Born in Arklow, Ireland on April 28, 1875,[1] she became a Junior Assistant Mistress at 17 and taught in Essex, England.

[4] Kearney's work in East Africa resulted in the formation of multiple hospitals and training of nurses throughout the region.

Her name serves as the root of the word Kevina, which means "hospital" or "charity institute" in Uganda.

On November 6, 2016, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lugazi opened her formal beatification process, securing her the title Servant of God.

[7] Her maternal grandmother, Grannie Grenell, then raised Kearney in Curranstown, County Wicklow.

[1] Following Sister Paul's illness and return to the United States in 1910, Kearney was appointed the new superior of the convent.

[3] In 1913, three more sisters arrived, which allowed Kearney to establish a third mission station in Kamuli, Busoga.

[2] During World War 1, the Nsambya Hospital was used to treat the Native Carrier Corp, porters for European troops.

On December 25, 1918 Kearney was awarded the MBE, Member of Order of British Empire, for her services to the wounded during the war years.

A year later, Kearney and Dr. Evelyn Connolly, a lay missionary, founded a nursing and midwifery school in Nsambya.

In September 1928, Kearney returned to England to establish a novitiate exclusively for training sisters for African missions.

[2] Many women from England, Scotland and Ireland travelled to Holme Hall to assist the missionary efforts.

[3] This created a shortage for the Mill Hill Fathers, who also needed sisters for their school in England and American missions.

[3] With the formation of the FMSA, Kearney expanded the missionary work to Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, the US, Scotland, and South Africa.

[3] On December 3, 1957, Kearney's body was buried in the cemetery at Nkokonjeru, the motherhouse of the Little Sisters of St.