with a special speaker, Sr. Kathy Paradis, the great niece of the new saint. Sr. Kathy is a member of the Mission Community of the Holy Spirit and parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church.
MOTHER MARIE-LÉONIE FOUNDED THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY, A CONGREGATION DEDICATED TO COLLABORATION WITH PRIESTS THROUGH PRAYER AND DOMESTIC SERVICE. PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“My family is surprised, really, and also we are kind of overwhelmed at the significance of it,” Sr. Kathy said. “It’s such an honor, such a blessing and in some ways such a responsibility to try to follow her humble love.”
SR. KATHY PARADIS GREETS PARISHIONERS FOLLOWING A CELEBRATION OF THE CANONIZATION OF HER GREAT AUNT, MOTHER MARIE-LÉONIE.
Mother Marie-Léonie (1840 – 1912) was one of 14 people decreed by Pope Francis to be inscribed in the Books of Saints in a Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Oct. 20.
“These new saints lived Jesus’ way: service,” Pope Francis said, according to the Catholic News Agency. “They made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing good, steadfast in difficulties and generous to the end.”
Mother Marie-Léonie founded the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, a congregation dedicated to collaboration with priests through prayer and domestic service. Canadian born, Mother Marie-Léonie joined the Maronite convent in Montreal at 14 years old. When she was 40, she founded the Little Sisters, which had more than 600 sisters working in 40 houses of clergy across the U.S. and Canada when she died. Mother Marie-Léonie is credited with curing a newborn girl of “prolonged perinatal asphyxia with multi-organ failure and encephalopathy” in Quebec in 1986, according to Vatican News.
“Throughout the years I have heard so much about her through her great niece, Sr. Kathy,” said Fr. Joseph Son Nguyen, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church. “So, when her name came up for canonization, it was instant recognition and delight. I’ve heard so much about her the last few years, finally she’s being canonized.”
Although celebrating Mother Marie-Léonie’s sainthood, the celebration was also a reflection of Sr. Kathy, several Holy Family members said. Sr. Kathy is not only a member and friend, but family, said Claudia Venegas, office manager at Holy Family.
Sr. Kathy has served as head of Eucharistic Ministries, lecture, coordinator of pray groups, and even started a patriotic rosary, Venegas said.
“It is for her, because we feel that her presence here, and her quiet apostolic work here, has sometimes gone unnoticed,” Fr. Joseph said. “She carries a great legacy – that of a saint.”
Holy Family parishioner Becky Maffucci said she thinks there is a parallel between Sr. Kathy and Mother Marie-Léonie, adding that “nothing happens by accident.” “To know her is to love her,” said Maffucci of Sr. Kathy. “She remembers anything that is going on in your family, she always prays for you and she’s selfless, absolutely selfless. She’s just a wonderful role model.”
Growing up, Sr. Kathy did not have Mother Marie-Léonie as her own role model. It wasn’t until after she joined her religious order that she learned of her family roots. During a family get-together in Maine, her father and brother returned with news of “this wonderful person in our family that we’re just learning about,” Sr. Kathy said.
“I started praying to her,” Sr. Kathy shared. “It was quite a surprise. I really felt rather awed by it. It’s like ‘really, this is in our family?’
‘I am sure she was up there really praying for me,” Sr. Kathy continued, “and did have an influence on my decision.”