Dec 9, 2025 | NEWS
On December 8, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Congregation celebrates its patronal feast. It is an important day of prayer, gratitude, and entrustment to Mary, who is our patroness.
On the same day, the Community of the Children of Mary in Brzezie also experienced a special time. During a solemn Mass, the girls and boys renewed their promises, entrusting their lives once again to the care of the Mother of God. The community also grew by five new girls, who were joyfully welcomed into the circle of the Children of Mary.
This is a beautiful sign of living faith and Mary's presence in the hearts of the youngest. May her caring protection guide the entire community on the path of goodness, peace, and devotion to God.
S.M. Janina
Dec 1, 2025 | NEWS
99. The 99th pilgrimage of our congregation to Our Lady in Bardo, which took place on November 21—the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—was and remains a deeply moving experience for each of us. At the feet of the Guardian of Faith, we always give thanks for the courage of heart and living hope of our predecessors, who entrusted the fate of our Congregation to Mary. Much has changed in recent years: the world, the Church, our homes, and our ministries. However, one thing has remained unchanged – our entrustment to the Mother of God and the certainty that she guides us through every stage of history. We thank her and entrust ourselves to her. The Superior General, M. M. Sybilla Kołtan, took part in our pilgrimage to Bardo and expressed her joy that “we are faithful to our tradition.” "I encourage you, dear Sisters, to give thanks in a special way today. Let us pause and think about how much good has been done in our lives, even amid the difficulties we have encountered here. Let us try to see the good in ourselves and in our sisters." Mother Sybilla emphasized that we can discover hope when we are able to be grateful for what we have. And in order to truly celebrate it, we must first take a step of gratitude. “Let this day be a thanksgiving for our communities, for our sisters, and for our own lives,” she said. The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Piotr Gołuch, vice-rector of the Świdnica Seminary, and the homily was given by Fr. Bartosz Trojanowski, former chaplain of the provincial house in Wrocław. “Your congregation has experienced a difficult moment in history—the threat of dissolution,” said the preacher. "It can also be described as a purification of the temple: a series of trials, threats, and even near destruction. But it was then that the truth, which your constitutions remind us of, was revealed even more strongly: ‘Our apostolate will only be fruitful if we are deeply united with Christ. He is the source of our spiritual life and the strength of our devotion to our neighbors.’" At the end of his homily, he encouraged: “Today we give thanks for the preservation of your congregation, but at the same time we entrust it anew to Mary, that she may always be your Guardian of the Faith, that each sister may listen to Jesus with bated breath, that Jesus may purify what needs to be purified, and teach you daily in the temple of your hearts.” As every year, the Sisters from the Jutrzenka house in Bardo welcomed us with the cordiality that has always been a hallmark of this place. Our conversations at the table prepared with love—full of sisterly closeness and brotherly warmth—became a beautiful complement to the Eucharistic table where Christ had previously fed us. We are now on the threshold of our 100th jubilee pilgrimage to Bardo, and this awareness gives us particular joy, but also a sense of obligation.
Sister Małgorzata Cur, SMI
Nov 17, 2025 | NEWS
Panel on Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann at the Upper Silesian Pantheon
On November 5, 2025, in Katowice, at the headquarters of the cultural institution – the Upper Silesian Pantheon, located in the basement of the Archcathedral of Christ the King, a panel discussion entitled “Everything Out of Love” was held. The meeting was dedicated to Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann, one of the most moving and spiritually profound figures of the Silesian Church.
The event brought together numerous clergy, scholars, journalists, and faithful who wanted to deepen their reflection on her life, spirituality, and message. The meeting was part of the Archdiocese of Katowice's jubilee year, celebrating its 100th anniversary, and its aim was also to support the ongoing process of beatification of Sister Dulcissima.
The event was initiated by Adam Kraśnicki, who has been associated with the Catholic Programs Department of Polish Television for many years. The panel was opened by Ryszard Kopiec, director of the Upper Silesian Pantheon, who emphasized the importance of remembering Sister Dulcissima for the spiritual heritage of the region.
The speakers included representatives of various fields—theology, philosophy, church history, and medicine—who introduced the participants to the phenomenon of the Silesian mystic's spirituality. Their reflections showed that Sister Dulcissima's message remains relevant and inspiring for contemporary people as well.
The panel was moderated by Dominika Szczawińska, who did not shy away from difficult and sometimes provocative questions – about the meaning of suffering, the image of God, and the human attitude towards extreme experiences when the Creator seems to “demand” suffering.
The spiritual and artistic complement to the meeting was the monodrama “Two Sisters” performed by Krakow actress Izabela Drobotowicz-Orkisz, with musical accompaniment by Dominika Salik. The 20-minute performance showed the spiritual bond between Sister Dulcissima and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
After the performance, the actress emphasized:
“The adventure with Sister Dulcissima is one of the most beautiful. Her cry touched my heart deeply: ‘Jesus, give me the flight of an eagle. I don't want to sit on the ground like a partridge.’” The juxtaposition of the thoughts of Sister Dulcissima and St. Thérèse helped the participants enter into the mystery of the cross—or rather, the mystery of love, which human beings are capable of even in suffering, if they can make it a gift offered to God and other people.
Barbara Gruszka-Zych, journalist and poet, drew attention to Sister Dulcissima's extraordinary approach to everyday life and suffering:
“She taught that every day of life is a celebration. Even more, that even suffering can be a celebration because it is a gift from Jesus Christ, the Beloved. This is a great mystery and challenge.”
Prof. Henryk Olszar noted:
“Looking at Sister Dulcissima and reminding young people of her is a useful and commendable thing. Young people have their advocate in her.”
The meeting ended with a solemn Eucharist in the chapel of St. Thérèse of Lisieux at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Silesia, celebrated by Bishop Marek Szkudło. Prayer and contemplation were a natural conclusion to the evening, which symbolically united two spiritual figures—Sister Dulcissima and Little Thérèse.
The atmosphere of the entire event was full of reflection and gratitude for the spiritual legacy left by Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann.
The participants unanimously emphasized that the life of Sister Dulcissima Hoffmann is still a living source of inspiration—an example of courage, joy, and boundless trust in God.
S.M. Małgorzata Cur
Oct 27, 2025 | NEWS
When Pope Francis announced the Jubilee Year 2025, I felt a desire to make a pilgrimage to the Eternal City, to the tombs of the Apostles. I planned to go to Rome with my family, but in the end, it was an invitation from Mother General that motivated me to participate in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life. I didn't make any arrangements with any of the sisters, I found a convenient connection, and my superior bought my tickets for the trip back in February. A lot had changed by the time of departure. I changed my place of work and took on new responsibilities. But in the end, everything worked out. As it turned out, God made sure that I would not be traveling alone. Sisters from the Generalate accompanied us on the trip. They were like the angel Raphael to Tobias for me, especially Sister Róża. Staying at the Generalate was an experience of the internationality of the Congregation and of how differences can be enriching.
I participated in the program prepared by the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Secular Institutes together with Sister Klara Trzęsowska. On the very first day, I was deeply moved by the prayer vigil in St. Peter's Basilica and the reflections on hope, especially the words: Hope is a little girl walking through the world... We often expect great things, but pay little attention to what is small. Today, hope seems to barely smolder in the world, in families, and sometimes even in the hearts of those consecrated to God. But it cannot fail, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom 5:5). For me, this hope was the prayer of consecrated persons from all over the world gathered together. The meetings with Leo XIV were extremely encouraging. During the Wednesday audience in St. Peter's Square, I was touched by his words: Christian joy does not exclude suffering. For me, these words had a very personal meaning in the context of my experiences over the last few years. Indeed, I feel in my heart love, joy, peace... (Gal 5:22) and I try even more to share it.
I am grateful to Sister Klara for the fact that, despite my oversight, I was able to participate in conferences and workshops for consecrated persons in the Paul VI Hall. I listened to the testimonies of sisters working in different parts of the world, in different cultures, often in difficult conditions. What united us was the joy of the Gospel and a passion for life for Jesus, the Church, and people. During these meetings, the Pope also came to us. The long wait for the Holy Father was accompanied by singing and general excitement, which intensified when Leo XIV finally appeared. This time, he reminded us that we, the consecrated, are a sign of hope for the world and for our communities.
The last day of the Jubilee of Consecrated Life was combined with the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, which was attended by many lay people who came to pray with the Pope for peace in the world in the presence of a statue of the Mother of God brought from Fatima at the express request of the Holy Father. This prayerful evening rosary service took place in silence and concentration. The thought arose in my heart that Our Lady had come here for me... And the words from the Pope's Sunday homily to be a womb
for the Word of God, like Mary, and to be a person of peace with gentle firmness, like her, continue to work
in me to this day.
In addition to my experiences participating in organized services, I joyfully passed through the Holy Door, asking for the gift of the jubilee indulgence and visiting the other great Roman basilicas. A powerful experience, where I was touched by the atmosphere of the place and God's light, was praying at the tomb of St. John Paul II and Pope Francis. The latter in particular impressed me with his simplicity and humility, often misunderstood by Europeans.
Our last outing with Sister Klara to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls and the trip to the mother of churches, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, led us, as a result of a mistake, to another interesting place—
the Basilica of St. Clement, where St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Clement, the fourth pope in the history of the Church, are buried.
The pilgrimage passed quickly, and I happily returned to Poland with Sister Róża. What remains are not only memories. What remains is a message, experiences, an invitation to share
with love and faith, giving hope to those with whom I spend my daily life. I am grateful to Mother General for the invitation and to all those who helped me fulfill a desire that I am convinced was inspired in me by God Himself.
s. M. Michaela Musiał
Oct 14, 2025 | NEWS
The Regional Chapter of the Tanzania Region is taking place in Chikukwe from October 12 to 18. The theme of the Chapter is: “Consecrated Life: New Hope in Christ.” Sixteen sisters from the Tanzania Region are participating in the Chapter. They are joined by the Superior General, Sr. Sybilla Kołtan, and the General Councilor, Sr. Franciszka Jarnot. The moderator and expert in canon law is Bishop Lazaro Msimbe, Ordinary of the Diocese of Morogoro. The topics scheduled for discussion during the Chapter concern: spiritual life and formation, community life, the role of the superior and obedience, as well as our apostolate and economic matters. The Chapter will end on Saturday with a joint thanksgiving to God for the graces received during the Chapter and for the fruits of this time.
