The ark, or tomb, of St. Dominic, in Bologna, Italy

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 reluctantly took a leave for her health, traveling to southern France at the insistence of the Father General, Reverend Jandel.

In April, Mother Kolumba left Cette to travel to Marseille in Southern France. It is there that Mary Magdalene was believed to have traveled, and lived doing penance in a cave. The cave is currently overseen by the Dominican Fathers.

With the permission of the Father General, the Reverend Mother traveled further to Rome by steam boat. She spent the month of May living in Rome, and upon her arrival, was able to participate in a ceremony of St. Catherine of Siena celebrated in the ancient church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.

During her stay, Mother Kolumba visited the holy places in Rome, growing in health and gradually being able to walk for farther and farther distances. She wrote back to her sisters, sharing her joys with them, including obtaining an audience with the Pope.

Asks for Blessings at Dominican Burial Places

From Rome, Mother Kolumba was fortunate enough to visit Assisi, where she saw the Church of St. Francis and the Portiuncula. Next, she visited the grave of St. Dominic in Bologna, and the Church of St. Anthony and Padua, asking for graces and blessings for her order at each of these holy sites.

Before returning to her cloister, the reverend mother stayed in Vienna, where she visited the Papal Nuncio, imploring him for a blessing. Her journey was made possible by the Father General who arranged for her travels during this leave. Finally, on August 3, Mother Kolumba returned to her order, as the sisters wrote, “our Dearest Mother came to us, healthy and happy, and we were awaiting her with great impatience as it was the ninth month of her absence. It was difficult to describe our happiness.”

Taken from Chapter IX, pgs. 38-39 of the Life of the Reverend Mother Róża Kolumba Białecka, by Sr. Benwenuta Pasławska, Order of St. Dominic’s Sisters, Cracow, Poland, translated into English in 2007.

Sr. Lucyna brings the Offertory gifts at Mass.

Article by Margaret Izienicki

Photos by Mitch Wegrcynski

The Dominican Sisters, who have touched many lives around the globe, celebrated the 150th Anniversary of their ministry and witness to life.  On April 21, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the church was filled with an air of thankfulness and gratitude for the Dominican Sisters, who have worked in our parish for over forty years.

The liturgical procession, led by the Knights of Columbus, set the stage.  Alongside the Anniversary celebration, Sr. Lucyna Grybos thanked God for the gift of fifty years of religious life.  It was indeed a golden opportunity for us all to express our appreciation for her twenty-plus years of service to our community.

Knights of Columbus process at Mass.

Father Dr. Czeslaw Rybacki extended a warm welcome to special guests, His Excellency Bishop Frederick Henry, Provincial Mother Superior Helena Cempa, O.P., and all that were gathered to thank God for the gift of our Dominican Sisters.  A highlight of the celebration was the touching homily of His Excellency Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary. His Excellency made an analogy to the Van Gogh painting “First Steps,” in which a mother holds a child’s hand, guiding the child to the open arms of the father.   Throughout their time in our community the Dominican Sisters have indeed guided young and old into the open arms of God our Father by proclaiming God in service to people.  In the true spirit of St. Dominic, they have extended God’s mission to serve truth and to love our Polish community: teaching at the John Paul II Polish School, organizing  retreats, leading prayer groups, coordinating Christmas pageants, directing youth choirs, and organizing various cultural and patriotic events.  In their work they have always been a witness to God’s love.  Their mission spreads to our local community where they run the Dominican Sisters Daycare.

Bishop Frederick Henry gathers with the Sisters.

Sisters’ Impact Is Far Reaching

The impact that the Dominican Sisters have had on our community is far reaching.  As a child, I was blessed to have taken my “first steps” alongside them.  It is with deep emotion, prayer and gratitude that I celebrate this special day, thanking the sisters for instilling Catholic values and bringing me closer to the open arms of the Father.

May God give you strength as you bear witness of fidelity to Him and may you continue to radiate the presence of Christ in the midst of our community and the community as a whole.

We praise you Lord and thank You for this Jubilee!

One of our Sisters assists a bedridden patient in our nursing home.

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, the Father General of the Dominican Order, the Reverend Vincent Jandel, visited the Sisters on the eighth anniversary of the opening of their novitiate and verbally incorporated them into the Order.

During Father Jandel’s visit, the priest made a short visit to one of the schools where the Sisters taught, as well as to the convents belonging to the order, at which “he was very happy and praised the activities of the Sisters.”

The visit of Father Jandel heartened Mother Kolumba, who was in poor health at the time. Her doctor recommended that a change of climate would be the best cure, but the Reverend Mother refused, saying that under her vow of poverty, it was not necessary to undergo such a treatment and leave the convent merely to benefit herself.

Her sisters however, were greatly worried that she would not survive the winter, but again, God provided. Father Jandel was described by the sisters as being “like a Guardian Angel” in his care of the Reverend Mother’s health. He wished to send Mother Kolumba to southern France for the fall and winter, promising to facilitate all of the plans.

Travels Out of Obedience

Out of obedience to the Father General, Mother Kolumba followed his order, appointing a sub-prioress in her absence. Her departure was hard for the sisters to accept, and they still feared that she would die far away from them in France. They prayed fervently for her health, and soon after her departure, the order received letters of comfort from Mother Kolumba, whose condition began to improve.

The Father General remained in correspondence with Mother Kolumba as well, and informed her of the passing of Bishop Manastyrski, whom Mother Kolumba had met three months earlier in Przemyśl. Although saddened by his death, the Reverend Mother treasured the blessing she had received from the bishop, and prayed for a worthy successor.

Taken from Chapter IX, pgs. 37-38 of the Life of the Reverend Mother Róża Kolumba Białecka, by Sr. Benwenuta Pasławska, Order of St. Dominic’s Sisters, Cracow, Poland, translated into English in 2007.

Chapel and well at the Motherhouse in Wielowieś, which served the Sisters for many years with water.

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 sent her sisters out to collect donations for the completion of the chapel.

Approval was given by the governor of the area for the convent, and when he asked the farmers and villagers what influence the sisters had on them, they replied, “We and our wives are only stepfathers and stepmothers, and these are Reverend Sisters who are genuine mothers to our children as they teach them to discover and love our Lord!”

On the feast of St. Joseph, with Father Leszczyński present, Mother Kolumba received the Book of Constitutions of the Order. She began working with Father Harmata, a priest from Bieliny, regarding a future branch of Dominican sisters. She described him as having, “a truly apostolic zealousness devoted to the Lord’s glory, and the salvation of souls under his responsibility.”

At the wish of this reverend priest, two to three sisters would travel to Bieliny for several months each year to prepare the children for the sacraments. There they would nurse the sick, and build friendships with the people of the town. When this was carried out, Father Harmata kept up a correspondence with Mother Kolumba during this time.

Mother Kolumba Moved by Father General’s Words

The eighth anniversary of the opening of the novitiate in Wielowieś was soon approaching, and to the Sisters’ joy, they received news that the Father General Vincent Jandel, Master General of the Dominican Order, was coming for the occasion. Father Jandel came that August of 1869, accompanied by the Dominican, Father Jedrzej.

Father Jandel celebrated Mass, and afterward uttered the words, “I incorporate you and Your Congregation into our Order.” Struck by these words, Mother Kolumba took them to be a sign of approval of the Order’s work in Wielowieś.

Taken from Chapter VIII & IX, pgs. 35-37 of the Life of the Reverend Mother Róża Kolumba Białecka, by Sr. Benwenuta Pasławska, Order of St. Dominic’s Sisters, Cracow, Poland, translated into English in 2007.

Fra Angelico’s depiction of 18 Dominican saints

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, the Sisters finished the cloister, thanks to the generous aid from the villagers, but declined to move in until the chapel for the Blessed Sacrament was completed.

The chapel continued to be built, but again, funds were short, and there was fear the bricklayers would quit if they were not paid on time. Mother Kolumba prayed fervently for a solution about the concern of the Sisters.

One day, a messenger on a horse arrived at the convent with an envelope. The messenger left quickly after delivering the envelope, and the sister found that “there was no single word in the letter, only a banknote of 1000 Guldens.” The Sisters never found out the identity of their mysterious benefactor.

The Most Reverend Father Vincent Jandel’s Arrival

The following year, October 1867, the reverend mother was overjoyed by the visit of the Reverend Father Vincent Jandel, general of the Dominican Order. Both the Sisters of the congregation and the visiting villagers warmly welcomed Father Jandel to Wielowieś, and sang to him a poem in French!

It had been eleven years since he had seen his spiritual daughter, Róża Białecka – now Mother Kolumba, and seeing her surrounded by her loving Sisters “comforted his fatherly heart in an amazing way.” Now she served as a loving mother and an example of piety for her congregation.

On the feast day of the Guardian Angels, Father Jandel was invited to participate in the ceremony of first vows taken by five of the Sisters. As Mother Kolumba’s biographer wrote,

On the occasion of the ceremony the Most Reverend Father General gave a short speech in the French language focusing upon the lofty aim of our Congregation and on our truly apostolic task!

Taken from Chapter VII, pgs. 32-33 of the Life of the Reverend Mother Róża Kolumba Białecka, by Sr. Benwenuta Pasławska, Order of St. Dominic’s Sisters, Cracow, Poland, translated into English in 2007.

The Bishop emphasized the impact of St. Dominic and his Order on society.

As the year of the one hundred and fiftieth Jubilee of our Congregation approaches its end on August 8, 2012, local communities celebrate this time of grace with joy and thanksgiving. On March 26, when the Church commemorated the Annunciation of the Lord, our community in Justice, IL gathered to thank God for the Jubilee. Most Rev. Andrew Wypych, an auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, celebrated the solemn Mass together with Fr. Raymond Jasinski, the chaplain of Rosary Hill Home. In his homily, the Bishop referred to St. Dominic and the rich traditions of the Dominican Order. He emphasized the impact St. Dominic and his Order on society.

The Saint was “sent to people, so that people would know that God is with them.” Modern Dominican communities, including the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, are called to continue the same mission. The witness of life, together with the example of contemplation, is what the Church and the world need from religious communities today. Concluding his homily, Bishop Wypych thanked the Sisters for their ministry and witness of God’s love in the Church in Chicago.

The first Sisters of our Congregation came to the U.S. over eighty years ago, and for over seventy-five years they have served the elderly in Justice, IL. The Sisters also teach in St. Fabian Polish School in Burbank, IL and in the parish of St. Walter, in Blue Island, IL. The retreat house run by the Sisters opens its doors to many groups that come for one-day, weekend, or week-long retreats and formation meetings.

St. Dominic was “sent to people, so that people would know that God is with them.”

The Bishop and Fr. Raymond Jasinski gather with the Sisters.

Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. (St. Thomas Aquinas beholds the crucifix in a vision.)

From a conference by Saint Thomas Aquinas, O.P., doctor of the Church. From the Office of Reading for the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.

It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.

If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.

Humility, Obedience Are Seen in the Crucified Christ

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourging. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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.

During this time of waiting, three of the sisters took the veil, receiving their monastic names, and others soon followed. Mother Kolumba updated the Father General of the Dominican Congregation on the progress of the order, and being in Rome at the time, he obtained for the community an apostolic blessing of Pope Pius IX.

Setting the Chapel Cornerstone

The following May of 1866 brought the consecration and laying of the cornerstone of the sisters’ chapel. Preceding this ceremony, “a cross was carried by four Sisters in a procession led by the priests… [and was] fixed on a place of the future altar.” Afterwards this solemn procession, the girls from the village stayed throughout the night, singing religious songs.

Mother Kolumba wished to pay the villagers for the help, as once again they laid bricks for the sisters. They ardently refused, however, saying, “Now we will be working for Lord Jesus and His glory.” Thus, they continued to generously work until the chapel was nearly completed.

Taken from Chapter VII, pgs. 31-32 of the Life of the Reverend Mother Róża Kolumba Białecka, by Sr. Benwenuta Pasławska, Order of St. Dominic’s Sisters, Cracow, Poland, translated into English in 2007.

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….”

The task of educating the children for Confession and Holy Communion was given to the sisters by Father Leszczyński, and they joyfully carried out this responsibility.

Laying the Foundation of the Cloister

It was on the feast of the Dominican Sister St. Agnes, in April 1864, that construction began for Mother Mother Kolumba’s cloister. With the generous help of parishioners and countrymen, the first stages of digging the foundation took place.

With great joy, the Reverend Mother commenced to sing a religious song, and “joined her spiritual daughters in lying prostrate… imploring God for the blessing over the entire future of the Congregation.”

Ten days after the foundation work began, on the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Father Leszczyński led a procession from the Church to the site of the cloister. The future cloister was solemnly consecrated, and the cornerstone put in place, all with the approval and blessing of the Bishop of Sandomierz and the Bishop of Przemyśl. Along with Father Leszczyński and Mother Kolumba, two of the oldest parishioners and several young boys laid the cornerstones for the new cloister.

During the construction, Father Leszczyński spent hours at a time at the site, supervising the work. Volunteers from the local villages agreed to help lay bricks, a week at a time from each village, so that each day there were 25-30 persons helping.

Taken from Chapters VI and VII, pgs. 29-30 of the Life of the Reverend Mother Róża Kolumba Białecka, by Sr. Benwenuta Pasławska, Order of St. Dominic’s Sisters, Cracow, Poland, translated into English in 2007.

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.

CMSWR Statement on HHS Mandate

As a community, for which service to the sick and elderly is a significant part of the apostolate, the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception cannot support the mandate, which obviously depreciates the value of human life by promoting and financing abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization, and artificial contraception.

Our community was founded in Poland in the nineteenth century. The sisters, along with all the citizens have experienced the tragedy of wars, Nazi occupation, and the communist regime, when being loyal to Catholic values required courage, leading even to martyrdom. Religious freedom was acquired at the price of persecution, imprisonment, or exile. The sisters came to the United States to serve those who, forced to leave their homeland, found here the country where they could freely profess and practice their faith. Today, however, this country also has become a place where religious freedom is limited, and the government imposes on religious institutions conditions contrary to their conscience and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and many other religious groups that run institutions such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, etc. are forced to take up the choice: to close these facilities or support actions contrary to their conscience.

We join the Catholic Bishops, and other religious leaders in calling for rescission of the HHS rule and for respecting religious freedom of all who see that rule as violation of conscience. We pray for God’s mercy upon the United States and ask others to join our prayers in this intention.

"...a place where religious freedom is limited"

"a violation of conscience"