RIP: Sister Mary Paule Tacke

Sr. Mary Paule Tacke C.P.S.
Photo from: Cottonwood Chronicle

A reader of my Blog just drew my attention to the sad news published in Dispatch Live about the murder of Catholic nun, Sister Mary Paule Tacke. According to the police the body of Sister Tacke was found on Monday about 60km from Mthatha floating in a stream.

Sister Tacke was a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood. She apparently came to South Africa from the US in the ’50s and had dedicated herself to helping vulnerable children and to fighting drugs and child abuse. 

In January 2005 Sister Tacke received a papal award for her outstanding work with the poor.

Sister Tacke was 82 years old. Although Sister Tacke had already retired, it is reported that she continued to serve on the convent committee and had been working closely with a number of social welfare organisations.

Sister Tacke was hijacked and abducted on Sunday afternoon while driving her car to visit one of her projects, a place of safety for children. When the police later found her car, Sister Tacke was not with it. They did find a 9mm pistol and a cell phone in the car.

On Monday a passer-by found her body dumped in the stream. She was still dressed in her habit and her house keys and money were in her pockets.

The police are unsure of how Sister Tacke died because there were no visible wounds. They suspect she was strangled and are looking for two men in connection with her death.

Graeme Alexander, chairman of the Mthatha Ratepayers’ Association, told the Dispatch Live that: “She was a frail lady who couldn’t hurt a fly.”

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

rest in peace. Amen.