NC-2023-Fall

SISTERS OF
THE HOLY
FAMILY OF
NAZARETH
HOLY FAMILY
PROVINCE
// VOL 17 //
// NO 2 //
FALL 2023
Nazareth
CONNECTIONS
FAMILY IS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION
The Flame
of Charism
STORY ON PAGE 12

MESSAGE FROM THE
PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR
Dear Friends of Nazareth,
For religious communities, their charism is the soul of
the community, the gift given to their founders and
foundresses for the good of the Church. It is that which
gives the communities purpose and motivation and animates
their action.
The charism for the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth reads:
"We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called
to extend the Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and
others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph whose
lives were centered in the love of God and one another.
We witness to this love through dedicated service to the
Church, especially in ministry to the family."
Living the charism requires faithful listening, loving
relationships, and recognizing God in the everyday. As faithful
witnesses to their charism, the sisters engage in various
forms of ministry at the heart of which is the family.
From education to healthcare, parish ministry, social service
programs, and retreat centers, the sisters serve in ministry
to families. Paramount to all ministries to families is that of
prayer. Daily, the sisters pray for all families throughout the
world in a common morning prayer that is recited each day.
How has this charism transcended over the years?
Alongside this year’s July 4th celebrations was the
anniversary of our beginnings of ministry in America 138
years ago. We remembered what our pioneering sisters have
done for Nazareth — the sacrifices they made in coming to
America to establish hospitals, schools, and other institutions
as well as bringing Christ to cities and towns where people
yearned and hungered for the Living God.
When reflecting upon these sacrifices, we also
remembered our Blessed Martyrs of Nowogródek
who sacrificed their lives on August 1, 1943. Family
was at the heart of their sacrifice. Offering their lives
in place of men and women who were the protectors
and providers for their families, the sisters offered the
ultimate sacrifice — their lives for them.
When we capture the value of our rich history, we
find the “Flame of Our Charism,” set by the spark of
our Mother Foundress, ever-growing from spirit and
dedication to love and service.
As we thank God for His many gifts, let us focus on the
ways our charism inspires and energizes us to witness
the Kingdom of God’s Love as Blessed Mary of Jesus
the Good Shepherd exemplified for us. May we, like our
Blessed Martyrs of Nowogródek and like those whose
lives are highlighted in this newsletter, give all we have
in our everyday encounters to allow the flame of love
to ignite and animate the spirit in those we serve.
In the Holy Family,
Sr. Kathleen Maciej
HOW ARE YOU CALLED TO LOVE?
We invite you to pray with us, to listen to God’s call with us, and to
love with us as we strive to recognize God in ordinary experiences.
Learn more about our community life, our ministries, and our mission
at nazarethcsfn.org/about-us. Contact Sr. Emmanuela Le, CSFN, National
Vocation Director, at 682-203-967 or vocations@nazarethcsfn.org.
2

VOLUME 17 //
NUMBER 2 //
FALL 2023
Nazareth Connections is published
three times a year by the Sisters of
the Holy Family of Nazareth
in the USA.
Editor:
Emily Dillon
Proofreaders:
Sr. Angela Szczawinska
Sr. Mary Ellen Gemmell
Katherine Barth
Sr. Lucille Madura
Amanda Giarratano
Contents
VOCATION
4 First Vows Ceremony
MISSION
DEVELOPMENT
16 Thank You from Our
Development Office
17 Stay at Home Social
18 Estate Plans
Province Communications Committee:
Sr. Mary Ellen Gemmell
Sr. Angela Szczawinska
Amanda Giarratano
Katherine Barth
Heidi Scheuer
Sr. Emmanuela Le
Sr. Marcella Louise Wallowicz
Sr. Michele Fisher
Sr. Rebecca Sullivan
Design/Print:
McDaniels Marketing
5 The Blessed Martyrs
of Nowogródek
ARTICLES
10 Giving More for
His Kingdom
11 Spirit in Ministry
12 Legacy of Sacrifice
& Service
IN MEMORIAM
14 Sr. M. Jude Carroll
Sr. M. Clare Nguyen
Sr. M. Michaeline Kwit
One of many visits of the Associates to
the sisters on the second floor of Mount
Nazareth in July 2017.
First Vows ceremony for Sister Molly
Bernadette and Sister Esperanza
Marie — Presentation of their Mentors,
Sister Janet Kemmler and Sister Edyta
Krawczyk, who is also the Director for
Sisters in Temporary Profession.
Our late Sister Clare Nguyen,
remembered with great love.
Questions, comments, suggestions?
Please contact:
Communications Department
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
310 N. River Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847-298-6760, x144
communications@nazarethcsfn.org
nazarethcsfn.org
facebook.com/csfn.usa
twitter.com/csfn_usa
instagram.com/csfn.usa
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
3

VOCATION
First Vows Ceremony
On Saturday, August 5, Sister Esperanza Marie and Sister Molly Bernadette made their First Profession of Vows at the
Provincialate in Des Plaines, IL. They celebrated the day with family, friends, and sisters of their community both in person
and on Zoom.
Sister Esperanza Marie grew up in Wichita Falls, TX, as one of seven children. After attending our discernment retreats,
she found herself drawn to our charism and mission, though she says she was first attracted to religious life at nine years
old after watching The Sound of Music. She became an affiliate in 2018 and a postulant in 2019.
Sister Molly Bernadette was raised on a farm in Powell, WY, with her ten siblings. She earned a bachelor’s degree in
theology from Christendom College in Front Royal, VA. She has been in discernment for her vocation since October
2018.
Please join us in prayers of gratitude as we celebrate Sister Esperanza and Sister Molly’s First Vows. May those still
in discernment find peace in the path they choose strengthened by Sisters Esperanza Marie and Molly Bernadette's
wholehearted YES to the Lord.
In the top row from left to right are Sister Marietta Osinska,
Sister Emmanuela Le, Sister Joanna Filip, and Sister Edyta
Krawczyk. The bottom row features Sister Molly Bernadette
Spiering and Sister Esperanza Marie Danks.
Blessings of the habits, veils, and profession crosses on
Friday, August 4, 2023.
4

MISSION
Vindication & Glory:
THE BLESSED MARTYRS OF NOWOGRÓDEK
EDITOR’S NOTE: This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Blessed M. Stella and her Ten Companions, Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who sacrificed their lives on August 1, 1943, in Nowogródek, then Poland. The sisters were declared
Blessed by Virtue of Martyrdom on March 5, 2000, by Pope St. John Paul II. September 4 marks the Feast Day for the Blessed
Martyrs of Nowogródek, which is an important day in Nazareth as it reflects the day when the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth first came to Nowogródek in 1929. Each issue of Nazareth Connections this year will contain a story or reflection on
these heroic witnesses.
In this issue, we share with you a text from a presentation entitled “Vindication & Glory” by Sister Rita Kathryn Sperka, CSFN
(1934-2014), given during Holy Family University’s two-day conference, “70 Years Later: The Global Impact of the Holocaust”
in 2009.
We invite you to read along and have a “mini view” into the lives of each of these brave sisters:
SISTER M. FELICITA (PAULINE) BOROWIK
At the age of 27, Sister Felicita entered the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Her
mother had died when she was only nine days old. Reared by an extended family, she was
quiet and shy while growing up on a farm. Even though she had been diagnosed with a
serious heart condition, she kept as busy as a bee. “During the Russian occupation, she had
been hired to clean the school that had been taken away from the sisters. The heartbreaking
changes in the school, along with the difficult ... hostile conditions” placed immense stress
upon her.
One townsperson had recalled hearing her say, “How the weight of the Cross draws
one closer to God!” Alex Zwierko's observation of Sister Felicita is worth quoting: “She
was a frail flower that seemed to step aside for everyone ... She was meek and upright,
never sought even the smallest gratification. ... Always accommodating and very grateful to the congregation for the
opportunity to live in Nazareth, (she) was frequently absorbed in prayer ... and the Cross was her only love. She was
fervently attracted by this love.”
SISTER M. CANUTA (JOSEPHINE) CHROBOT
Sister Canuta’s story is unique. She was engaged to be married to Stan when one night in a
dream, she heard the directive not to marry him because her bridegroom was waiting for
her in Grodno (a place with which she was not familiar) and he would give her a red dress.
Perplexed and misunderstood by everyone, she decided to go on pilgrimage to the Shrine of
Our Lady of Czestochowa. Praying in the special chapel, she distinctly heard an inner voice
instructing her to enter a convent. She had never met a consecrated religious but when
she saw two sisters leaving the chapel, she followed them. Upon catching up to them, she
told them that she wanted to enter their congregation. They invited her and her mother to
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
5

accompany them to their convent to meet the superior. During the interview, the superior outlined the steps needed
to enter a religious congregation and mentioned Josephine would eventually go to Grodno for her novitiate, a period of
initial formation. She was stunned to hear “Grodno” and interpreted that as a confirmation of God’s will for her.
On the day she pronounced her vows, she said, “The dream has been fulfilled, but not entirely. Where is my wedding
present? I already have my spouse, but where is my red dress?”
From the position of Sister Canuta in the common grave, it appears she was buried alive, covered in her own blood and
the blood of her fellow religious sisters. At that moment, Sister Canuta would have understood the meaning of the red
dress.
SISTER M. GWIDONA (HELEN) CIERPKA
If Sister Gwidona were alive today, she would be considered an environmentalist. Her love of
everyone and all creation was evident. The farm and garden were her responsibility. In spring
1943, a neighbor sent his son with horse and plow to help her till the earth in preparation
for planting. While speaking with the young man, Sister Gwidona petted the mare and then
chided him for making the horse sweat. Acknowledging her concern but needing to vent his
displeasure about the town administrator, [the young man] Alex informed Sister that the
fine heifer she had set aside for a needy family had been sent to a butcher in a neighboring
village. The youth continued, “Sister turned away so that I could not see her pained reaction.
Her piglets had also disappeared. … (Suddenly) I noticed a tall, overgrown mound. I saw a
horrible sight underneath it. The melting snow revealed the body of a young 20-year-old
Jewish man. He had been executed and never buried because the snow had covered his body. Looking at this savage
Nazi calling card, I became furious.” After the young man finished his tirade, Sister Gwidona said, “Listen, I understand
everything (that you’re saying). … I don't know who will gather the harvest from this field. But of one thing I am certain,
and that is that the land needs to be looked after. We need to do this for the good of the soil.”
Under those conditions, no environmentalist could have spoken more eloquently in defense of God’s creation.
SISTER M. DANIELA (ANGELA) JOZWIK
Sister Daniela came from another region of the Russian sector and her parents opted not
to send her to school. In Nowogródek, she was responsible for the school kitchenette and
the sisters’ dining room. Working in the school provided her with the opportunity to be
attentive to the needs of the children, especially the poor. “During the main lunch break,
Sister Daniela would walk among the children, noting who had forgotten to bring their
lunch, and then she’d quickly come to their assistance. On the cold winter evenings when
the teachers continued working after school, she should bring them something warm.
Throughout her entire life, Sister Daniela practiced an active love for her neighbor.”
Fr. Zienkiewicz characterized her as “a meek, discreet, guardian angel.”
6

SISTER M. RAYMOND (ANNA) KUKOLOWICZ
Sister Raymond came from the Russian sector, near Vilnius. She was assigned to domestic
duties that she readily fulfilled despite suffering from severe arthritis. During the Russian
occupation, Sister Raymond was one of the persons employed to clean the school and she
sought to share everything she had with the others. One of the sisters who had lived with
Sister Raymond observed, “She shared everything with them, to the last crumb of bread.
She was so filled with sisterly love and … was a perfect example of the word magnanimity.”
During their last evening prayer together before reporting to the commissariat, Sister
Raymond requested they sing a joyous hymn to the Virgin Mary entitled “Heaven Resounds
with Joy.”
SISTER M. CANISIA (EUGENIA) MACKIEWICZ
Moving on to reflecting on Sister Canisia, whose father had been an officer in the Imperial
Czarist Army, we learn that she came from a very pious family. When she was 14 years old,
her mother died. Although she was interested in becoming a religious, she decided to remain
with her father and became a certified teacher in a school. Her brother became a priest and
ministered as an army chaplain and catechist. She and her brother were “soulmates.” With
the death of her brother from meningitis in 1933, she decided to seek admission to the
Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
As a teacher, she was known to be zealous and dedicated. She had high expectations of the
children and still higher ones for herself. She had a liver condition and often suffered, but
never missed a lesson and would never accept a substitute.
During the Soviet occupation, she was hired to teach in the public school and march with the children during propaganda
demonstrations. While walking with the children, she prayed for them. Dressed as a civilian, Sister Canisia’s identity as a
member of a religious order was not conspicuous. When higher authorities began to suspect her, she escaped to Grodno
where, under an assumed identity, she remained until the Russians were forced to retreat. During the German occupation
back in Nowogródek, she taught children in their family homes. She instructed the children in the Polish language
and mathematics, and as a catechist, she prepared them for the reception of the sacraments in the Catholic tradition.
Belarusian Nazi sympathizers reported her activities to the German authorities.
SISTER M. STELLA (ADELE) MARDOSEWICZ
Before entering the sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN), Sister Stella had
completed a clandestine teacher-training program run by the CSFNs in Vilnius. Thanks to
that experience, she knew how to live under stressful situations. Because the preceding
[Nowogródek] superior never returned from a meeting in Vilnius, Sister Stella assumed all
the responsibilities of that office and displayed loving concern for the sisters and the people.
During the Russian occupation, the sisters were scattered and lived in different places, some
with families who had room for one more person. Her skillful adaptation to reality can be
noted in an excerpt from a letter she sent to the Superior General in Rome:
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
7

Dearest Grandmama,
I have not written because I thought that my letters would not reach you. Instead, I asked someone who was heading in your
direction to tell you all about us. Grandma, by now you know that we have had to change our place of residence. We work wherever
we can in order to buy a piece of bread and, thanks to our most wonderful Father, so far we have not experienced want. Hopefully,
we will not run short of anything until the end… This year, we have had a very long, hard winter.
We received word that you were very ill, Grandma, but are feeling better. We rejoice immensely and hope that we will be able to
see you soon. We all desire to be united with one another as soon as possible. We have been informed of everyone who has died…
and remember them to our best Father.
The whole family unites with me in warmly embracing you, our dearest Grandma.
Stella
SISTER M. HELIODORA (LEOCADIA) MATUSZEWSKA
In contrast, Sister Heliodora lived up to the underlying Greek meaning of her name and
displayed a very sunny disposition. She was energetic, industrious, agile, and talented.
Whatever she undertook produced positive results. Mothers of the schoolchildren would
frequently chat with her because she had such an uplifting personality. She possessed a
healing balm that was definitely divine joy, which radiated from her upon her environment.
During the Russian occupation, the Soviet director of the school indicated he would allow
the sisters to be present in the school if one of the sisters became his housekeeper. He
personally selected Sister Heliodora. By her example, she was instrumental in bringing
about the conversion of the atheist director and his wife to Catholicism and had been
requested to instruct their son in the teachings of the Catholic Church. As the Nazi forces
pushed the Soviets into retreat, the director entrusted his valuables to [Sister Heliodora] for safekeeping.
The people of Nowogródek cherished her legacy of quick wit, joy-filled love, and memories of children hugging her and
laughing as they hid within the folds of her wide habit. As with all the sisters, her faith-filled prayer life was the source of
her very being as she shared the message of our Foundress, Frances Siedliska, with everyone whose life she touched.
SISTER M. BOROMEA (VERONICA) NARMONTOWICZ
The youngest Sister to die was Sister Boromea. Coming from a picturesque region near
Grodno where people had their unique lifestyle, Sister Boromea experienced some difficulty
in accepting routine domestic assignments. Moreover, as the youngest in a community
experiencing untold challenges brought on by the war, her sensitive nature was often
revealed in her tear-filled eyes. Aware of her struggle, the superiors agreed to her parents’
request for her to return to her family home. Her stay was brief because she desired to
return to the Nowogródek community. Sensing her need for more time away from the
community, Sister Stella arranged for her to reside with a family only six kilometers away
from the convent. Again, her stay was a short one and upon her return to the convent, she
wrote to one sister, “Something urged me to return to the sisters.”
Alex Zwierko keenly concluded, “Sister Boromea consistently formed her God-given, delicate, and sensitive nature
toward an ever-greater level of maturity and fidelity. The love of the Holy Family of Nazareth captivated her. And it was
that love, and no other, that prepared her to make the most beautiful evangelical sacrifice.”
8

SISTER M. SERGIA (JULIA) RAPIEJ
Also from a Russian sector of Poland, Sister Sergia’s parents did not permit her to attend
a Russian school. Though her formal education was nonexistent, she entered the Sisters of
the Holy Family of Nazareth on December 25, 1922. On August 4, 1925, she was among
the group of sisters who left for the United States. She completed her novitiate in Des
Plaines, IL, and arrived in South Philadelphia in August 1926, where she fulfilled domestic
services in the convent. However, most of her time was spent right here in Torresdale. I had
an opportunity to speak with two of our elderly sisters who had very vivid recollections of
Sister Sergia that almost verbatim matched the testimony of the Nowogródek witnesses
who spoke of her virtuous life centered on God and love of others. She felt the need to
return to Poland and when she was offered that opportunity, she expressed herself to one
sister in almost prophetic terms. Sister stated, “She was convinced that she has nothing else
to give our Lord for his great love than to want to give him her life. She is not afraid of martyrdom.”
Later, when Sister Malgorzata and her friends went into the woods and Sister Malgorzata began to dig in the area of
the fresh mound, the object that she hit was Sister Sergia's leg, for she pulled up a piece of clothing marked with Sister
Sergia’s identification. Thus, the location of the burial of the sisters was confirmed.
SISTER M. IMELDA (HEDWIG) ZAK
Born in the Austrian sector, Sister Imelda entered the Congregation at 19. While working
in a school conducted by the Congregation, Sister Imelda continued her own education
and in June 1914, she received her license as a certified kindergarten teacher in Lwow,
presently known as Lviv in Ukraine. She had a fantastic sense of humor and could laugh at
her own mistakes. One story that she enjoyed telling was the result of a play on words.
Prior to her assignment in Nowogródek, when a school inspector arrived one morning,
the superior whispered to her as she passed her on the corridor, “Please bring some tea
sandwiches (kanapki).” Within a few minutes, Sister Imelda appeared in the parlor carrying
a sofa with the aid of another sister. Since she thought Sister Fides, the superior, had said
“kanapa,” which means “sofa,” she brought the wrong thing and everyone had a good laugh.
Sister Imelda spent her last years of life as sacristan in the Fara, the main church in town. She was also the organist and
instructed the boys who assisted the priest during religious services. They and her former students spoke of her as an
excellent teacher.
In her diary, Anne Frank left us a glimpse of her hidden life before the Gestapo brought it to an abrupt, untimely end.
Our eleven sisters did not leave a written account, but their lives spoke volumes. I’ve been able to give you a glimpse into
the lives of my sisters by quoting words of people who were convinced that they survived World War II because these
sisters offered their lives for them and continue to look after them.
Situated in the direct path of the Chernobyl fallout, Nowogródek expected devastating consequences. However,
scientists who studied soil and other samples found no contaminants. Informed of the scientific findings, the townsfolk
spontaneously responded that their sisters were still protecting them. Remember Isaiah's words: "In the Lord shall be the
vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel. May each of us here present be courageous enough to let our
lives witness to our faith in a loving God of all.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
9

ARTICLES
Giving More for
His Kingdom
By Sister Eileen Therese Przybylowski — This is
an account of my leadership of the Holy Family of
Nazareth Associate Group over the past 25 years.
“Is there anything more we can do?”
This question arose as I was leading a monthly reflection
group in September 1997. As a staff chaplain, I joined
in on the project initiated by the Nazareth Hospital
Mission Committee. The question raised by John
McLelland sparked the beginning of another Association
of the Holy Family group and is still seeking more after
25 years.
While many members are now with God — Margaret
Dubyak, Kathleen Jo Massaro, and Mayna Morelli —
other original members and I experienced how our
group expanded and moved from the Nazareth Hospital
Convent to Mount Nazareth. Through a progression
of monthly and annual meetings, workshops, retreats,
and visiting our sisters on the second floor at Mount
Nazareth, we continued to learn more about our
Nazareth Charism, Mother Foundress, our Eleven
Martyred Sisters, and the spirit of the Holy Family.
Our personal daily work on the job, involvement with
parish ministries, volunteering, and caring for family and
neighbors were all opportunities to live out our faith
more devotedly.
In 2002 when Hattie Cuirle died, I suggested we pray
for her to ask the Holy Family for seven more members.
Indeed, they joined us in a short time. During the
pandemic, we prayed the Healing Rosary for Families
during a weekly phone conference call from June 13,
2020, to the present. The conference call was suggested
by Margaret Sitbon, who was working on her computer
job at home. Because of this, the Associates were able
to renew their commitments annually, pray novenas
with the sisters, and “join” with them for Liturgical and
Congregational Feasts. We prayed for the needs of all,
including the sisters, and especially on their birthdays.
I was supported by their prayers when hospitalized
twice. Our bonds with the Holy Family and each other
were only deepened more through these weekly
conference calls.
This year, I was in the process of orienting a new
member when three more women joined us. Having
celebrated my 90th birthday in April, I felt myself slowing
down. Witnessing the quick decline and death of two
of our sisters recently, I realized this could happen to
me as well. I did not want the group to be left suddenly
without a leader, I prayed to Mother Foundress and our
Martyred Sisters who surrendered all. What more could
I do? I received my answer soon enough: “Let go and
let God...”
Our Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz graciously stepped
up and accepted the leadership of this group. Thank you,
sister, for being willing to give more.
I am grateful to the Holy Family for journeying with this
group. We worked to give more to spread the Kingdom
of God. Now they can continue our mission with their
new leader, giving more of themselves to God's Family
through the mission of the Holy Family.
Celebrating Mother Foundress’ birthday on November
12, 2022. The group shared their love and gratitude for
Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
10

Spirit In Ministry:
St. John Paul II Center
By Sister Frances Smalkowski
It was sometime in March 1984 when the Provincial
Superior telephoned and asked that I join two other
sisters to begin a new ministry at the Pope John Paul
II Center for Health Care instead of returning to my
previous ministry in our sisters’ infirmary. The Diocese
of Bridgeport, CT, was planning to open this 110-bed
nursing home in the next few months and the local
bishop was seeking religious sisters to help with staffing.
Sister Victoria Czajkowski was among the first to
begin her recreational therapy ministry there, while
Sister Rita Ashwell and I started working in the nursing
department that August. The facility officially opened
on September 21, 1984, when the first resident was
admitted, but it wasn’t until six months after working in
the nursing department that I joined Monsignor Daniel
J. Foley in his ministry on February 18, 1985.
In the years since, Nazareth Spirituality has flourished
especially because of the witness of so many of our
sisters who volunteered their energy and time. Through
their daily visits and religious programming, ministries
such as the Rosary Society, the Spiritual Enrichment
Program, the Religious Media Club, and other various
music ministries were founded. Years later, after working
as a staff nurse, head nurse, and later, psychiatric nurse
clinical specialist under diocesan ownership, my ministry
has now evolved into chaplaincy. Sister Rita Ashwell also
generously volunteers several hours of pastoral ministry
each week after she too ministered in various positions
for more than 35 years.
With family being the heart of our CSFN mission, there
were and continue to be numerous opportunities to
share our spirit of Nazareth with the families of our
residents (now capacity for 141), staff, visitors, and
volunteers. As of this September, we are beginning our
preparation for the 40th anniversary of the St. John
Paul II Center, which has changed hands multiple times.
Though no longer owned by the Bridgeport Diocese,
the pastoral care department is still funded by it.
For Sisters Victoria and Rita and me, it was during
our daily commute that we began to feel the richness
of the spirit that bled into the coming hours of our day.
Not long after had two volunteer CSFN sisters joined us,
and throughout the next several years many more came
to volunteer as pastoral visitors, including our pioneer,
Sister Ursula, as well as Sisters Gregoria, Donatilla, Martina,
Theresa Wroblewska, Edward, Fidelia, Jude, Miriam Fides, and
Bernice Dudek.
These sisters — through their recognizing of God in the
everyday, their faithful listening, and loving relationships —
affected not only the residents and their families, but also
and especially the volunteers with whom they bonded. Many
of these volunteers later became Holy Family Associates,
and were close to 20 who committed as such, including my
own mom! One volunteer also joined Nazareth Spirituality
for more than 25 years and ministered many years as a
chaplain before she was called home to God:
Sister Doris Marie Deane.
“Thank you, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd
(Frances Siedliska), for having the courage to follow your
vision,” Sister Frances says.
“Your willingness to do so paved the way for my own
journey, and I am so blessed.”
Sisters volunteer at the Saint John Paul II Center.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
11

A Legacy
of Sacrifice
& Service
By Amanda Giarratano
Our Foundress, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good
Shepherd (Frances Siedliska), once wrote, “There is no
love without sacrifice.” Her words eventually came to a
frightful fruition in summer 1943, when eleven sisters in
the congregation she founded gave their lives to protect
the families in the embattled town of Nowogródek
during the throes of World War II. These sisters, Sister
Mary Stella and her Ten Companions, the Blessed Martyrs
of Nowogródek, lived and died by the example that our
Foundress had written of so
many years before; they offered their lives in sacrifice
to spare the arrested men and women from the brutality
of the Nazi regime.
This devotion to the care of families has lived on through
generations of sisters and is alive and well even today.
Thankfully, the sacrifices that most of our sisters see
today come in the way of time and expense, though their
motivation is no less deeply felt and no less rooted in the
love of Nazareth.
Today, many of our sisters work and volunteer their time
for the good of others. Over the decades since arriving in
the United States, our sisters have founded many schools,
child care facilities, and hospitals all across the country,
and the tradition of this work in education, spirituality,
and medicine continues on to this day.
Sister Theresita Donach works as a Pastoral Associate
at Saints Philip and James Parish in New York, but her
devotion to the families extends far past her daily
employment. Each week, Sister Theresita composes the
Wednesday Reflection, a spiritual message written in the
style of a friendly letter and sent out via email and social
media. She writes to guide all of our Nazareth Family on
their journey of faith, addressing not only the different
seasons of the Church calendar and holidays as they
pass, but also the day-to-day experiences that shape lives.
Sister often shares stories of her own experiences that
she knows will carry with them poignant messages
to readers.
In Tyler, TX, Sister Josephine Garrett also wears many hats
for her ministry. Employed as a school counselor, Sister
Josephine is also a part of the CSFN Vocation ministry
and works both as a public speaker and writer, having
recently contributed to a collection of essays on Black
Americans for whom future sainthood may very well be
a reality.
At our Provincialate in Des Plaines, Sister Maria
Magdalena carefully balances her career as a critical
care nurse at Holy Family Medical Center with her
duties as the National Director of the Association of
the Holy Family and Provincial Councilor. Nursing is a
time-honored tradition among our sisters, who in 1894,
founded St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago (now
Ascension Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center) just
a stone’s throw away from our Des Plaines Provincialate.
Like so many healthcare professionals in recent years,
Sister Maria Magdalena worked through the heights of
the recent pandemic, never wavering in her devotion to
her patients.
12

These three hardworking sisters are typical of the
mindset all of our CSFN Sisters; they give of their time
and of themselves as much as they possibly can, not only
to provide loving care to children and families who may
need them, but also to stand as examples of the steadfast
diligence of all our sisters, both past and present. The
hard work and devotion that Blessed Mary of Jesus the
Good Shepherd, and the eleven sisters who braved the
journey to the United States to begin ministry anew in
a country so far away from what they had known, set an
example that all of our sisters seek to follow.
Our sisters who have moved on to retirement from work
in the public sector find ways and means to still live their
charism. While many people view retirement as simply
an end to regular work and perhaps even the beginning
to a new life of leisure and contentment, for our sisters,
it is simply a move towards the next phase in their life of
service. The vows they had taken, for some even decades
ago, stand as true today as they did upon their first
profession.
All our sisters engage in regular prayer, but for many of
our retired sisters, quiet prayer and contemplation has
often become their best manner of offering themselves
up to serve others; even as the body begins to feel its age,
their will and their devotion to Nazareth remains strong
as ever. Our friends are always invited to share their
prayer requests with the sisters. Some lead rosary prayer
and novena videos for holidays and special events. The
Mass the sisters attend each morning is just one of many
opportunities that arise with each given day for them to
offer their prayers for all who may need them.
There are opportunities for all our sisters, retired or not,
to engage with their communities. Whether it is Sister
Cathy Fedewa supporting detained immigrant families in
Chicago or Sister Antonina Gadacz weaving together her
art and storytelling to create children’s books to help
young people understand the presence
of God in their lives, the sisters never shrink from
the mission set out before them so long ago by
our Foundress.
Each day is a new experience, a new opportunity to live
the mission and to bring the unending love of Nazareth
to those who need it most.
Sister Maria Magdalena Rybak at work in the
Ascension Holy Family Hospital during the
Pandemic.
St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in 1925.
Sister Theresita Donach.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
13

IN MEMORIAM
In Memoriam
Sister M.
Jude Carroll
January
3, 1942 –
April 23,
2023
Judith Ann
Carroll
entered
the world on January 3, 1942, the
youngest of three children born to
John and Ruth (Adams) Carroll.
After being hospitalized with an illness
that left her with paralysis in one
leg, Sister Jude went to live with her
stepmother’s parents. There, sister
often said, she experienced many
happy years. Sister Jude had been
baptized on August 1, 1943, into the
Episcopal faith but had no formal
instruction. It was her grandmother
who spoke to her of God and the
tenets of their faith. She also learned a
valuable lesson from her grandfather
— patience in suffering.
Upon graduation from elementary
school, Sister Jude entered Stamford
High School. After graduating from
high school in June 1959, she enrolled
in the University of Connecticut and
earned a degree in English. While a
student at the university, Sister Jude
met a friend who frequently invited
her to spend the holidays with her
and her family. It was during these
visits that she learned of the Catholic
religion, which led her to being
baptized December 18, 1965, at the
Church of St. Cecilia in Stamford, CT.
Sister Jude worked in the Social
Security office for eleven years before
a feeling of restlessness led her to
seek counsel from friends. Providence
led her to Sister Frances Smalkowski,
CSFN. Then, and after years of prayer,
reflection, and discernment, Sister
Jude entered the Congregation of
the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth on February 6, 1977. During
her years in Nazareth, Sister Jude
earned a master’s degree in religious
education from Fairfield University in
Fairfield, CT, and a graduate certificate
in spirituality from St. Joseph College
in Hartford, CT. Sister Jude ministered
as a DRE in three parishes — St.
Hyacinth in Glen Head, NY; Our Lady
of the Lakes in Oakdale, CT; and St.
Joseph in Shelton, CT. She also served
as RCIA Director at St. Joseph in
Shelton, CT, and assisted with retreat
activities from 1998-2004 at the
House of Prayer in Riverhead, NY.
Once diagnosed, Sister Jude
transitioned to part-time work. She
led retreat programs in neighboring
parishes, served as Director of the
Association of the Holy Family, was a
delegate to the Bridgeport Diocesan
Synod of 2015, and took responsibility
for the publication of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary Province Newsletter.
Sister Jude touched the lives of
the workers at the facility where
coworkers admired her joyful spirit
amid suffering; she was never without
a smile on her face. Sister Jude died
peacefully in the afternoon of April
23, 2023 — the anniversary of the
Beatification of the Foundress of the
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Sister
M. Clare
Nguygen
February
23, 1997
– April 8,
2023
The weather
was beautiful
on February 23, 1997, and it was
evening in Daklak, a small Vietnamese
village, when Binh was born, the third
child to the proud parents, Quang
and Tam. Binh’s siblings Jimmy and
June were excited to have a sister but
recall Binh was very sick and spent
most of the first year
of her life in the hospital. Three
years later, a fourth child was added
to the Nguyen family, a third girl
named Chinh.
Binh’s parents described her as
a curious child who asked many
questions. She was quiet and loved by
14

the people in the village. She enjoyed
Bible studies, playing the guitar, and
devoted many hours speaking with
and listening to the elderly people in
the village.
Binh attended elementary and
high school in Vietnam. At the age
of 17, Binh traveled to the United
States to continue her education.
She attended Edmonds Community
College in Lynwood, WA, and then
Dallas College in Texas where she
completed her associate degree
in science.
Raised in a Catholic family, Binh
credited her parents for instilling
within her the importance of praying
daily, attending Mass, celebrating
religious events and devotions, and
recalled conversations her parents
had with their children about
religious life. It was when visiting
her grandparents’ home at a young
age that Binh came in contact with
sisters. Not until Binh moved to
North Carolina to be with Jimmy
and June did she share with them
her desire to enter religious life.
Jimmy then spoke with friends who
directed him to Sister Emmanuela,
who would direct and guide Binh. Her
sister June accompanied Binh to her
first discernment weekend in Grand
Prairie and there began Binh’s journey
in Nazareth.
She knew she was chosen to do
something special with her life and
said “yes” over and over and over
again. Even after her surgery, Sister
Clare could be found in the kitchen
preparing meals for herself or her
local community, helping decorate the
house for holidays, completing chores,
and helping to serve others from her
wheelchair. All this while she suffered
silently with pain and discomfort as it
claimed her body, but never her spirit.
She wanted to spread her wings and
not allow her struggles to keep her
from living her life to the fullest.
Sister Clare lived the simplicity and
humility characteristic of our CSFN
charism and spirit in the short
three years she was with us. How
appropriate that, after so much time
spent in the shadow of the cross, her
gentle soul took flight to heaven as
we sang the Gloria at the Easter Vigil!
Sister M.
Michaeline
Kwit
September
29, 1938
– July 5,
2023
Lottie M. Kwit
was born into
a blended
family on September 29, 1938, in
Chicago. Her older siblings, Chester,
Helen, and Henry lost their mother
when they were still young, so Peter,
their father, married Frances, who
became the mother of Stanley, Lottie,
and Richard.
Lottie enjoyed her childhood,
especially with her only sister, Helen,
and her baby brother, Richard. St. Ann
was her home parish, where she was
baptized, went to grade school, and
received the sacraments. For high
school she traveled to Holy Family
Academy. It was during her senior
year on September 4, 1955, that she
entered the convent with the Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth and
graduated from there as a postulant.
On August 15, 1956, she entered the
Novitiate, receiving the name Sister
Dominic, which she later changed to
Sister Michaeline. July 15, 1958, was
the day she pronounced her First
Vows and on August 10, 1964, her
Perpetual Vows, taking on the mystery
of Sacrificial Love.
Her ministerial life consisted of many
experiences from being a student, a
teacher, provincial treasurer, special
projects coordinator at Saint Mary of
Nazareth Hospital, treasurer general
in Rome, Italy, associate administrator
at Holy Family Health Center in Des
Plaines, IL, director of central supply
at Nazarethville, and parish secretary
at St. Ladislaus, concluding her active
ministry by joining the Des Plaines
Community in 2016.
Sister Michaeline was a teacher and
businesswoman. She served the
community as businesswoman, and
more recently as local superior. She
was generous and kind, but sensitive
in nature. She also had a gift for
telling stories and was faithful to her
religious exercises, especially the
afternoon Holy Hour where
she prayed for community, family,
and friends.
One sister described her as a true
Nazareth Sister and daughter of the
Holy Family. She loved our Mother
Foundress and being a member of
the community.
Sister Michaeline lived a full and
productive life pleasing to the Lord,
who welcomed her home on July 5,
2023. On July 11, Sister Michaeline
was laid to rest at All Saints Cemetery
in Des Plaines, IL.
Donations in memory of
a deceased sister may be
mailed to Development
Office, Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth - USA,
Inc., 310 N. River Road,
Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Please include a note with
the name of the sister in
whose memory you are
giving. Donations may
also be made online at
nazarethcsfn.org/donate.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
15

DEVELOPMENT
Thank You from Our
Development Office
On behalf of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth – Holy Family Province, I would like to offer my thanks for the
extraordinary generosity you have shown our sisters throughout 2022. As our partners in mission and ministry, you have
helped us in more ways than you can imagine. Thanks to your support, we have been able to tend to the needs of all our
sisters so they in turn could “further God’s kingdom by building communities of love and hope among [themselves] and
among the families of the world.”
Each time we asked you, our dear Nazareth Family, for help, you came through for us and never let us down. Thanks to
your generosity, we were able to renovate bathrooms at Divine Providence Convent, where our Novices live; replace a
cracked and sinking patio at Mount Nazareth Convent in Philadelphia, PA; and install a security gate on our convent and
retreat center grounds in Grand Prairie, TX.
Our sisters are so very grateful that you hold them in such high regard that you saw fit to assist with these and many
other vital projects in 2022. They take great comfort in knowing that you care for them so deeply and want to help
ensure that their living situations remain safe and comfortable.
Be assured that they keep you, your loved ones, and your special intentions in their daily prayers.
Katherine Barth
National Director of Development
Investment
Income
0%
Other
15%
2022 INCOME
Salaries/Social
Security
32%
General
Operation
37%
Development Office
3%
2022 EXPENSES
Ministry Support
2%
Srs Living &
Retirement
44%
Rental Income
1%
Donations
52%
Building/Property
14%
DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR SISTERS
Mail: Send donations to the Development Office, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Website: www.nazarethcsfn.org — click on “Donate” to use a credit card or checking account.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/csfn.usa — click on “Donate”
Call: 847-298-6760, ext. 237, our Development Office
16
Text-2-Give: Text the word REGISTER to 847-994-4483. You will then be asked to provide contact and
credit card information.

“Thank You” to Our
Wonderful Committees
We would also like to offer our thanks to the wonderful individuals who have served on our committees, and all those
who have been instrumental in the success of our fundraising programs! There are no words to accurately express how
grateful we are for the time and talents you have been kind enough to share with us.
Nazareth Retreat Center Committee, Southwest Area
Tim Moloney, Mary Jean Moloney, Bill Quinn, Polly Weidenkopf, Sister Francesca Witkowska, CSFN, Sister Mary Louise
Swift, CSFN, Sister Monika Brulinska, CSFN, Sister Marietta Osinska, CSFN, and Katherine Barth.
Oktoberfest in Spring/Spring Fest Committee
Elaine Beatovic, Irene Delgiudice, Gunther Dorth, Margaret Gorder, Michael Hoban, Jacqueline Hyzy, Jackie Pokorny, Mary
Puente, Bob Neil, and Sister Clare Marie Kozicki, CSFN.
2023 “EVERYDAY PEOPLE”
STAY-AT-HOME SOCIAL
Join us this October for the 2023 CSFN Stay-At-Home
Social, “Everyday People!”
On Wednesday, October 25, at 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM
CT, we will host our virtual CSFN Social! Building on the
success of our virtual events in previous years, and keeping
in mind concerns over logistics and safety, we have made
the decision to continue on with our “Stay-At-Home
Social” tradition. This virtual event will be available to all
our kind friends and benefactors via our Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/csfn.usa
For more information, contact Heidi Scheuer at 847-298-6760, ext. 238 or go to the “News & Events” section
of our website, nazarethcsfn.org.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
17

Have You Thought About
Your Estate Plans?
By Katherine Barth, Director of Development
Your faithful, generous support over the years clearly
indicates your love for our sisters and your commitment
to our ministries to families. For all you are to us, we
are grateful! With this in mind, have you ever considered
leaving a bequest to the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth?
I ask this question because it is incredibly important that
every family has a thoughtful estate plan in place so that
they can predetermine how they want their assets shared
among their relatives, friends, and even organizations that
they care about. Without a will, state laws may go into
effect that distribute your estate in a very impersonal way!
Through your bequest gifts, you can create a living
memorial that perpetuates good works. These gifts ensure
the sustainability of your beloved organizations in a way
that makes your core values known to others. Generations
to come will benefit from your gifts. Additionally, you can
choose how you want each bequest gift to be used.
There are many ways to leave a legacy behind, and
charitable bequests and beneficiary designations through
wills and trusts are among the most popular. These types of
gifts allow you to retain full control and use of your assets
throughout your lifetime, and you are never locked into a
commitment. You may change your mind at any time.
Nazareth – USA, Inc. as a beneficiary or not, I encourage
you to consult with your financial advisor to discuss the
options. Please make sure you have a will that provides for
those you love. And if you decide to leave a bequest gift to
our sisters, please let us know so that we can thank you
properly.
If you haven’t yet considered a will or other estate plans,
we offer a free booklet, Better Estate Planning, to help
get you started. If you would like this free booklet, just
complete the form on page 19 and return it to our
Development Office. I’ll get it mailed out to you right away.
To receive the free, no obligation booklet, Better Estate
Planning, please complete the attached form and return
it to:
Katherine Barth
Director of Development
310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016
kbarth@nazarethcsfn.org
847-298-6760, ext. 143
Would you consider making the Sisters of the Holy Family
of Nazareth – USA, Inc. a beneficiary of all or a portion of
your estate, after leaving specific gifts to loved ones? It's
easy to do, and you don't need to be wealthy to do it –
you just need to love our sisters and want to support our
mission.
When you remember the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth – USA, Inc. in your estate plan, you become
eligible for membership in the Nazareth Legacy Society.
This society is composed of generous and forward-thinking
donors, just like you, who have made the decision to
support our long-term success through a bequest gift.
Whether you name the Sisters of the Holy Family of
18

HAVE YOU ALREADY REMEMBERED THE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF
NAZARETH – USA, INC. IN YOUR WILL?
Then you’re invited to join Nazareth Legacy Society, a group created to recognize friends just like you who have let us
know that they have remembered our sisters in their wills or estate plans.
In appreciation for your future gift, you will be remembered in the daily prayers of our sisters; you will receive a
certificate denoting your membership in the Nazareth Legacy Society; you will receive a special Holy Family key
ring available only to Nazareth Legacy Society members; and your name will be inscribed on a special plaque in our
Provincialate in Des Plaines, IL. Informing our Development Office you have remembered our sisters in your future plans
automatically entitles you to membership in this special Society! But we won’t enroll you as a member without your
permission.
It’s simple to join! Just complete the form below and return it to the Development Office, 310 N. River Road, Des
Plaines, IL 60016. Or if you prefer, you may contact Katherine Barth at kbarth@nazarethcsfn.org or 847-298-6760, ext.
143 and let her know you would like to be a member.
Thank you for including our sisters in your estate plans. We are grateful for your faithful, caring support.
PLANNED GIVING/LEGACY SOCIETY REPLY FORM (CONFIDENTIAL REPLY)
(Check all that apply)
I have remembered the CSFNs in my
____ Will ____ Annuity ____ Charitable Trust ____ Life Insurance Policy ____ Retirement Plan
Please enroll me in the Nazareth Legacy Society:
I give permission to publish my name
Please do not publish my name
Please send me a complimentary copy of the booklet, Better Estate Planning
Please contact me. I am considering including the CSFNs in my estate plans, but I have some questions.
Please complete the following and return it to:
Katherine Barth, CSFN Development Office, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
________________________________________________________________________________
Name
________________________________________________________________________________
Address
________________________________________________________________________________
City
________________________________________________________________________________
State
Zip Code
________________________________________________________________________________
Phone
________________________________________________________________________________
Email
This information is strictly confidential.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // FALL 2023
19

310 N River Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016
www.nazarethcsfn.org
Non-profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
Des Plaines, IL
Permit No. 340
ORDER OPLATKI FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION
We are once again pleased to offer our friends and family oplatki for the Christmas season!
Oplatki (or oplatek in the singular form) are paper-thin wafers of unleavened bread embossed with symbols from the
Christmas story. Our oplatki are baked by our sisters in Nowogródek, Belarus. This symbol of unity is made available to
you with the sincere prayer that you will find peace of mind and heart as you recall the sacred mystery of the Nativity of
our Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Oplatki are 2” x 4”.
You may order these special wafers by calling our Development Office at 847-298-6760 ext. 137, or online
at nazarethcsfn.org/donate/request-oplatki.
We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to extend the Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and
others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another.
We witness to this love through dedicated service to the Church, especially in ministry to the family.