May 25, 2026 | NEWS
From May 15 to 17, 2026, Racibórz hosted the 5th Dulcissimian Days, a unique religious and cultural event dedicated to the memory of the Servant of God Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann. This year’s edition was particularly special, as it marked the 90th anniversary of Dulcissima’s death, who passed away in the odor of sanctity on May 18, 1936, in Racibórz-Brzezie. For several years now, the Dulcissimian Days have been a fixture on the region’s calendar of important spiritual and cultural events. They combine prayer, scholarly reflection, public debate, and the integration of the local community. The event was organized by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of the Polish Province, together with the Racibórz County and the management of the Piast Castle in Racibórz.
The celebrations began on Friday with a prayer vigil at the Church of Sts. Matthew and James the Apostles in Racibórz-Brzezie, a place connected with the life and death of Sr. Dulcissima. It is in Brzezie that her grave is located, visited for years by pilgrims and the faithful seeking her intercession. A key highlight of the celebrations was an academic symposium titled “Sister Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann SMI: Teacher of Life and Death,” held at the Piast Castle in Racibórz. Speakers included clergy, theologians, and representatives from the academic world, who addressed the themes of suffering, death, and Christian spirituality. The lectures covered, among other things, the hospice experience, the spirituality of Polish mystics, and reflections on eternal life.
The first lecture was delivered by Rev. Prof. Antoni Bartoszek of the University of Silesia. The lecture, titled “The Mystery of Suffering and Dying in the Experience of Hospice Ministry,” focused on accompanying terminally ill patients. The speaker noted that the modern world often avoids talking about death, while the hospice experience reveals a profound need for presence, dignity, and spiritual support for a person at the end of life. The lecture had not only a theological dimension but also a very practical and humanistic one. The lecture by Fr. Przemysław Krakowczyk, SAC, titled “Becoming the Living Host: The Imitation of Christ in the Experience of the Polish Mystics St. Faustina Kowalska and the Servant of God Sr. Dulcissima Hoffmann” also generated significant interest. The speaker compared the spirituality of St. Faustina Kowalska and Sr. Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann, highlighting similarities in their experience of suffering and their total surrender to God. He emphasized that both mystics viewed daily hardship and illness as a path of spiritual maturation and service to others. In conclusion, he stated that: “Both mystics took up the same challenge: to become a living host for the Church and for the world.” In the third presentation, Regina Przyłucka introduced Sr. Dulcissima “among the young saints.” It was a reflection on the young people of the Church who, despite their short lives, left behind a unique witness of faith. The speaker pointed out that today’s youth need authentic spiritual role models, and the figure of the young Silesian nun can be an inspiration to many. The next lecture, by Fr. Dr. Aleksander Radecki, concerned preparing oneself for the moment of death. The topic “Readiness for Death: Dulcissima Prepares Us to Cross Over to the Other Side of Life” was deeply spiritual in nature and prompted participants to reflect on transience and the meaning of life. The priest emphasized that the Christian view of death should not be based on fear, but on hope and faith in eternal life. The final lecture was delivered by Fr. Prof. Marek Chmielewski of the Catholic University of Lublin. The lecture focused on the experience of death and life after death as depicted in the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Church’s mystics. The professor cited the testimonies of individuals who, in their spiritual writings, described experiences of suffering, encounters with God, and the hope of eternal life. The lecture served as a sort of summary of the entire symposium, giving it the dimension of a theological reflection on the meaning of human life and transience.
On Saturday afternoon, during the Eucharist, Bishop Andrzej Czaja of the Diocese of Opole spoke in his homily primarily about the need to cultivate a deep relationship with Christ within oneself and about the spiritual legacy of Sister Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann. He emphasized that the life of the Silesian mystic was “a beautiful testimony to zealous cooperation with Christ’s work.” Bishop Czaja pointed out that Sister Dulcissima’s life shows us that even suffering and illness can become a path to spiritual maturity and a testimony of faith.
Another important element of the event was a discussion titled “How to Live in Order to Die Well? Death as a Stage of Life.” The participants in the discussion highlighted the need to regain a deeper perspective on the meaning of life, suffering, and transience in the modern world.
Sunday’s celebrations culminated in a Mass presided over by Bishop Adam Wodarczyk, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Katowice. After the Mass, the sisters invited all parishioners and guests to a family picnic in the convent garden. The day concluded with a magnificent May Concert of Sacred Music.
The Dulcissima Days are not only a way to commemorate Sr. Maria Dulcissima Hoffmann, but also an opportunity to build community and deepen spiritual life. Each successive edition attracts people interested in both the history of the Silesian mystic and reflection on faith, suffering, and the meaning of human life. The figure of Sister Dulcissima has for years aroused great interest among the faithful, clergy, and scholars of spirituality. Despite her severe illness, this young nun was able to maintain a cheerful spirit and deep trust in God, which is why she remains a model of perseverance and spiritual strength for many today. The ongoing beatification process ensures that the memory of her continues to grow stronger, and Racibórz-Brzezie is increasingly marking its presence on the map of Poland’s important pilgrimage sites.
S. Małgorzata Cur
May 19, 2026 | NEWS
On Friday, May 15, 2026, a gala event was held at Hydropolis in Wrocław—the finale of the first edition of the Game Changer competition. The competition recognized individuals and initiatives that, through their courage, innovation, and actions, are shaping the future of Wrocław. The John Paul II Children’s Care and Treatment Center in Jaszkotl was honored in the Special Award category. The description read: “In a world where haste often obscures what is most important, there is a place where time is measured by love, and every small step is an occasion for great celebration. The John Paul II Children’s Care and Treatment Center in Jaszkotl, run by the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, is not just a medical facility. It is a safe haven where suffering meets an infinite reservoir of hope and professional care.” S.M. Sylwia Borowska, who runs the facility, emphasizes the fruitful collaboration of many in creating a true home for the children—one full of safety, understanding, and love—teaching us to view a child through the lens of their potential, not their illness. She says:“Every day, we do our utmost to ensure that the children in our care can develop to the best of their abilities, experience a childhood full of smiles, and build self-esteem. Comprehensive rehabilitation, therapy, and medical care are extremely important, but equally important to us is the atmosphere of kindness, closeness, and family warmth created together by the Sisters, staff, volunteers, and friends of our facility.”
CONGRATULATIONS!
More information at the link:
ZOL dla Dzieci w Jaszkotlu – Game Changer 2026 w kategorii Nagroda Specjalna - Wrocławskie Fakty
May 19, 2026 | NEWS
Rachel’s Vineyard is an international community that offers post-abortion healing retreats in over 80 countries worldwide. The program originated in the United States and was created by Theresa Burke, a therapist of Polish descent. The retreat program has already been translated into over 30 languages. In Poland, Rachel’s Vineyard has been active since 2014 in several cities: Warsaw, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Kraków, Poznań, Gdańsk, and, since 2021, Wrocław. Rachel’s Vineyard retreats are therapeutic and spiritual gatherings for people suffering from post-abortion syndrome (women, men, and medical staff). It is not only the child who is a victim of abortion; the mother and father are victims as well, because death enters their lives as a consequence of the choice they made. Many women say that with the abortion, “something inside them died.” These retreats are dedicated to anyone who has experienced abortion (directly, indirectly, or through persuasion) and desires reconciliation with God and with their life story. Most participants are women, though one-sixth of the attendees are fathers of lost children. The retreat is also open to those with “survivor syndrome”—people whose lives were threatened by abortion or whose siblings were aborted, and who consequently experience chronic guilt, anxiety, low self-esteem, and a need to prove their right to live. Women of various ages, educational backgrounds, and social statuses—both believers and non-believers—decide to have an abortion. In recent years, a very common reason for such a decision has been the legal grounds for terminating a pregnancy due to fetal abnormalities or the mother’s poor mental health—a major misconception, as abortion does not resolve mental health issues but rather exacerbates them dramatically. Rachel’s Vineyard takes place in small groups, under the care of properly trained staff and a priest. A very important element of the retreat is creating an atmosphere of love, safety, and discretion, as participants arrive feeling anxious, afraid of judgment, condemnation, and criticism. The team of facilitators ensures that everyone feels welcomed with their life story and comforted in their pain. The three-day meditations on the Word of God and workshops are aimed at inner healing, healing emotional and spiritual wounds following an abortion, processing trauma, experiencing mourning, reconciliation with God, and helping to establish a spiritual relationship with the unborn child. The retreat begins on Friday and lasts until Sunday, which is also a spiritual invitation to journey with Jesus through His Passion, through His suffering and death on the cross, the experience of the darkness of the tomb, and the emergence into the light of the Resurrection on Sunday. Our Provincial House in Wrocław also regularly hosts these retreats. The sin of abortion, which retreat participants often view as “unforgivable,” becomes a cause of despair, depression, a slow agony in solitude, and sometimes mental illness or even suicide. But! The final word always belongs to Jesus, our Lord and Savior! Through the prophet Isaiah, He tells us: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). These words become a living experience of the power of God’s mercy. Participants leave the retreat transformed, freed from guilt, self-condemnation, regret, sadness, and hopelessness. It is remarkable that this transformation is even visible externally—a new freshness appears on their faces, and joy and radiance are restored to their eyes. Helping people with post-abortion trauma is a very concrete act of saving their souls from the darkness of death in which they live.
s. M. Rachela Wąsowicz
(member of the team at the Wrocław branch of Rachel’s Vineyard)
Apr 28, 2026 | NEWS
The anniversary celebrations took place on April 18, 2026, in Racibórz. The first and most important part of the event was held at the parish church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the beginning, Mother Superior Elżbieta Bańdziak welcomed all the distinguished guests. The next item on the program was a brief historical introduction by Sister Elżbieta Cińcio, highlighting the founder of St. Notburga’s House—who is buried in this parish church—the first Marian Sisters in Racibórz, the benefactors, and the good fruits of the existing Work.
At 11:00 a.m., a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving began, presided over by Bishop Jan Kopiec. Concelebrants included the dean and pastor of the parish, Marian Obruśnik, and the Franciscan fathers: Father Eligiusz and Father Ignacy. In his homily, the bishop highlighted the social situation in Silesia in the mid-19th century and, quoting a passage from a speech by Father Hermann Schaffer, demonstrated the relevance of the message of the Founder of St. Notburga’s House. The solemn Te Deum concluded the Mass. Sister Radna Róża conveyed greetings from our Mother General, M. Sybilla Kołtan, and presented the Racibórz community with an icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Sister Provincial Superior Dagmara Kania and Sister Superior Elżbieta Bańdziak laid flowers on the grave of the Founder, Father Hermann Schaffer.
The next part of the celebration took place in the building of St. Notburga’s Home. In the common room during the agape meal, guests viewed a photo exhibition depicting the St. Notburga Social Welfare Home yesterday and today, and watched a theatrical performance prepared by the staff and residents of the Home. It was a staging of Julian Tuwim’s poem titled “Rzepka.”
s. Elżbieta Cincio
Apr 11, 2026 | NEWS
An Easter charity campaign for mission countries.
In an atmosphere of gratitude and joy, the finale of the charity campaign “One Heart, Many Hands – A Shared Mission,” organized by the Children’s Care and Treatment Center in Jaszkotl, took place. The event brought together numerous guests, partners, volunteers, and individuals committed to helping those most in need.
The idea to organize the campaign during this year’s Lent arose at a special time, as our Congregation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the death of Fr. Jan Schneider, a man deeply sensitive to the poverty and suffering of the most vulnerable, whose spiritual legacy we strive to uphold in the works we carry out in various corners of the world. The idea of a fundraiser for the missions run by our Congregation in Tanzania, the Philippines, and Indonesia arose from the desire to make the anniversary of his death an opportunity for concrete good, a living gesture of love and solidarity.
The culmination of the entire campaign was not only an opportunity to summarize the online fundraiser (which was very well received), but above all a moment demonstrating the power of community and solidarity. Thanks to the commitment of volunteers, donors, and partners, we were able to support specific aid projects in various parts of the world. In Tanzania, children will receive educational materials and the chance to learn; in the Philippines, the youngest children will receive birth certificates, enabling access to education and healthcare; and in Indonesia, women will be able to acquire a profession and secure the future of their families.
The highlight of the event was an Easter workshop, during which participants, among other activities, decorated Easter eggs together—a symbol of hope. The campaign’s finale demonstrated that even the smallest gesture matters, and that goodness—when shared—can multiply and bring true hope.
S.M. Franciszka
Apr 7, 2026 | NEWS
We thank God for the grace and blessings He has bestowed upon each of us, and especially our Congregation, as we mark 25 years since the founding of our Kurasini Community. We thank our Congragation's leaders for recognizing the importance of having this house in Dar es Salaam. May God grant them every good thing in their service. Preparations for the Jubilee celebration began with a prayer for our community; we started in January and we will continue with it throughout the year. Before the feast of Saint Joseph, we prayed a nine-days novena to Saint Joseph, and one day before the feast of Saint Joseph we did a personal retreat in honor of Saint Joseph. On the first evening we prayed the Vesper together, and in the morning, we prayed the morning prayers together. Later we continued with the preparations for the celebration, spiritually preparing for a beautiful Liturgy that came from the heart of each one of us. The Holy Mass began at 11:15 PM, led by our spiritual Fathers. We were joined by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate and our invited guests. After the Holy Mass, we gathered for a short reception, A short while after the priests changed from their Mass vestments, they too came to the event area.
The priest opened the reception with a prayer, then we introduced the guests, and we continued our reception, sharing in fraternal love. A brief history of the convent and the sister who organized it was also read. Thereafter, the history was read, there were various refreshments provided by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, followed by a speech from the Reginal Superior who explained the origins of the Community of Kurasini. Finally, she thanked everyone who came to join us in our celebration. The Regional Superior welcomed the priest who led us in the Holy Mass with his homily and concluded the service. Thank you very much
Prepared by Sr.M.Yasisnta Unga
Local Superior - Kurasini
