Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception

Mother Kolumba prayed before this very altar at the Wielowies convent chapel.

This is the continuation of the story of the life of the Mother Maria Kolumba, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. In our previous installment, Mother Kolumba worked alongside Father Leszczyński in fostering devotion to the Blessed Sacrament among his parishioners. The first stages of construction began for her community’s monastery, and many of the local villagers donated their time to assist the sisters in the building.

In spite of all their work in the fields, the villagers continued to aid the sisters in the construction of the convent, and by July of that year, the walls were erected. Three months later, Father Leszczyński consecrated the iron cross which was mounted at the top of the convent, and by winter, the building was completed.

Although the convent was thus finished, the funding ran out before the chapel had been built. The Reverend Mother did not wish to live there until the Blessed Sacrament could be housed in the convent as well, so the sisters did not yet move to their new home. Continue reading ‘Three Sisters Take the Veil as Chapel Cornerstone Is Lain’ »

The Sisters' convent and chapel in Wielowieś. It looks much the same as it did in the 1800's.

This is the continuation of the story of the life of the Mother Maria Kolumba, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. In our previous installment, Mother Kolumba and her sisters continued their care for the sick and dying, assisting many patients in holy deaths.

Father Leszczyński aided the sisters as he fostered devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in the hearts of his parishioners. According to his wishes, during Sundays in May, the villagers would come for a procession to the Church.

There would be singing and prayer, and as Mother Kolumba’s biographer would write, “one of the younger farmers takes a big cross and leads the procession,  and whoever can, joins the group and singing, comes to church for Vespers….” Continue reading ‘Parishioners and Countrymen Pitch In to Build Convent’ »

We call for a rescission of the HHS rule.

The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception express their full support of the Catholic Bishops of the United States and leaders of many other religious communities on their stand against the Jan. 20, 2012 health insurance mandate of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the “compromise” announced by President Obama. As Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated, “Surely it violates religious freedom to force religious ministries and citizens to buy health coverage to which they object as a matter of conscience and religious principle.” This must be seen as a limitation of freedom, of which our country is so proud. Continue reading ‘Dominican Sisters Support U.S. Bishops on HHS Mandate’ »