Breaking Ground: Sr. Sheeba Paul Becomes India’s First Religious Sister to Become a Notary

Mumbai, March 5, 2025 – In a historic moment for the Indian Catholic community, Advocate Sr. Sheeba Paul, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit, Pune Province, became India’s first religious to be appointed as a notary by the Government of India on March 3, 2025. A practicing lawyer for 13 years in Mumbai, Sr. Sheeba has dedicated her career to legal advocacy, particularly in family law.

“I always look at family as the foundation of society, striving for unity and togetherness. Through my work, I have witnessed many families reconcile and rebuild their lives,” Sr. Sheeba told Catholic Connect. Today, there are very few willing to sit and truly listen to people’s problems. As religious, we are called to do just that—to listen with compassion and assist those in distress.”

Sr. Sheeba’s journey into the legal profession began in her youth. As a 10th-grade student, she participated in a catechism visit to the central jail in Palakkad, where she encountered women prisoners pleading for prayers due to a lack of legal assistance. Their suffering deeply moved her. “No one was willing to take up their cases. That moment planted the seed in my heart to pursue law,” she recalled.

Before entering the legal field, Sr. Sheeba served as a social worker, supporting underprivileged families in rural areas after completing her Bachelor’s in Social Work. It was only in 2009 that her provincial superior encouraged her to study law. In 2013, she began practicing in Mumbai, where her congregation had already established a legal ministry in 1998.

Currently, Sr. Sheeba resides at Shanthigar, a shelter home for women and children in crisis, where she and her congregation provide care and legal support to those abandoned and without recourse.

Reflecting on her spiritual journey, she credits her congregation for unwavering support. “What I am today is only because of my congregation. They have stood by me, believed in me, and given me the strength to reach this point,” she said. “I have always felt the hand of God guiding me. I am not afraid to take risks in life.”

Encouraging other religious to explore similar vocations, Sr. Sheeba emphasised the need for greater representation in the legal profession. “More religious should be motivated to enter such fields. Only then can we help more families and those in need.”

With her new appointment, Sr. Sheeba Paul stands as an inspiration, proving that faith and justice can go hand in hand in transforming lives.

By Catholic Connect Reporter