Oct 14, 2026 | NEWS
On the first evening of the presidential couple’s visit to Manila, a formal welcome dinner was held in honor of the President of Poland and his wife, to which I was invited by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. On the second day of the visit, the First Lady visited our home in Quezon City. First, she met with the sisters over coffee, and then with the participants of the pattern-making and sewing course. The meeting took place in a very pleasant atmosphere. During the meeting, the First Lady sat down at a sewing machine that had been set up in advance and worked alongside the participants. In the evening, the Presidential Couple held a meeting with the Polish community and invited guests. During this meeting, the President presented state decorations to six distinguished individuals, among whom I had the honor of being included. I received the Silver Cross of Merit for my missionary, social, and charitable work on behalf of poor Filipino families, as well as for promoting Polish culture abroad. I accepted this award with great emotion and gratitude. It is not only a great honor for me, but above all, an expression of recognition for the work we have been striving to carry out with dedication for years. Our ministry in the Philippines has always been more than just a duty. It is a ministry to others, whom we strive to help, accompany, and give hope for a better tomorrow. This award is an honor not only for me, but for the Congregation and for those who support us in various ways. For me personally, this award is a commitment to continue serving—with even greater dedication—the people we meet who need our help.
Sr. Agata Sobczyk
Oct 13, 2026 | NEWS
As I do every year—I spent a few days
on vacation in Maria Laach again this time.
Maria Laach—you know it, of course…
from my mission among the Gypsy children
and certainly also—from our congregation’s history… because our fellow sisters worked there from 1946 to 1955.
Sister Borromäa, Sister Carola, Sister Antonia, Sister Theresia, Sister Ildefonsa, Sister Fidelis, Sister Elisabeth, and Sister Hildegard were in the novitiate there. I have very fond memories of them all—they were special sisters!!
The artist Brother Notker Becker OSB from Maria Laach also decorated the basilica of the Branitz Institutions with mosaics.
September 8 was a special day at the abbey….
On the Feast of the Nativity of Mary and during the jubilee year marking “100 Years of the Basilica Minor,” Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (former bishop of Berlin, now cardinal of Cologne)
celebrated a solemn pontifical Mass in Maria Laach.
In his homily, the cardinal described Mary as the dawn—she heralds Christ and points the way to his light.
At the end of the homily, he returned once more to Mary.
From her, he said, the Church can learn to open itself to Christ and welcome him, so that his light may shine into the world. His closing words were a call for courage and trust: “Let us, dear sisters and brothers, have the courage and trust to live out this mission of ours—for the glory of God and the salvation of humanity.”
After the solemn Mass, Cardinal and Abbot Mauritius made a point of going out to the forecourt of the basilica to be among the people who had joined in the celebration.
It was a wonderful encounter… I can’t put it any other way.
And the Cardinal said to me…
that I should convey his greetings to all my fellow sisters…
which I would like to do here.
Sister M. Felicitas
Jun 11, 2026 | NEWS
Trip to Visit the Gypsy Children
April 25–30, 2026
As always, the “Cologne Speedster” was loaded to the brim with donations. After Father Basilius gave us his blessing for the journey, Mr. Lingenthal and I set off (592 km). The trip went very smoothly, with perfect weather and no traffic jams. Our destination for the day was Neuhaus am Inn, and we arrived there safely…but then there was a small problem…there weren’t two rooms available for the night (even though they had been booked), but only one…so Mr. Lingenthal slept in the “Kölner Flitzer.” On Sunday at 5:30 a.m., we continued on toward Austria…because at that time, the border posts aren’t staffed yet. It was sunny again, the roads were clear, and we drove to Heiligenkreuz Abbey (256 km) for Holy Mass. I would have loved to stop by the monastery shop after the service—but when you’re traveling with men…you hardly have a chance for something like that…and that’s exactly how it was this Sunday. We drove on from Heiligenkreuz Abbey to Liptovský Mikuláš in the High Tatras (376 km). Early Monday morning, we set off again on our journey to Košice, the place Pope Francis visited in 2021. There, our interpreter Rado was waiting for us to drive together to the Caritas Center (65 km) in beautiful sunshine. Children and their mothers can come to the Caritas Center every day. They receive plenty of water and meals. The children who are not yet in school receive social guidance and are very well cared for. The children live with their families just about 100 meters from the center. The chapel was built by the Benedictines and their circle of friends right in the middle of the camp. Brother Lukas (+March 2026) designed it using his artistic talent. After visiting the chapel, all the children, of course, received a small treat again. I have rarely seen so much filth and poverty—but never, as always, so many grateful children. Unfortunately, the Benedictines from Maria Laach can no longer continue to be involved due to their age. But my benefactors in Cochem—to whom I am infinitely grateful—and I want to continue supporting this mission, even if it is more difficult for me from Berlin. But I think—it is in the spirit of our founder, whose 150th anniversary of his death we are commemorating this year—that solutions will be found. For whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me! Mt. 25:40
Sister Felicitas
May 31, 2026 | NEWS
On Trinity Sunday, which fell on the last day of May, the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, together with parishioners from Mieszkowice and Szybowice, praised Mary at the place where the Servant of God, Fr. Jan Schneider, was born. Together we prayed for his beatification and for the graces we ourselves need. It was a wonderful gathering, enveloped in the spiritual presence of our Servant of God.
s. Barbara
May 26, 2026 | NEWS
On Friday, May 22, St. Notburga House in Racibórz served as the venue for a special gathering of residents and visitors during Racibórz’s St. Notburga Night. The event was organized by the Administration of the Piast Castle in Racibórz and the Racibórz County in cooperation with the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate and provided an opportunity to learn about the history of the site, the congregation’s activities, and the spiritual heritage of the Racibórz region. Sister Dr. Elżbieta Cińcio, SMI, spoke about the history of St. Notburga’s House and the congregation’s activities in Racibórz. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the history of the site and hear about the sisters’ work and mission over the years. The meeting provided a better understanding of the role that St. Notburga House has played in the life of the local community for over a century, remaining a place of assistance, prayer, and daily service to others. The program also included a lecture on the Servant of God, Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann, delivered by Sister Małgorzata Cur, SMI. The gathering highlighted the figure of a Marian Sister connected to the region, whose life and work remain an important part of the spiritual heritage of the Racibórz area to this day. Participants had the opportunity to learn about her witness of faith, humility, and devotion to those who suffer. The evening was complemented by a concert of the most beautiful sacred arias performed by Justyna Bujak. The artist, who has achieved numerous successes in national and international vocal competitions, presented her repertoire in St. Joseph’s Chapel, creating a unique and deeply moving musical setting for the event. The sacred pieces performed within the historic interiors of the chapel gave the gathering a special, reflective character. The St. Notburga Night in Racibórz was not only an opportunity to learn about the history and architecture of this unique place, but also a time for community, prayer, and cultural engagement. The evening demonstrated that the memory of the past and the region’s spiritual heritage remain an important element of the local community’s identity.
May 25, 2026 | NEWS
Music filled the Church of Sts. Matthew and James the Apostles in Racibórz-Brzezie, offering not only an artistic experience but also a prayer and a moment of spiritual reflection. On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the May Concert of Sacred Music took place, organized as part of the 5th Dulcissimian Days, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God, Sister Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann. From the very first notes, the church was filled with an atmosphere of contemplation and reflection. The church became a place where music, faith, and community came together. Performing before the assembled audience were the St. Anne Choir from Krzyżanowice, conducted by Leonard Fulneczek, and the Brzezie Choir, led by Aleksandra Gamrot. The repertoire included sacred music pieces whose sound harmonized perfectly with the unique character of the venue. The concert was further enriched by solo performances. The vocal parts were performed by Mateusz Łyżwa (bass), Michalina Gardzielik played the organ, and Paweł Muszkieta presented the subtle and light flute parts. The ensemble was complemented by the Instrumental Ensemble conducted by Andrzej Rosoł, creating a harmonious musical backdrop for the event. A special moment of the concert was the performance of “Ave Maria,” which moved the audience and immersed them in an atmosphere of deep contemplation. The music echoing beneath the church’s vaulted ceiling echoed the words of Sister Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann: “I would like to be a singer, to sing in gratitude for all of God’s blessings.” This quote became the symbolic motto of the event, whose character transcended the artistic dimension. The May Sacred Music Concert was not only an opportunity to experience the beauty of choral and instrumental music, but also a space for collectively commemorating the Racibórz mystic. The evening left the participants with a sense of spiritual closeness, gratitude, and inner peace, demonstrating that sacred music is still capable of touching the deepest chords of human sensitivity.
S. Małgorzata Cur
