Mother Superior Francis Paul

Three Recollections by Derrick Garbell

1) Mother Francis Paul was the first principal at St. Bridget of Sweden grade school. She was also teacher to the school's inaugural 4th grade class when I was a first grader. She had a natural, almost regal authority. I was in awe of her, and by association to some degree, of her three years infinitely older students — initially and thereafter the elders of the school.

One day in my second grade our teacher Sister Margaret Ursula was called from the classroom on an emergency. She worriedly advised the class to "Be quiet and behave!" as she left hastily.
Within a few minutes the unsupervised room was borderline bedlam. Seven-year olds shouting, dancing and standing on desk seats!

It was virtually recess!

Suddenly Mother Superior appeared at the entry door of the room.
Bedlam dissipated, she sternly rebuked us:

"I am disappointed at your all acting up! And you are in the classroom closest to the church and our Lord!" She motioned towards the church building just outside our windows.

I glanced across the driveway and knew she was referring to the altar. I already felt a deep respect for the Holy Presence in the tabernacle, but then Mother's profound reverence impacted me further. To her, genuflecting towards the tabernacle was not just a rule to be obeyed. She observed a living divine presence there and behaved accordingly. For the remainder of my days at St Bridget I tried to emulate her veneration whenever I was near those church walls or passed before the tabernacle.

2) While I was a fourth grader, my mom visited the school office to deliver some books she had protectively covered for the nuns' library.
As she returned to her car she glimpsed Mother Francis Paul, sleeves rolled up, heading to the restroom carrying wads of paper towels. Mom approached to greet her but quickly discovered Mother was in the midst of cleaning vomit from the floor of the Room 3 classroom. A student had become ill and class had been dismissed early to allow cleanup.

But while no one expected the head of the whole school to do the job, there was Mother tending to it alone. Mom was deeply impressed and offered to assist, but Mother not only would not accept her aid, she asked Mom to keep mum on the topic.
My Mom was profoundly affected by this great nun. She did share the story with my dad, sister and I, warning us to keep quiet. I record it here today as exemplification of Mother Francis Paul's notable humble service.
From that time I was inspired by Mother's "roll-up-your-sleeves and get it done" attitude.

3) One morning in the the 5th grade, before the prayers and march to the classrooms, the entire student body was milling boisterously in the lineup area as we assembled in lines to enter the classrooms. But because Mother Francis Paul was nearby, I restrained myself from going overboard. With Mother so close, even with her back turned toward us, I felt it time to start behaving.

Suddenly I was bumped from behind and with backpack already placing me off-balance I stumbled forward. I barely regained my balance, and as I looked up, there was Mother, irate that I had nearly collided with her.

She chastised me: "Dickie Grable, you watch yourself!"

I could hear a few classmates giggle at Mother's hilarious botching of my name, but I did not grin at Mother's stern face during her misdirected reprimand.

From that moment many of my classmates decided to refer to me as "Dickie Grable," and to address me simply as "Dickie."

Soon my mom even dymo-labeled my lunch box with the silly nickname.

Eventually my wife learned of the incident after being puzzled why I was addressed as "Dickie" by visiting St Bridget schoolmates. Without hesitation she began using it too, particularly when she needed a chore handled.