Pakistan's "Mother Teresa" passes away

Sr. Ruth Pfau, Pakistan’s ‘Mother Teresa’ passes away

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German-born nun Sr. Ruth Pfau, regarded as Pakistan’s ‘Mother Teresa’, was recognized for freeing Pakistan of leprosy. - REUTERS

10/08/2017 13:25

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(Vatican Radio) German-born Catholic missionary Sister Ruth Pfau, who devoted her life to eradicating leprosy in Pakistan, died on Thursday in the southern city of Karachi.  87-year old nun of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary order, widely known as Pakistan's Mother Teresa, was admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital a few days ago suffering from old age complications.

National heroine

Sr. Pfau was eulogized by the prime minister and army chief for her contributions towards freeing the country of the stigmatized disease that can cause disfigurement.

"Pfau may have been born in Germany, her heart was always in Pakistan," Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in a statement.  " She came here at the dawn of a young nation looking to make lives better for those afflicted by disease, and in doing so, found herself a home. We will remember her for her courage, her loyalty, her service to the eradication of leprosy, and most of all, her patriotism," he added

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussein also expressed grief at the loss of Sr. Pfau recalling her services for the helpless and neglected in the country. “Dr Pfau’s services to end leprosy in Pakistan cannot be forgotten. She left her homeland and made Pakistan her home to serve humanity. Pakistani nation salutes Dr. Pfau and her great tradition to serve humanity will be continued,” the President stated.

Mission

Born on Sept. 9, 1929 in Leipzig, Sr. Ruth Pfau studied medicine in the1950s at the universities of Mainz and Marburg in then West Germany.  After her graduation she joined the religious order of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, which sent her on mission to India.  On her way she stopped in Karachi on March 8, 1960, because of some visa problems.  It was here that she became involved with working with people affected by leprosy or Hansen’s Disease.  In 1961 she went to Vellore, South India to acquire training in the management of Leprosy. She then returned to Karachi to organize and expand the Leprosy Control Programme.  She founded the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre in Karachi, Pakistan's first hospital dedicated to treating the disease, which today has 157 branches across the country.

"It was due to her endless struggle that Pakistan defeated leprosy," German Consulate Karachi posted on Facebook.  In 1996, the World Health Organization declared that leprosy had been controlled in Pakistan, which led Sr. Pfau to the more challenging task of eliminating the disease.  Last year, the number of patients under treatment for leprosy fell to 531 from 19,398 in the 1980s, the Dawn newspaper said.

Recognition

Sr. Pfau has won numerous honours and prizes in Pakistan and abroad for her humanitarian services.  Germany awarded her the Order of Merit in 1969.  In 1979, the Pakistani government appointed her Federal Advisor on Leprosy to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Pakistani government honoured her with the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 1979 and the Hilal-e-Pakistan in 1989. She was granted Pakistani citizenship in 1988.  In 2002 she won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, regarded as Asia’s Nobel prize.

In recognition of the services rendered by late Ruth Pfau for Pakistan, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has announced state funeral for Ruth Pfau.  The last rite of Sr. Pfau is scheduled for Aug. 19 at St Patrick's Cathedral in Karachi and she will be laid to rest at the Christian cemetery in the city.

German-born nun Sr. Ruth Pfau, regarded as Pakistan’s ‘Mother Teresa’, was recognized for freeing Pakistan of leprosy. - REUTERS

10/08/2017 13:25

Speech of His Grace Archbishop Joseph Coutts

Link to the Speech of His Grace Archbishop Joseph Coutts

Delivered at the Funeral Service of Sr. Dr. Ruth Pfau on

August 19, 2017

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_PNxCoseyw8bXFGT1pKRzFMWGc

パキスタンのDHM宣教師 Dr.Ruth のこと

パキスタンのDHM会員姉妹から、ドイツ人姉妹、医師のDr.RuthがAgh Khan病院のICUに入院、という緊急連絡が入ったのが去る８月5日。一時持ち直したかのようでしたが、本人の生前の強い希望を汲んで延命は行わず自然に天国に旅立ったのが8月9日でした。

日本からは一人の姉妹があわただしくビザを取ってパキスタンへ駆けつけました。葬儀は19日と決まり、国葬になるかもという大きなことになりました。

社会の中で目立たないで奉仕している人に贈られるマグサイサイ賞を受け取ったのは何年前だったでしょうか。彼女の生涯、生活を見せてもらうと、まさに、見捨てられたような人々のために、彼らと共に病気と闘っていたようです。最近になっていろいろ発表された画像などを見るとそれがよくわかりました。病人からも慕われていたのが納得いきます。

イスラム教の色濃い国で、ここまで大きくキリスト教徒、しかも修道女の葬儀が教会で盛大に行われたことは、ハンセン氏病や結核がまだまだこの国では戦わなくてはならない病気で、その最前線で働いていたということでDr.Ruthの葬儀がこれほど盛大だったのではないかと思わせました。

以下は、パキスタン(カラチ)で、葬儀に出た姉妹からの報告です。

《昨日(8月19日)は、朝8時40分に家を車で出て、カテドラルで4時間半、墓地で2時間あまりを、昼食抜き、休みなしで(墓地は立ちん坊）過ごしました。夜はTVのチャンネルはどこでも、葬儀の模様を放映しました。今朝の新聞を買いましたので後でご覧ください。

カテドラルでは、朝9時から外に立って、Dr.Ruthの到着を待ちました。9時に号砲が（17発とか）鳴り渡り、カラスや野鳥が一斉に飛び立ち大騒ぎ。Dr.Ruthのご遺体が車で到着しました。続いてわたしたちも、聖堂に入り（DHMは最前列）でした。直立不動の兵士に守られたDr.Ruthに、参列者は列を作ってお別れしました。その列が2時間も続きました。一体何人だったのでしょうか。DHMの一人がいうことには、3500人。聖堂内が立ち席を入れて２０００、外のテントを張った椅子席と立っていた人で1500だとか言っていましたがよく分かりません、何しろ大変な人でした。

ミサは6人の司教様方と大勢の司祭、教会の聖歌隊。TVと新聞のカメラ群。 DHMでは、ガザラがルーツの生涯の説明、聖書朗読がマリアン・マンガ、共同祈願をヘレンが（一人で6つも）しました。ミサの終わりにヘーゼルがカルメンの挨拶を読みました。

ものものしく兵士たちがお棺を運び出した後、すぐに車で墓地へ。墓地には首相始めお歴々が来たので、またまた大変な儀式で、2時間余り立ちっ放しでした。(偉い人はお祈りしてすぐ帰った）わたしたちは休憩なし、昼食なし、持参したボトルは飲み干し、やっと4時過ぎに、朝の出発から7時間後に家に帰り着きました。一生に一度の体験です。

では、あと3日後に帰途につきます。皆様の熱心なお祈りのおかげでとても元気です。

おやすみなさい。》

パキスタンのDHM宣教師 Dr.Ruth

Sad news our dear Dr. Ruth pfau has gone to her eternal home. She is going to be with us in through all her good deeds. May she rest in peace amen.　

Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre - MALC

We shall not face any situation, in which we cannot do anything – there will always be the possibility for
a smile
a gesture
a warm word

a small prayer

And an answer
a smile
a gesture