By: Erinn Peterson
On November 12th, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Josaphat, the patron saint of Christian unity. Born in the late 1500s, St. Josaphat dedicated his life to bringing Ruthenian Orthodox Christians into communion with Rome. His commitment to unity between the Eastern and Western Churches eventually cost him his life, and he became a martyr for his faith.
St. Josaphat also holds a special place in our history as Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. After arriving in Chicago, our Sisters ministered at St. Josaphat parish, and they too would begin a journey of building community in a new place. Inspired by St. Josaphat's example and through his intercession, the Sisters dedicated themselves to their new mission and the people they served. Their path would not be one of martyrdom, but of faithful service, bringing Christ's love to others.
In the late 1800s, many Polish immigrants came to America in search of freedom from the political instability and the oppression they faced in Europe. As Chicago's Polish community continued to grow, so did the need for spiritual care and support. Tasked with establishing a Catholic school on top of ministering to a rapidly growing number of parishioners, Father Vincent Barzynski, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, recognized that he could no longer meet all the needs of his growing community on his own.
Father Barzynski reached out to Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Frances Siedliska), asking for her Sisters to come to America to help. As a newer community, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd gave careful thought to whether they were ready to take on such a significant responsibility so early in their history. After much prayer and discernment, Mother Foundress "realized that the Kingdom of God [was] at stake, the Kingdom of God within us that can become a reality only after we have allowed God to work out his good pleasure in us…" Many of the sisters were young and relatively inexperienced, with seven still being novices, yet Mother Foundress felt strongly that this was where God was calling her congregation to serve.
Arriving at St. Josaphat in 1885, their new home was quite different from the grand basilicas of Rome that they had left behind. Instead, they found themselves in a small, rundown church. The sisters did not let their humble surroundings discourage them. They quickly got to work, organizing two schools, an orphanage, and an evening school to help educate young women. Through their work with Polish children and families, they helped sustain the Catholic faith while offering support to families adjusting to life in a new country.
With the help of St. Josephat, they fostered a sense of belonging among the Polish immigrant families they served. They brought the charism of the Holy Family of Nazareth to America, by sharing God's love through education, compassion, and care for families.
As we celebrate the feast of St. Josaphat, we have an opportunity to remember our beginnings in the United States and our call to walk alongside families. When immigrant families were facing the challenges of starting over in an unfamiliar country, our sisters were there to offer encouragement, education, and a sense of community.
Their story is a reminder that building unity doesn't always require grand gestures. Sometimes, it begins simply by making someone feel at home or offering a helping hand. Just as the sisters did in those early days at St. Josaphat, we are called to share God's love wherever He places us and to recognize that even the smallest acts of kindness can help bring people together. In their example, and that of St. Josaphat, let us all work to create communities of unity and faith wherever we happen to end up.
Photo credit: Nheyob
