Sep 21, 2025 | NEWS
Mary, form my soul into a living Magnificat! – these words of Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann accompanied the participants of the retreat, which took place from September 15 to 18, 2025, at the Retreat Center of the Archdiocese of Katowice in Kokoszyce. Fifty people from various parts of Poland took part in the retreat, wishing to deepen their relationship with Christ and the Blessed Mother.
The retreat in Kokoszyce, conducted in the spirit of the Servant of God Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann, became more than just a time of reflection. It was like a journey—quiet, yet full of light—which the participants took together with Mary and under the guidance of this extraordinary Marian sister.
Dulcissima’s words: “Mary, form my soul into a living Magnificat!” returned like a refrain, reminding us that Christianity is not a theory or merely a set of practices, but a song of the heart that allows itself to be shaped by God.
Silence that speaks
In Kokoszyce, silence was not emptiness, but a space for encounter. Sister Dulcissima seemed to suggest today: “The more I remain silent, the louder Jesus speaks in me.” This truth could almost be touched during adoration, when shared silence became unity of hearts in God.
Silence gave birth to prayer, and prayer built community. Invisible bonds united the participants—people from different parts of Poland—in the experience that the Church is truly a family.
The Way of Mary—the way of the heart
A special moment during the retreat was the “Way of Mary” service, celebrated among the forest alleys. Each station — from the Immaculate Conception to glory in heaven — taught that Mary is not a distant figure from the pages of the Gospel, but a close Mother, present in everyday life.
Sister Dulcissima’s words became closer: “Just look at her with your heart, and she will teach you how to live ordinary days in an extraordinary way.” This call resonated particularly strongly—because Marian devotion does not end with prayer, but permeates every gesture, every word, every patient “yes” spoken to God’s will.
Holiness in simplicity
The joy of the community was expressed during Sister Dulcissima’s name day. There was coffee, cake, conversation—and in the background, the awareness that holiness is born in such moments of simplicity. Dulcissima wrote: “Holiness is born in everyday smiles.” And it was clear to see: faith does not take away the ordinariness of life, but makes it a place of God’s presence.
The retreat ended with an Act of Entrustment to Mary, which left a deep sense of peace in the hearts of the participants. It was the seal of the retreat — a promise that the journey with Mary does not end in Kokoszyce, but continues into everyday life, into ordinary days that can become a living Magnificat.
Our spiritual renewal in Kokoszyce became a living Magnificat, praise of God together with Mary and under the care of Sister Dulcissima, who shows with her life how suffering can be transformed into a source of hope and peace.
Fr. Przemysław Krakowczyk, SAC, who led our retreat, emphasized:
“The story of Sister Dulcissima shows us that Mary is not a distant, historical figure, but a living presence who accompanies us in both joys and sufferings. Her example teaches us that Marian devotion is not just about saying prayers or wearing a medal, but a deep, personal relationship with the One who most perfectly led us to Christ.”
A pilgrimage that does not end the journey
The culmination of the retreat was a trip to Raciborski Brzezie, where Sister Dulcissima is buried. The prayer at her grave was not a farewell, but a beginning. The words of the Servant of God: “I want to be like a seed hidden in the ground, so that only Jesus may grow” reminded us that her life—quiet and hidden—became fertile soil from which the fruits of faith grow.
Sr. M. Małgorzata Cur, SMI
Sep 21, 2025 | NEWS
At our convent in Manila, we have completed another edition of a project aimed at supporting women by teaching them practical skills. Thanks to the financial support of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Philippines, we were able to organize sewing courses that give women a real chance for professional development and improved living conditions.
Another group of graduates
Today, another course came to an end. Eight participants took part in it and learned how to sew school uniforms, dresses, pillowcases, fitted sheets, curtains, and many other items. At the end, each of them received a certificate of completion, as well as a sewing machine and a bale of fabric, so that they could start their own business and provide for their families.
Next steps
Next week, we will welcome ten new participants to the second edition of this year’s course at the monastery. We are delighted that our community can be a place where women acquire new skills and hope for a better future.
Mission and support
The project is primarily aimed at single mothers and sole breadwinners. For many of them, the opportunity to learn sewing and start a small business is a step towards independence, stability, and a dignified life.
We are grateful to the Polish Embassy in Manila and to all those who support our missionary work. Thanks to this, we can not only run courses, but also make a real difference in the lives of those who need help the most.
Sr. M. Agata Sobczyk
Sep 20, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Readings: Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-8;
The prophet Amos gives us a sobering reminder of God’s justice: “Never will I forget a single thing you have done.” Every act of exploitation, dishonesty, or indifference toward the poor stands before God. Nothing escapes His gaze, for He is a God who loves truth and defends the vulnerable. Yet Paul balances this word of judgment with a word of hope: “God our Savior wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth.” The same God who remembers injustice also desires to heal and redeem us, offering the possibility of salvation through Christ. This tension between justice and mercy calls us to conversion: to let go of selfish pursuits, to act with integrity, and to intercede in prayer for all people. Today we are reminded that God’s desire is not condemnation but salvation, not exclusion but fullness of truth. To live this truth is to stand honestly before Him, acknowledging both our failures and our hope, and to commit ourselves to prayer, mercy, and justice, so that God’s will for all people to be saved may shine through our lives. Let’s reflect: Do I live each day mindful that God sees every action, and do I let this awareness move me away from selfishness and toward prayer, justice, and the desire that all people come to know His saving truth?
Don Giorgio
Sep 19, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest, and Paul Chong Hasang, and their Companions, Martyrs
Saturday of week 24 in Ordinary Time
First reading 1 Timothy 6:13-16
Saint Paul urges Timothy to “keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This command is not a temporary guideline, but a lifelong commitment rooted in the majesty of God Himself, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light. Our perseverance in faith is framed by this vision of God’s sovereignty, He is beyond human grasp, yet He reveals Himself in Christ who will return in glory at the proper time. The Korean martyrs we honor today embody this fidelity. In the face of persecution, they did not waver but lived and died with the conviction that Christ is the eternal ruler, worth every sacrifice. Their witness teaches us that to keep the commandment is to live with integrity, courage, and hope, even when the cost is high. In a world often distracted by passing powers and fleeting lights, this reading calls us to fix our gaze on the One who is eternal and to let our lives reflect unwavering devotion until He comes again. Let’s reflect: Am I keeping the commandment of Christ with faithfulness and integrity, inspired by the martyrs’ courage, and fixing my gaze on the eternal King who dwells in unapproachable light until He is revealed in glory?
Don Giorgio
Sep 18, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 24 in Ordinary Time
Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr
First reading 1 Timothy 6:2c-12
Saint Paul warns Timothy against distorted teachings that twist religion into arguments, pride, or even personal gain. Such attitudes, far from nurturing faith, give rise to envy, rivalry, insults, and divisions. The danger is clear: when faith is reduced to self-interest or intellectual battles, it loses its heart which is the living relationship with Christ. Instead, Paul points to the true path: “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” These virtues are not abstract ideals but the fabric of authentic discipleship, visible in daily life. To live them is to “compete well for the faith”, not against others, but against the temptations that drag us away from the Gospel. On the feast of Saint Januarius, who laid down his life as a witness to Christ, we see the noblest confession of faith: to embrace eternal life with courage, perseverance, and love. This reading challenges us to examine whether our faith leads us to division or to holiness, to selfish gain or to the generosity of Christ who calls us to eternal life. Let’s reflect: Does my faith lead me into arguments and self-interest, or am I sincerely pursuing righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness so that I may truly grasp the eternal life to which I am called?
Don Giorgio
