By Sister M. Marcella Louise Wallowicz CSFN
In preparation of our 150th Jubilee Year, the focus on sisters as daughters of Mother Foundress has been prevalent throughout this past year. The spirituality with which her legacy was bestowed upon us has guided our hearts for the graced time ahead in the jubilee year.
But above all, “the purpose of the jubilee is to awaken and relive the joy of our charism, spiritual conversion and the celebration itself. It is mainly about strengthening our identity: who? For what? And who am I for?” (Sister Alina Furczyk, Assistant General Superior, Liaison for Jubilee, October 2021).
As we transition into this year of celebration, we invite you to learn more about our CSFN beginnings in America, and how our Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd and eleven other sisters established the congregation we know today.
Although of noble Polish birth, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd resisted the temptation to establish the Congregation in her homeland and instead founded the first community in Rome as a sign of commitment to the universal Church. So passionate was her desire to extend the Kingdom of God’s Love, she transcended ethnic and geographic boundaries, receiving women of many nationalities into the Congregation. This universality and inclusivity are an impetus for our ministering to God's People in many different countries on five different continents.
Mother was very forthright, prophetic, and even counter cultural. Ministry to immigrants brought her to the United States in 1885. At the invitation of Archbishop Patrick Feehan, she was called to minister to the burgeoning Polish and Lithuanian immigrant populations of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In his personal appeal to Mother Foundress, Archbishop Feehan, who relied on religious orders with needed foreign language skills, urged Mother to send Sisters to Chicago by July 1885.
The immigrants in Chicago in the 1880’s were similar to today’s immigrants: families experiencing prejudice, alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse, illness due to inadequate healthcare, poverty, food and housing insecurity, illiteracy and lack of instruction in the faith. Many were still displaced in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Bringing half the Congregation to the United States was a bold move, which was undertaken following much prayer and contemplation. At the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, which houses a crystal reliquary containing wood from the crib of Jesus, Mother reflected, “Here at the crib, I envisioned America so clearly, taking root in the spirit of the Holy Family, a spirit of love and of the freedom of the children of God. It seemed clear to me that Jesus willed to transport our work even there, so far away.”
“Here the sacrifice hinges on the Kingdom of God within us through accomplishing His purpose and expanding His kingdom.”
And so, Nazareth in America was realized on July 4, 1885, when Mother Foundress, along with eleven Sisters, arrived in New York City on the American Independence Day. Following an additional two-day train journey, the group arrived in Chicago, establishing the first Nazareth home at St. Josaphat parish. Anticipating this arrival, Mother had written in her diary, “Here the sacrifice hinges on the Kingdom of God within us through accomplishing His purpose and expanding His kingdom.” Mother Foundress’ commitment to the American mission was evidenced in her becoming a naturalized United States citizen.
How prophetic that the initial group journeying to America, including Mother Foundress, totaled twelve, a significant number in our faith: the twelve tribes of Jacob, twelve Apostles, twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the number 12 appears 187 times in the Bible. Who were these eleven Sisters who made the arduous transatlantic voyage with Mother Foundress and established Nazareth in the United States? They were primarily Sisters in early formation in their religious life; that is, new members to the Congregation. Here is a glimpse of our first Nazareth Sisters in the United States:
Mother Raphael (Felicia Lubowidzka) was chosen by Mother Foundress to be the first provincial superior of the American Mission, having previously served as a local superior in Cracow and Rome. During her tenure as Provincial, buildings purchased by Mother Foundress for use as a provincialate and novitiate were renovated. In addition to her administrative duties as provincial superior, Mother Raphael instituted an education program to instruct working class girls. This evening program of study later grew into a full-time program of courses, namely Holy Family Academy which was established on October 1, 1887. Mother Raphael served as the Academy’s first principal. Health issues necessitated her return to Europe in 1888. Subsequent assignments included serving as local superior at the Motherhouse in Rome followed by her appointment as Provincial Superior of the Cracow Province in 1891, the later position she held uninterruptedly, except for a brief interim in 1895, until her passing on March 20, 1921 in Cracow.
Mother Lauretta (Thecla Lubowidzka) was a cousin to Mothers Raphael, Michael and Gabriel, the first vocations to the Congregation. She was a very young in religious life, having been professed just 6 months when she left Poland to be a founding member of the American mission. Mother Lauretta was appointed as principal and local superior at St. Josaphat’s from 1885 to 1888. With the return of Mother Raphael to Europe, Mother Lauretta assumed leadership of the Nazareth mission in America. During her tenure as Provincial Superior, Holy Family Hospital (later St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital) was established in Chicago. Mother Lauretta also expanded the Nazareth educational apostolate in the United States to include 12 additional schools in Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Following the death of Mother Foundress on November 21, 1902, Mother Lauretta was appointed Vicar General on March 23, 1903. She would serve in this capacity for six years until being named Superior General by Pope St. Pius X in 1909. Mother Lauretta served as Superior General until her passing on June 15, 1942 in Rome,
Sister Angela (Janine Czoppe) entered the Congregation in 1881 and professed first vows in 1884 and final vows in 1889. In the US she served as supervisor of schools. Sadly, in 1899, she left the Congregation.
Sister Ewangelista (Anna Kijewska) was born in Poznan, Poland, entered the Congregation in 1881 and professed first vows in 1883. Although one of the original group of Sisters who arrived in Chicago in 1885, little is known about her ministry there. She left the Congregation in 1890.
Sister Frances (Emma Morgenstern) was a convert to Catholicism, having been born into a prosperous Lutheran family. She became acquainted with our Sisters in her hometown of Cracow, Poland. Entering the Congregation in 1881, she professed first vows shortly before the voyage to America. A well-educated woman, she held numerous positions of leadership in the educational apostolate in the US at Saint Adalbert School and Holy Family Academy. Upon her return to Europe in 1890, she was subsequently elected treasurer general. Afterwards, she returned to the educational ministry in London, Paris and Gentilly, France.
Sister Stanislaus (Josephine Sierpinska) entered the Congregation in 1883 and was still a novice when she arrived in America. She initially served as director of St. Josaphat’s orphanage. Later, due to her extensive educational background, she served in various capacities in the educational ministry including teaching and serving as principal in numerous schools in Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Scranton and several terms as director of Holy Family Academy. Sister was a passionate supporter of Polish culture in the US.
Sister Paula (Maria Czarnowska) was born into an aristocratic Polish family and entered the Congregation in 1884 at the age of 32. She professed first vows shortly after her arrival in the US. Sister served as local superior at several convents and following profession of final vows assumed the role of superintendent of Holy Family Hospital and served as secretary on the first US provincial council. She returned to Rome in 1896 and ministered in various capacities in Europe until her passing in 1913.
Sister Philomena (Anna Parzyk) entered the Congregation in 1883 and was still a novice upon her arrival in the US. The voyage and severe weather conditions in Chicago drastically affected her health. She died on August 11, 1885, after professing final vows on her deathbed.
Sister Cecilia (Elizabeth Sadowska) entered the Congregation at the age of 30 and was still a novice when she accompanied the first group of Sisters to the American mission. Artistic and very proficient in handwork, she conducted evening classes in these subjects at Holy Family Academy. When the Congregation expanded eastward, she was one of the first Sisters to staff Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish in Scranton, PA. Sister Cecilia displayed exceptional kindness and attentiveness to Sisters who were ill and had the privilege of taking care of Mother Foundress during her final days.
Sister Agnes (Caroline Lukasiewicz) became a novice shortly before her departure for the US. She ministered to the orphans at St. Josaphat parish and later ministered at St. Adalbert parish. She left the Congregation in 1892.
Sister Theresa (Godwin Czerminska) became a novice on June 16, 1885, literally the day before Mother Foundress and the pioneering Sisters began their journey to the US. A former Carmelite, she was appointed as the director of Sisters in early formation. She ministered in education and leadership in various parishes in the US and in Europe. In 1899 she transferred to the Congregation of the Assumption to devote herself to greater contemplation.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these Sisters who established our Congregation in the United States. Nazareth continues its mission of spreading the Kingdom of God’s Love and ministering to diverse expressions of family throughout the United States and throughout the world. While the family’s presentation in society is different than it was 150 years ago, its needs are analogous. Mother Foundress is still encouraging us to respond to those needs with love, compassion and understanding, a mission we gladly embrace.
Sister M. Marcella Louise Wallowicz CSFN
Acknowledgement: Information in this article on the original eleven Sisters was obtained from the writings and presentations of Sister Barbara Jean Wojnicki CSFN, Sister Marie Kielanowicz CSFN and the late Sister Godwin Zaleski CSFN.