Mrs. Dobbelsteyn, A Mother to Everyone
“An extremely important aspect of your role is that you are called to lead the young to Christ, to inspire them to follow Him, to show them His boundless love and concern for them, through the example of your own life.
To teach means not only to impart what we know, but also to reveal who we are, by living what we believe. It is this latter lesson which tends to last the longest.”
- John Paul II to Catholic Teachers, NFLD, 1984
It’s no doubt that to be a good teacher is a challenging job which demands a loving presence, loads of humility and, to preserve any type of sanity, some top-notch humour.
Our beloved Mrs. Paula Dobbelsteyn had all of these in spades but our favourite was her loving, motherly presence which brought an irreplaceable warmth to our DMCS Family. Paula retired from DMCS in June 2021 and we’ve been reflecting on just how blessed we were by her presence.
A Yes to DMCS
It’s no small thing to find someone willing to respond to the enormous vocation of teaching. We know that teachers are the single most important element in carrying out the mission of a Catholic School and finding the right person who checks all the boxes always seems like a daunting task.
Judy Burnham, DMCS Principal, recalls Paula’s timely arrival at DMCS:
“Part way through the first school-year of DMCS in 2003-2004, with only 2 teachers and 25 students, we began finding the situation quite overwhelming and knew that we needed some help. Who would we find to be not only an extra set of hands but a loving presence… a spiritual mother… a companion on the journey for us wearied teachers? Paula Dobbelsteyn came readily to mind and her eager ‘yes’ to DMCS was met with absolute joy from the staff and Board of Directors. Over the next 18 years, we saw, daily, that God knew exactly who we needed - Paula was everything we’d hoped for and more.”
Paula began teaching the Kindergarten class and throughout her next 18 years with DMCS, took on the elementary grades, landing each year as homeroom teacher wherever she was needed. Students and parents always described her as warm, loving and deeply caring. Students taught by Mrs. Dobbelsteyn knew that they were loved by her - and her sincere and authentic faith in Jesus was witnessed by everyone in the school community. She would often invite students to pray when they were upset about something and found opportunities all day long to bring the love of Christ into her teaching both in her words and actions.
Remembering those early days of DMCS, Judy shared,
“Paula brought with her a very loving presence to DMCS (one family affectionately likened her to Mary Poppins!). The students loved her and felt safe in her motherly care. Her deep and consistent faith, commitment to prayer and acceptance of God’s will in her life became a rock within our school and for me, personally.”
An Irreplaceable Presence
In addition to teaching a full range of elementary subjects, Paula, with a background in music ministry and a love for singing, became the music teacher for all grades and the director of our beloved DMCS Choir. Throughout her many years of leading the choir, she would regularly remind the students of St. Augustine’s words, “When you sing, you pray twice!”. Before concerts and competitions, she would lead the students in prayer and remind them that their voices and faces were the instruments of Jesus’ love for the audience and to remember that throughout their performance.
Paula’s much-loved presence among the staff was one of sincere companionship and support. During Friday afternoon staff meetings, Paula was always there with a listening ear to anyone who needed to vent about their week and always brought laughter to the end-of-week meetings by sharing stories from her week in the class. She was always a shoulder to cry on and a friend to laugh with - her presence has been so deeply missed by staff this year.
In the words above from Pope John Paul II, he speaks about the call of each Catholic school teacher to ‘lead the young to Christ’ and impart not only what we know, but also to ‘reveal who we are by living what we believe’. Paula responded to this profound call of teaching with incredible generosity, knowing that her ‘yes’ to the unending needs of the students of the school was a daily ‘yes’ to Christ himself. Her years of authentic generosity of time, presence and gifts played an irreplaceable role in the fabric of DMCS and the fruits of her daily labour will be felt and seen by DMCS for as long as the school exists. There was no question among the DMCS Family that Paula believed what she taught and lived what she believed - and this authenticity animated her entire vocation of teaching.
Fruit that will last…
The days leading up to Paula’s retirement were filled with mixed emotions from staff and students; there was resounding joy and gratitude for her incredible legacy at DMCS mixed with sorrow at the thought of carrying on the mission without her daily presence in the school.
At the tender heart of those who were finding it difficult to say goodbye, was Judy, who had spent many years sharing the daily life of DMCS - in all its ups and downs (and many cups of tea) - with Paula.
“Many hours of prayer, discussion, discernment, tears and laughter brought us through 18 years together” she said. “...and for those years, I am eternally grateful.”
Mrs. Dobbelsteyn, some of us remember how to play an A on the ukulele, a few of us remember our times tables and many of us remember the joy of music which you brought to our hearts - but none of us forget the most profound lesson which you gave to each student and staff member of DMCS more times than we can count - to be loved by Him and love Him fervently in return.
Yours is a vocation we honour, cherish and will never forget.