In all parts of the world people are suffering because of abuse, injustice, indifference, lack of compassion and empathy. People are suffering when those they love are murdered. They suffer when they become victims of senseless crimes that strip them of their self worth. How can a person recover? Where can you find people who care enough to give you their hand to help you up? Where can those who are wounded by life’s experiences find support from people willing to listen rather than judge... then make decisions of who you are without making any effort to know you?

Because of my own experiences in life where I was severely abused by predators as a young girl, who treated me as if I was a throw away object that had no value, I learned the realities of a cruel world. Because of family difficulties, I was also thrown away to institutions at age thirteen because of situations in my family that I had no control over. I was chained to posts and severely abused for years in these institutions for no other reason then being a victim of the times where children had no voice..

In the 1950’s many children were put through horrible situations just because adults didn’t care about them. The abuse was so severe that happened to me over years that I developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Self Abuse Syndrome which young children can develop if they experience tremendous abuse with no "out" for their pain.

After years of struggle because of what I went through as a child, I became more and more healed as the years went by. I became a Catholic then later beccame Sister Pauline of the Cross op, a Dominican giving my vows to God to serve Him. I had told God a long time ago that if He helped me change my life, I would go out and help His people. I have never wavered in my promise. In doing so I found that because of my background that I have been open about, I have been shunned, rejected, treated with great disrespect by some people in the church who call themselves Christians. I am reminded that Christ also suffered from rejections by those who never bothered to know Him or sat in judgment of Him..

In my spiritual walk to rebuild life and to go out and help make this a better world, I found that my total faith in God will guide me on the right path. He will not abandon me no matter what comes my way. It is the only way to live through the pain of rejections, misunderstandings, indifference and people who lack empathy.

This message is especially for those who are suffering from some injustice in their life. The most important aspect to survival of insensitive people is to focus your lives on projects that bring about good. Never waver from having faith in God for He will never fail you. He will bring your life to purpose. We do not have to accomplish big things in life to be accepted by God. A light of holiness radiated from a little Franciscan sister in Italy who was no more four feet high, bent over sweeping the floor. She was so wonderful that I have never forgotten her. We must always remember that we all have a purpose in this life... we can achieve what is good... no matter what negative comes from people who don’t bother to know us... it comes from their insecurities, their indifference, their lack of empathy and compassion but it doesn’t come from God..

Wounded people often blame themselves when they are rejected and treated with indifference. They suffer because they think that they must be not good because of how they are being treated. God wants us all to be Peacemakers... to be reconciled with one another... to listen to one another... to care... to love... to show support. There is no other way and those who sit in the seat of authority who do opposite are serving themselves... not God.

Meeting the Holy Father, receiving Communion from him helped me by renewing my faith in God and His church. Working with the Muslims in different countries gave me a better understanding of their lives. Working for twelve years in Rome helping the African refugees and the Polish deaf mutes helped me so much to see how wonderful they are. Working to help the retarded Jewish children during the Gulf War in Israel gave me the window of opportunity to understand the importance of acceptance of others. It is not the idea of making people believe as we do but rather through love, accepting people as they are. If people reached out to us for help, we should be there to help them... to listen...not turn our backs and ignore their cry in the night. We should be simple servants for God... which means that our arms are stretched out to welcome... just like the columns at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican reaches out as if to say that the church welcomes you... but those inside the Vatican sometimes fail to be there with their own arms outstretched to listen and to welcome.

Even so, no matter how much injustice we receive in our lives, we must be faithful to God and His church. My faith in God, His Church and the Holy Father has never wavered. No matter how much injustice I receive... I will not ever give up the good fight... to be Sister Pauline of the Cross...forever.. a Dominican who goes out to try and make this a better world... to help people up so they can find their own purpose in life and not be crushed under the heavy weight of rejections and indifference.

The pain and suffering in my life is a blessing, bringing me to kneel at the foot of Christ on the Cross. We are pilgrims going through time. If we can do good along the way... if we can help people up to walk along with us, how much better this world would be than to leave them crying along the side of the road. If I had not suffered so much then I would not be as sensative to those who suffer.

Any person I help in this life as Sister Pauline of the Cross OP, I am thankful to God who gave me this opportunity and who I serve with all my heart. We must always strive to forgive one another, doing everything possible to bring about reconciliation through dialogue that brings us to the road of peace..

The life of St. Paul inspires me on. He faced so much rejection and hardships in his life yet he picked himself up and continued on to win the race. It was hard for him, just like it was hard for the saints who were just ordinary people who never wavered in their faith in God so they did extraordinary things. Never give up the race just because people might stick out their foot to trip us, causing us to fall... rather get up and focus on Our Father who is waiting for us at the finish of the race.