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Sister M. Stella of the Most Blessed Sacrament was born on
December 14, 1888 in the village of Ciasnowka in the district of Nieswiesk (at present
located in the Belarus Diocese of Minsk-Mohylew). When she entered the Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth on September 14, 1910, she was a certified teacher, who later fulfilled
the duties of residents’ moderator in a boarding school, bursar and sacristan. Having
arrived in Nowogrodek in 1936, she fulfilled the role of local superior during World War
II. Goodness, generosity, and a vibrant love of neighbor were her outstanding
characteristics. The townsfolk remember her very prayerful countenance, deep faith, and
immense sensitivity to the suffering of others. |
| Sister M. Imelda of Jesus Host was born on December 29, 1892 in Oswiecim
(Auschwitz) in the Diocese of Bielski-Zywiec. She was received into the Congregation on
May 13, 1911 and arrived in Nowogrodek in 1936. A teacher by profession, during the War
and occupation she fulfilled the duties of sacristan in the Church of the Transfiguration.
She is remembered as a very prayerful person with an intense spiritual life. The altar
servers, who were entrusted to her care, recall her as someone who was kindhearted, happy
and taught them the value of interior discipline by teaching them to value exterior
harmony. |
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Sister M. Raymond of Jesus and
Mary was born on August 24, 1892 in Barwaniszk near Vilnius, which is at present in the
Lithuanian Diocese of Vilnius. She was accepted into the Congregation on September 1, 1918
and came to Nowogrodek in 1934. Though we do not have much information about this simple
religious, we do know that she had poor health. Molded by her suffering she spend every
moment free from domestic work , in the chapel, at the feet of Jesus Hidden in the Blessed
Sacrament where she matured in grace to the point of embracing martyrdom. |
| Sister M. Daniela of Jesus and Mary Immaculate was born on
January 25, 1895 in Poizdow, a village in the Poldlasie region (at present the Diedlce
Diocese). Accepted into the Congregation on January 21, 1920, she arrived in Nowogrodek in
1932. She was assigned to a variety of domestic duties. Whatever she did, she did quietly
without being noticed. With loving solicitude she cherished children, but especially those
who were poor. |
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Sister M. Canuta of Jesus in the Garden was born on May 22,
1896 in Raczyn located in the Wielun region (Diocese of Czestochowa). The story of her
vocation is most unique. She had never even considered becoming a religious. Obedient to
her parenst, she planned to marry when in a dream she heard a voice: Do not marry
Stanislaus, because your Bridegroom is waiting for you in Grodno. For your wedding
present, he will give you a red dress. She entered the Congregation on April 21, 1921.
Having arrived in 1931, she was the first of the martyred sisters to come to Nowogrodek.
Though she had poor health, she worked very hard. Everyone who knew her maintained that
she was blessed with the gift of contemplative prayer. From time to time, she would
confide in the sisters that she was concerned that her dream had not been completely
realized because she had not received her red dress. She very probably understood
the full impact of the dream at the moment of death. |
| Sister M. Sergia of the Sorrowful Mother of God was born
August 18, 1900 in the village of Rogoczyn in the district of Augustow (Diocese of Elk).
She was received into the Congregation on December 25, 1922. Having begun her novitiate in
Grodno, after a year, she was sent to the United States along with a group of sisters. She
returned to Poland after she pronounced her perpetual vows. When the sisters in
Philadelphia warned her about the impending danger of war brewing in Europe, Sister M.
Sergia replied that she is not afraid of that. She has nothing else to give to our Lord
for his great love than to want to give him her life. She is not afraid of martyrdom.
She arrived in Nowogrodek in 1933. She was assigned domestic duties. Because of her great
love of our Blessed Mother she loved to speak about her. Her affect on others emanated
from her deep interior life. |
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Sister Gwidona of the Mercy of God was born on April 11,
1900 in Granowc in the district of Odalanow (Diocese of Kalisz). She entered the
Congregation on February 17, 1927. Upon maker her perpetual profession in 1936 she was
assigned to Nowogrodek where she worked in the garden and on the farm. The sisters along
with the people of Nowogrodek recall her being someone filled with happiness and joy.
She was very hardworking and kept everything associated with her responsibilities in order.
She earned the title: powerhouse of prayer. Being a religious of deep convictions
and integrity, she was a radiantly bright, visible, sacrificial flame. |
| Sister M. Felicita was born on August 30, 1905 in Rudna in
the province of Lublin (Diocese of Siedlce). She entered the Congregation on March 4,
1932. Upon completing her novitiate in Grodno, she made her first profession in 1935 and
was assigned to the community of Nowogrodek. By nature she was quiet, slim and delicate,
polite, pleasant and modest. She was practically unnoticed as she passed through life.
Though very little information is available about her, we do know that the sisters and
townsfolk loved her. |
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Sister M. Heliodora was born February 8, 1906 in Stara Huta
in the province of Swiecie (Diocese of Pelplinsk). She entered the Congregation on January
8, 1933. Upon completing her initial formation in Grodno, she made her first profession of
vows in 1935 and was sent to Nowogrodek. She was completely dedicated to the service of
others as she fulfilled many different duties. Gifted by nature, she was pleasant and
joyful, upright, sincere and everywhere she went, she seemed to radiate sunshine. Sister
Heliodora was a living witness of a vibrant faith that permitted God to touch others
through her. |
| Sister M. Canisia was born September 9, 1903 in Suwalki
(Diocese of Lomz). As a mature self-employeed adult, she left the small private school
that she conducted to enter the Congregation on August 27, 1933. She was sent to Albano,
Italy for her novitiate and pronounced her first vows there in 1936. Her first teaching
assignment was in Kalisz, but in 1938 she was transferred to Nowogrodek. Though she had an
impetuous temperament, she had learned self-control and mortification. Not possessing good
health, she still exacted a great deal of herself, but was very understanding of others.
Everything that she communicated to children and youth flowed from her own personal
experience that was rooted in prayer and self-sacrifice. She struggled to form the Kingdom
of God within the souls of children. |
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Sister M. Boromea was born December 18, 1916 in
Wiecieliszki in the Grodno region (Diocese of Grodno). She entered the Congregation on
December 24, 1936 in Grodno where she also had her novitiate and made her first profession
on August 5, 1939. From there she was sent to Nowogrodek. Responding to her parents’
request and with the approval of her superiors, she returned to her parents’ home.
She did not remain there very long. In a letter to her former novice mistress she
indicated: something urged me to return to the sisters. By nature she was a very
private person and through her socialization she was taught to have a good opinion of
herself. Sensitive and delicate, she had to struggle with herself to overcome all that
kept her from accomplishing what was expected of her. The sisters considered her to be
very delicate, hard working and prayerful. Sister Boromea did face a vocation crisis.
Someone greater than all her weakness had been hovering over and guarding her heart. The
Spirit urged her to return and offer her His very special gift of martyrdom. |
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