In Honour of Maximillian Kolbe

 Matron Gloria Maul (right) and Nurse, Yuckland Lum Wai,
attending to Hospice patient

Frances Lopez recounts the appearance of the Saint of Auschwitz at the Hospice:

I have had many electrifying experiences at the Living Water Hospice, but this one I will always remember.

It all began with Mary, who was an atheist, at our Hospice.  She was a difficult person to administer nursing care to.  She never wanted to hear about Jesus and sometimes she would condemn our way of life and loving God.  Sometimes she would even pelt things at us.

It began one night when I was on duty.  You could hear a pin drop in the stillness as I sat next to Mary’s bedside, praying the Rosary quietly, and singing softly in her ear, because she was very, very restless.  I knew she was afraid to die, so I stayed with her.  Suddenly she became quiet as a lamb, and sat upright in bed with her eyes fixed on one spot, shouting: “Look, look, he there.  Look, look, he coming towards me,” pointing with her forefinger towards the position on which her eyes were focused. 

I got so frightened that I started to shake, calling Hermia who worked with me that night.  We were both frightened, so I said to Hermia, “Go and call Rose.”

Rose’s response was, “Ask her who he is, and what does he want?”

Mary’s response was, “He said his name is Maximillian Kolbe.”

I asked again, “What does he want?”

Mary’s response was, “He said it’s time for the banquet and he came to take me home.”

I was shaking like a leaf, because I did not know who he was.  At that moment Rose came, continuing to ask her the same questions.  She repeated the same answer over and over again.  Then, we put her to lie on her back and she began to smile, eyes still fixed on that same position.  Then, she sat up once more, arms outstretched, and died peacefully.  Her family was around her bed and the Rosary was being said.

From that day, I began asking questions about Maximillian Kolbe.  I learned that he was a man of God who sacrificed his life for others.  He converted lots of people by preparing them for death.  It was the first time I knew who Maximillian was, through the conversion of an atheist and a dying person.

On our Tenth Anniversary, August 14, 1993, we dedicated the Hospice to Maximillian Kolbe, now our Patron Saint, for his many appearances to the dying, taking them peacefully to the banquet that God had prepared.

St Maximillian Kolbe