Paula Tak

Sister Paula Tak, SNDdeN has always valued ministry and service. Her father was a Salvation Army officer in South Korea, and one of her sisters followed in his footsteps.  

Sister Paula began her journey of service in South Korea, where she started her nursing career and cared for the elderly. Sister Paula had never imagined serving as a Catholic Sister and her visit to a convent with her nursing school roommate sparked her interest in learning more about the Sisters and their way of life. The call she felt to “live for God and care for the poor” was strong, but the Sisters told her that she first needed to become a Catholic and then wait for at least three years. After entering the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in South Korea, Sister Paula became a nurse in their orphanages and hospitals. 

Meanwhile, Sister Paula’s mother and most of her seven siblings had moved to the United States. The family asked the Mother Superior in South Korea if Sister Paula could be assigned to serve in the U.S., where other community members were now serving. She became a U.S. citizen five years after coming to the East Coast. Coming to the U.S. in her 40s was not easy, and even after taking classes, learning to speak English was very difficult. 

Sister Magdalena Yang, SNDdeN introduced Sister Paula to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in California. Feeling a divine call, she became an SNDdeN, committing herself to a life of faith and service.  

Sister Paula has reflected God’s goodness across her ministries, including St. Kevin Parish in San Francisco and the Holy Family Day Home. She served as a nurse at The Sequoia Convalescent Hospital for 10 years and then for 14 years at a care facility for the elderly in San Francisco, where she was often able to translate for some of the older Korean people she met.  

Reflecting on her vocation, Sister Paula shares: “God called me to become a Sister, and I’ve never regretted it.” Her commitment to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur signifies her promise to God, which she holds dear. 

Sister Paula feels blessed to care for the poor and live for God in South Korea and California. Her life is a testament to her unwavering faith and dedication to helping others, embodying the spirit of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.