Nun's Collection Features The Madonna and Christmas

Chicago Daily Herald columnist Joan Broz says Sister DePaul Stava "is practically effervescent when talking about her life-long interest in collecting stamps."

According to Broz, "Each stamp to her is a lesson in art, customs, currency and history. She is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and organized with her extensive stamp collection, and excited to share some favorite Christmas stamps with readers."

Sister DePaul began collecting stamps while a student. A secretary in the school office kept a small box of stamps at her desk and allowed children to select a favorite as a small reward.

"For a number of years, while Stava completed her studies and professed her vows as a religious nun, the small journal sat dormant. Then in 1954 when the Catholic Church celebrated the Marion Year, a number of stamps that depicted the Madonna re-energized her interest in stamps," writes Broz.

Today Sister DePaul has at least 1,000 first-day issues featuring the Madonna and includes many Christmas stamps and covers that are are postmarked with holiday-themed names like Santa Claus and Bethlehem, Ind.; North Pole, Alaska, Colorado or New York; Christmas, Fla., Mich., or Christmas Valley, Ore.; Noel, Mo.; Holly, Mich., and Silver Bell, Ariz.

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