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Laval, France in 1885. While the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy was dependent on the
General Home in France, Mother Jane was Vicar General for the homes in Poland.
She was a sturdy and energetic person, sometimes even despotic. She greatly loved
the Congregation and wished its good, trying to achieve this in a way repugnant to human
nature. Her relationship to candidates and the young professed was peculiarly warm and
affectionate. She knew how to be tenderhearted, but at the same time her method of
disciplining the sisters created an atmosphere of fear.
After finishing her term as Vicar General, she was for a time the Directress of Novices
and of the third probation. For this reason she felt throughout her life that she had the
privilege of correcting the young sisters. She died in Warsaw July 1, 1940 (A. SMDM-C and
D).
10. Helen Kowalska arrived in Cracow on January 23, 1926, to finish her postulancy.
That same day Sister Henry Losinska died in Cracow. Sister Henry was born on January 20,
1897. She entered the Community in 1920 and worked as a shoemaker (A. SMDM-D).
11. Sister Margaret – Anna Gimbutt, was born in 1857 and entered the Congregation
in 1893. She was of great service to the Congregation, performing the duty of Directress of
Novices, superior of the house in Vilnius, and then, Instructress of the Third Probation. She
was known for her spirit of self-denial, mortification, demanding much of herself. Humble,
meek, always prayerful, outstanding in keeping of the rules, she was an example to the
sisters, especially those who were in her care.
12. Bishop Stanislaus Rospond, born September 30, 1877, in Liszki near Cracow.
After graduating from St. Ann‟s High School in Cracow, he entered the Seminary for the
Priesthood. After a year he was sent for further studies in Insbruck, receiving the degree of
Doctor of Theology in 1904. He was ordained priest on August 10, 1901. He became
prefect of the Seminary in Cracow, and then, rector. He was the ordinary confessor of the
Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. On June 12, 1927, he was consecrated bishop. He was Vicar
General for many years. His relationship with the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of
Mercy was very cordial, and he took part in all the celebrations of the Congregation. Twice a
year he was the main celebrant at the clothing ceremony and profession of vows. He died
February 4, 1958 and is buried in his family grave in Liszki.
13. It was clothing day – April 30, 1926. Sister Clemens Buczek recalls that she was
helping the candidates put on their habits. She wrote in her memoirs: “In May [sic], 1926, I
was to dress Helen Kowalska. After she received the habit at the altar, I told her, „Helen, let
us hurry to put on your habit.‟ Helen fainted. I hurried to get the smelling salts in order to
revive her…. Later I used to tease her about her loathing to leave the world. I only found out
after her death that the reason of her fainting was not sorrow for the world, but something
else” (A. SF.Recol.).
14. Sister Mary Joseph, Stephanie Brzoza, born in 1889. She entered the
congregation in 1909 and made her perpetual vows on May 15, 1917. She was a group
instructor of the girls in the Cracow institute. In 1925 she was sent to the General House of
the Congregation in Laval, France, to observe more closely the formation of novices and to
absorb the spirit of the Congregation. After her return from Laval, she became directress of
the novitiate on June 20, 1926, until October 30, 1934. She was an exemplary directress
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