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