NC - Winter 2017

SISTERS OF
THE HOLY
FAMILY OF
NAZARETH
// VOL 11 //
// NO 3 //
WINTER
2017
Nazareth
CONNECTIONS
FAMILY IS THE HEART OF OUR MISSION
Best friends
forever
STORY ON PAGE 6

MESSAGE FROM THE PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR
My family...
A “HOLY” FAMILY?
Dear Friends of Nazareth,
The upcoming holiday season,
beginning with Thanksgiving and
ending with the Epiphany, is a season
which is like no other as we celebrate
“family.” Within this holiday season,
we see many illustrations of the Holy
Family, especially the birth of Jesus.
These artworks depict such serenity
and peacefulness. You might be
thinking, “Not like my family!”
Every family has the potential to be
holy. What does God mean when
scripture records, “Be holy, for I
the Lord am holy”? The most basic
meaning of holiness is to belong to
God. This describes a relationship that
God has established and desires with
all people, especially families. Family is
all about relationship and a holy family
is one in which the relationship with
God is important.
How does a family cultivate this
relationship? Like any relationship,
our relationship with God takes time
and practice. Relationship with God
is cultivated by practices which I
am sure you already do within your
families. Let’s look at a few:
First, families prioritize their
relationship with God through
worship. Going to Mass as a family
and attending spiritual opportunities
“Be holy, for I, the Lord,
am holy.” (Leviticus 20:26)
offered by parishes as a family creates
real participation in the life of the
parish.
Second, families live out their faith
at home by practicing devotion. For
example, praying before mealtime
and creating holiday traditions in
your family contribute to a simple
devotional life within the family.
Devotion brings faith into everyday
life where the work of authentic
spirituality is begun.
Third, families that live and work as a
team lead each other to discipleship.
Things such as celebrating birthdays,
establishing Advent and Lenten rituals,
and reading Bible stories together
create an atmosphere of God-in-theordinary.
In the end, family holiness is whatever
enables you and your family to
celebrate the love that comes from
God’s own Heart. It helps you and
your family discover all the ways that
life is a gift and allows you to help
each other become everything God
created you to be.
So is your family, my family, holy? You
bet! No matter how your family is
configured, striving to find God in the
ordinary, like Jesus, Mary and Joseph
in Nazareth, puts you on the road to
holiness one step at a time.
During this holy season, I want to
assure you, dear Friends, of the
prayers of all the Sisters in Holy
Family Province for you and your
families. You will all be remembered
most especially during the Novena to
the Holy Family.
May you and your loved ones have
a Blessed celebration of the Birth of
Jesus and a happy and holy New Year!
Lovingly in JMJ,
Sister M. Barbara Jean Wojnicki
Provincial Superior
HOW ARE YOU CALLED TO LOVE?
We invite you to pray with us, to listen to God’s call with us and to love with us
as we find God in ordinary experiences. Learn more about our community life,
our ministries and our mission at nazarethcsfn.org/join-us. Or contact
Sr. Emmanuela Le, CSFN, National Vocation Director, at 972-641-4496 x111
or vocations@nazarethcsfn.org.
2

contents
SERVICE CORPS
4 An Extended Family:
Holy Family Service
Corps’ Volunteers
4
8
MINISTRY AND MISSION
12 English Around the World:
Sharing Language with
Sisters and Seminarians
10
12
VOLUME 11 //
NUMBER 3 //
WINTER 2017
Nazareth Connections is published
three times a year by the Sisters of
the Holy Family of Nazareth
in the USA.
Editor:
Tammy Townsend Kise
Proofreaders:
Sr. Clare Marie Kozicki
Sr. Jude Carroll
Sr. Lucille Madura
Editorial Board:
Sr. Angela Szczawinska
Sr. Barbara Frances Samp
Sr. Carol Szott
Sr. Jude Carroll
Sr. Kathleen Ann Stadler
Sr. Lucille Madura
Sr. Marcelina Mikulska
Sr. Marcella Louise Wallowicz
Sr. Mary Louise Swift
Sr. Teresilla Kolodziejczyk
Katherine Barth
REFLECTION
6 Sr. Marcella Binkowski,
BFF
VOCATIONS
8 Testing the Waters: What is
Discernment?
10 The Beginning of a
Holy Family: A Vocation
Story
IN MEMORIAM
16 Srs. M. Blanche (Stephanie)
Zalewski, M. Eileen Drummy,
M. Marcella (Eleonore) Falat, M.
Monica (Olimpia) Mikutel
DEVELOPMENT
19 Funding the Needs of
Our Sisters
Design/Print:
McDaniels Marketing
Questions, comments, suggestions?
Please contact:
Communications Department
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
310 N. River Road,
Des Plaines, IL 60016
847-298-6760, x144
ttownsend@nazarethcsfn.org
nazarethcsfn.org
FACEBOOK.COM/CSFN.USA
ON THE COVER:
Sr. Marcella Binkowski, CSFN, Dean of Students at Holy Family
University, with Kayleen Hutchinson, a senior at the university.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
3

SERVICE CORPS
An extended
family:
HOLY FAMILY SERVICE
CORPS’ VOLUNTEERS
4

In August, the Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth (CSFN) and Holy
Family Institute (HFI) welcomed
Liz Fairchild, 27, of Fairfax, MN,
and Mathew Jury, 23, of Conneaut,
OH, as Holy Family Service Corps’
inaugural volunteers. The service
corps program is designed to
provide volunteers with a rich sense
of service, community, faith and
professional development.
After a rigorous application and
interview process, Liz and Mathew
were chosen to live in community
on Holy Family Institute’s Emsworth,
PA campus and volunteer at various
ministries in the Pittsburgh area,
gaining hands-on experience.
They were also each assigned a
Sister Companion, a CSFN who
volunteered to share this journey.
The Sister Companion aspect of the
program provides volunteers with
opportunities to experience the
warm, family-like hospitality of the
Sisters while giving them a personal
guide to assist with challenges that
may arise during the year.
“I admire these young people for
taking a leap of faith to find out how
God is calling them and to be open
in faith, love and hope for the journey
that lies before them and within
them,” said Sr. Maria Kruszewski, who
serves as Liz’s Sister Companion. “I
also enjoy their youth and spirit and
how their eyes light up when they talk
about their experiences.”
Liz, who graduated with honors from
Minnesota West Community and
Technical College with an associate’s
degree in child development, said, “It’s
really nice to have a Sister Companion
since I’m so far away from my family.
Sr. Maria calls me every night to see
how I’m doing. It’s reassuring to know
that someone is there to help me.”
Sr. Gerri Wodarczyk, who serves as
Mathew’s Sister Companion, is helping
him with what he calls his “informal
discernment process.” In her role
as Delegate for Religious in the
Pittsburgh Diocese, she connected
Mathew with a discernment retreat
where he was able to meet other
young people considering their
vocations.
“Ultimately, the Sisters in Pittsburgh
and our Sister Companions have
served as our new extended
family during the service corps,”
said Mathew, who graduated with
a bachelor of science degree in
criminalistics and forensic biology
from Mercyhurst University in Erie,
PA in May 2017.
Sr. Gerri describes herself as a
“pioneer” in this program, as she
learns how to serve as a companion.
“I take opportunities to text, e-mail,
phone or visit with Mathew,” she
said. “I have invited him for a few
experiences within my diocesan
ministry and have tried to introduce
him to the lived experience of our
CSFN charism in the everyday.”
Following this inaugural year, CSFNs
in collaboration with HFI and other
sponsored ministries plan to continue
growing the program with as many as
10 volunteers accepted annually.
As part of the program, volunteers
receive an opportunity to earn an
education grant at the conclusion of
their service.
Reflecting on this new experience,
Sr. Gerri said, “I enjoy the opportunity
to learn from another generation of
Catholics.”
* * *
For more information on the Holy
Family Service Corps program, including
information on how to apply, please
contact Lynn Guerra, volunteer program
director, at 412/766-9020 ext. 1304 or
Guerra.lynn@hfi-pgh.org, or visit
www.hfi-pgh.org/servicecorps.
Sr. Karen Kellereski, Mathew Jury,
Liz Fairchild, Sr. Gerri Wodarczyk
and Sr. Audrey Merski
Liz and Mathew with Sr. Karen
Kellereski
Liz with her Sister Companion,
Sr. Maria Kruszewski
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
5

REFLECTION
how her day was going, what was on
her schedule to do, etc. Sister is a
very kind person and very easy to talk
to, so I felt comfortable coming to her
with problems I was having.
Sr. Marcella
Binkowski, BFF
BEST FRIEND FOREVER
by Kayleen Hutchinson, Holy Family
University student
Coming from Scranton, I didn’t know
anyone when I first arrived at Holy
Family University [in Philadelphia].
One of the first friends I made was
Ryan Keller, and he was the person
who convinced me to go to an open
Student Government Association
(SGA) meeting, which led me to
officially joining SGA and also meeting
my BFF [best friend forever]: Sr.
Marcella Binkowski, CSFN.
During this SGA meeting, I brought
up some points during the open floor
discussion. I remember Sister leaning
over to me once I was done talking
and saying all the points I made were
very good. She was glad someone
was finally bringing attention to them.
After that first encounter with Sister,
I found myself popping into her office
to say hello every time I walked by.
This eventually evolved into me going
into her office a few days a week just
to talk about school, work, home,
I also find it amazing how, with all she has to do as
the Dean of Students that she still manages to find
the time in her hectic schedule to sit with and get
to know students, like me, on a personal basis.
– Kayleen Hutchinson
One of the problems I had was
affording my books. I went into
Sister’s office and talked with her
about how money is tight. With books
being so expensive, I wasn’t sure
how my family and I were going to
be able to afford them. That’s when
she offered to see if I would qualify
for a Barnes and Noble scholarship
that would help pay for the books I
needed for my classes. Luckily, I did
qualify, and thanks to Sister’s help,
that scholarship has greatly helped
my family and me financially by paying
for my books. Without Sister, I would
have never found out about the
Barnes and Noble scholarship. I would
probably be a lot worse off financially
than I am today.
Sr. Marcella has been a great influence
on my life. I see every day how
she handles completing all of her
responsibilities and tasks in just a
mere 24-hour day. If you have ever
taken a glance at her calendar, you
would swear someone spit a bunch of
Skittles all over it with the different
colors for the seemingly never-ending
meetings she has day in and day out!
I also find it amazing how, with all she
has to do as the Dean of Students,
that she still manages to find the time
in her hectic schedule to sit with and
get to know students, like me, on a
Sr. Marcella with HFU student
Kayleen Hutchinson
6

personal basis. I always jump at the
opportunity to tell anyone that will
listen how great Sister is, and that she
is my BFF. Having Sr. Marcella in my
life has truly been a blessing, and I am
very grateful for all that she has done
and continues to do, not only for me,
but for all the students here at Holy
Family University.
* * *
Kayleen will graduate with a bachelor’s
degree in criminal justice and with a
minor in sociology from Holy Family
University (HFU) in Philadelphia in
December 2017. She plans to continue
with HFU’s criminal justice Master’s
program and hopes, eventually, to do
social work with older adults.
Sr. Marcella Binkowski entered the Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN)
in September 1964 and currently serves
as Dean of Students at HFU, a sponsored
ministry of the CSFNs. She holds a
doctorate in education from Vanderbilt
University.
Is there a Sister of the Holy
Family of Nazareth who
inspires you? Tell us your
story, in 500 words or less,
and we may share it with
other friends of Nazareth
in upcoming publications.
Submit your Sister Story
to Tammy Townsend
Kise, Communications
Director, ttownsend@
nazarethcsfn.org. (All
stories will be reviewed and
edited. Publication is not
guaranteed.)
Pray the
Holy Family
Novena with
the Sisters
The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the
Sunday between Christmas and January 1. This year,
the Feast falls on December 31. Since 1989, friends of
the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth have joined
us in praying the special Holy Family Novena, written
by Sr. Cathy Fedewa, CSFN, for the nine days leading
up to this feast.
We invite you to join in spirit with this worldwide
time of prayer and to use this Novena at any time of
the year. To order copies of the Novena, available in
English, Spanish and Polish, please use the form on
page 19 or visit nazarethcsfn.org/about-us/nazarethprayers.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
7

VOCATIONS
Testing
the
waters
WHAT IS
DISCERNMENT?
by Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher, Provincial
Councilor
Several years ago, I purchased a
painting at a Nazareth Academy High
School Art Fair. Not only did I want
to support the student artists, but I
was deeply drawn by the image in the
painting. It was an image of a young
woman taking a walk on the beach.
Her gaze seemed to be both outward
into the distance and at the same
time, downward, at her feet, as she
temptingly dangled one foot out into
the water, as if to be testing it.
8
At the time, I was serving as the
province Vocation Director, and I
immediately saw in this painting a
perfect tool to start a conversation
with those who would come to me
to discern their life’s direction. I hung
the painting in a prominent spot in
the hallway outside my office so that
everyone who passed by could get
a glimpse of it. When I moved to
Chicago in 2013, the painting came
along with me and still sits in my
office, inviting me into its story. It
speaks to me about discernment and
faith and dreams and possibilities. It
invites me in my everyday choices and
decisions to dare to go deeper, to risk
the unknown and to “test the waters”
of promise and possibility.

This journey we call “life” is like the ocean, ebbing and flowing, drawing us out
into the depths and back again to the safety of the shore – a rhythm that echoes
the rhythm of our own breathing and pulse.
– Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher
This journey we call “life” is like the
ocean, ebbing and flowing, drawing us
out into the depths and back again
to the safety of the shore – a rhythm
that echoes the rhythm of our own
breathing and pulse. Discernment is
like the boat that takes us from one
point to the next, following the tides
and the winds. Genuine discernment
helps us to really embrace life’s
adventures, to get the most out of
every experience, even the ones that
at first seem insignificant. It is up to
us how much we are willing to engage
in this art of discernment as we go
through life.
Many people have heard the word
“discernment” and consider it as a
basic means of decision making in
which one carefully weighs the costs
and benefits or the pros and cons of
a particular decision or invitation and
then makes the most advantageous
choice. While this is certainly one
part of discernment, it basically comes
down to a question of “What’s in it
for me?”
For us as Christians, discernment is
not just about what is good or bad,
advantageous or disadvantageous, but
it is about what is transformational.
Discernment begets the question not
of “what’s in it for me?” but “how
will this transform the world around
me?” Discernment seeks the good
of the other as well as the common
good. Discernment searches for the
affirmation that the happiness I seek
is the happiness that comes from
aligning my dreams with the dreams
God has for me, without falling into
the trap of thinking that God has
only one plan for my life and He’s not
telling me what it is!
God wants us to test the waters! If
Saint Peter didn’t have the courage
to step out of the boat and tread
on the sea, he never would have felt
the saving grasp of Jesus’ arm, nor
experienced the power of his own
faith. Testing the waters doesn’t mean
that I have to fully immerse myself into
every possibility that comes my way
or treat life like a buffet where I pile
my plate high and end up overstuffed.
Testing the waters through good
discernment means losing my fear
of the “what if’s” or “should haves”
that keep me from experiencing the
fullness of life. It means looking both
ways before I cross the street, but also
taking the next right step, aware of the
signs of life all around me and being
attuned to the internal stirrings within
me. Testing the waters through a good
discernment process gives me the
time I need to hold the experience
and the courage I need to let it go
when I no longer need it. Good
discernment helps me to understand
that I am not only in this world to
shine my light, but to shine it together
with others and for others. As I
cooperate with the action of grace
in my life, am I able to feel the sand
shift beneath my feet, ready to risk the
waves, willing to test the waters?
Sr. Michele entered the Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth in June 1989.
She currently serves as a provincial
councilor in Des Plaines, IL.
LEFT: Rebecca Gutherman and her
fiance Joseph Conte, Read their
discernment story on page 10. Photo
by Mary Gutherman and Mary Kate
Gasiewski
ABOVE: Sr. Michele at Ocean City,
NJ beach with young women of
CREW, a week-long service and
community opportunity.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
9

VOCATIONS
The beginning
of a holy family
A VOCATION STORY
by Tammy Townsend Kise,
Communications Director
Joseph (Joe) Conte and Rebecca
(Becca) Gutherman first met at
Immaculata University’s Welcome
Week in Malvern, PA during a
“graffiti dance,” an icebreaker activity
sponsored by the school. At the event,
each participant received a white
t-shirt and a marker. They were asked
to introduce themselves by writing
their names on each other’s shirts.
Sometime during the event, neither
remembers the exact moment, Joe
Conte’s name appeared on the left
shoulder of Becca’s shirt, a discovery
she didn’t make until several years
later when she came across the shirt.
As education majors, Joe and Becca
shared many of the same classes and
worked on projects together. “But,
what really brought us together,”
said Becca, “was our involvement in
school activities.” They became good
friends, serving together in student
government and as orientation
leaders at the university. With a
budding friendship and common
interests, it would seem only natural a
romance might blossom.
But, this relationship was different.
While a student at Nazareth Academy
High School in Philadelphia, Becca
began to express a desire to enter
religious life. She spent the next eight
years praying for “little God winks,”
discerning with two communities of
Catholic sisters, including the Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth
(CSFN).
“For so many years, she was known
as the girl who was going to become
a nun,” said Joe, who admits it was
intimidating for both of them to
consider dating. “This wasn’t like
dating another young person in
college. I knew if I was going to go
down this road, I had to be sure.
There could be no doubt.”
Raised in what he describes as “a
traditional Catholic family,” Joe, the
middle of three children, turned to
prayer. For almost a year, he had
many conversations with God about
Becca. “There were so many times
I spent in prayer asking, ‘Are you
sure about this? Maybe I’m doing the
wrong thing.’ It really put my faith
and especially my trust in God to
the test.” Surrounded by words of
hesitancy and doubt from so many
people, Joe knew he was going against
the grain.
“I always believed when I found
the person I wanted to marry, I
would know,” he said. “If I were to
give a moment to it, I would say
Friday, September 12, 2013 at the
intersection of Cheyney and Glen
Mills Road in Glen Mills, PA. It was
5:42, a warm evening with a red sky.
They had just cut the corn in the field
at the corner. I stopped at the fourway
stop. I was the only car, and as
I pulled forward, I knew. I just knew
with absolute certainty this was the
woman I was going to marry and
spend forever with.”
For Becca, the oldest of three girls,
the process was a little longer. At
the time Joe came into her life, she
was considering the pros and cons
of which religious community to join.
“My heart was being torn,” she said
about deciding which community to
enter.
10

“Our senior year [at Immaculata
University], I was still pretty set on
entering religious life,” recalls Becca.
“Joe and I prayed together as friends
and when we were away [separately]
during our weeks of service and
pilgrimage, I realized that I missed
being with him. I missed his friendship,
the conversation and spending time
together. There was a feeling of safety I
had when he hugged me. It was almost
as if we were finally home where we
belong.”
While they dated, Becca, who is
a campus minister and theology
teacher at Mt. St. Joseph Academy
in Flourtown, PA, continued the
discernment process, staying open to
all the possibilities God might have for
her life.
The summer of Becca and Joe’s
second year together, she spent a
week with the Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth near Chicago,
“IN OUR CONVERSATIONS,
HE TOLD ME THAT WE
COULD CREATE THE
SAME COMMUNITY
ATMOSPHERE TOGETHER
AS A COUPLE,” SHE SAID.
BUT, IT WAS SOMETHING
ELSE JOE HAD SAID
EARLIER THAT REALLY
STUCK WITH BECCA:
“I’LL BE THERE IN THE
CHURCH WHEN YOU
MAKE YOUR VOWS,
WHETHER IT’S TO ME OR
TO YOUR COMMUNITY.”
SHE WAS FREE TO
CHOOSE, TO ANSWER
GOD’S CALL, WHATEVER
THAT MAY BE.
“building community, praying together
and having fun.” The desire for that
sense of community she experienced
with the CSFNs was so strong that,
on returning home, she thought it
was time to break up with Joe. Once
again, both Joe and Becca turned to
prayer. They prayed about the need
for community in their lives. “God
kept sending me God-winks pointing
me to Joe,” Becca remembers. “Joe
seemed to be the answer to many of
my prayers.” She also noted that Joe’s
initials are JC and he is a carpenter.
On May 9, Becca’s 25th birthday, she
was scheduled to volunteer at the
soup kitchen after school with some
of her students, but the woman who
runs the kitchen called to let her
know they would be closed that day.
“My evening freed up, so I called Joe
and asked if he might want to get a
small dinner and celebrate quietly,”
Becca said.
They decided on a picnic on Back
Campus, the quad behind Immaculata
University’s main buildings. While
Becca laid out a picnic blanket and
brought out the tacos, her favorite
meal, Joe knelt down on one knee in
the place where many years earlier
Becca told him she wouldn’t date him.
“My heart exploded,” she said.
In December, Joe and Becca will
profess marriage vows to each
other, slightly different vows than
the ones Becca thought she would
be saying. “Joe is my best friend,” she
said. “Religious life or married life,
he’d always be my best friend. For
me, marriage is such an important
vocation in the Church. There’s no
question that wherever we are, we
will be involved in furthering the
mission of the Church.”
And what do they look forward to in
their new journey together? “I can’t
wait to grade papers while he reads
the newspaper. And maybe take walks
together. And, of course, raising a
family,” said Becca. As a CSFN told her,
the world needs holy families, too.
* * *
A version of this story first appeared in
our July 2017 e-newsletter Nazareth
Encounters. Becca continues to serve as a
volunteer at various events for the CSFNs
and remains close to the Sisters who
helped guide her. Becca has also written
about her discernment process since
2011 on her blog “Road Less Traveled”
(roadlesstraveled92.blogspot.com)
Becca and Joe will profess their
marriage vows on December
8, 2017 on the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception. Photo by
Mary Gutherman and Mary Kate
Gasiewski
Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher, CSFN, with
Becca in 2010.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
11

MINISTRY AND MISSION
English around
the world:
SHARING LANGUAGE WITH
SISTERS AND SEMINARIANS
Following the XXIV General Chapter of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN) in Rome in 2015, delegates agreed that
CSFNs in initial formation would learn Polish or English, depending on their native language. In response to a May 2016 letter
from Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki, provincial superior, asking for U.S. Sisters willing to go to Poland to help Sisters learn English, both
Srs. Mary Ellen Gemmel and Angela Cresswell answered the call.
OUR HUMAN
JOURNEY
by Sr. Mary Ellen Gemmel, CSFN
“We are not human beings on a
spiritual journey. We are spiritual
beings on a human journey.” These
words of Stephen Covey, well-known
speaker, author and educator, come
to my mind as I reflect on my recent
experience of going to Poland to help
our Sisters with the English language.
After months of preparation, on May
29, I set out to see what I could do.
Equipped with prayer books given to
me by Fr. Paul Kennedy, pastor of
St. Katherine of Siena Parish,
Philadelphia and having practiced
some helpful expressions in Polish,
prepared lessons and collected our
community brochures, I arrived in
Krakow and spent one night before
the Sisters from Kielce, two and half
hours from Krakow, came to pick me
up and take me to our convent.
Questions about where I would begin
crossed my mind as I took time to
rest after the long journey across the
Atlantic. My questions were not
answered right away. I was also
concerned that time was short, but
trusted in the Lord and the joy of
meeting our Sisters despite limited
ability to use language to
communicate. Daily conversation
revealed that we, as Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth, have the
same concerns about family ministry.
We make many of the same efforts
in promoting vocations and we
experience the same journeys in
helping our Sisters, young and old,
enthusiastic or struggling.
From May 30th to June 30th, ours
was a human journey, graced by our
unity in Blessed Mary of Jesus, the
Good Shepherd, fueled by a desire
to do what we can to get to know
one another and to share what we
have for the good of all. By listening
12

attentively and faithfully, by sharing
our thoughts on community, prayer,
ministry, vocation promotion, current
events, Catholic education, our history,
our hopes and dreams for Nazareth,
we were able to experience God in
the everyday events of our lives.
I can only place myself before the
Lord and repeat with the psalmist,
“What return can I give to the Lord
for all He has given me?” on this
human journey that has enlivened
my spirit.
AT HOME IN
NAZARETH
by Sr. Angela Cresswell, CSFN
The country and birthplace of Blessed
Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd
(Frances Siedliska) has attracted me
since I entered Nazareth. In the days
of my initial formation, I was drawn
to the mystery of our Foundress and
the story of her life and experiences
in Poland. Fifty years ago, it was much
more common to hear Polish spoken
daily by native Polish Sisters as well as
our American Polish Sisters. Because I
have always been a lover of foreign
languages, I longed to learn that
complicated language punctuated by
the ‘sh’ and ‘ch’ sounds.
My two attempts to study Polish
formally at Holy Family College (now
Holy Family University) fueled my
dream to speak fluently. But alas, what
you do not use, you lose, and I
resigned myself to a solo study of
materials. Over the years, more sisters
from Poland became part of our
American Nazareth and I assisted a
few in learning English. With this
experience, my desire to visit Poland
increased, along with that of teaching
English to our Sisters there.
I accepted the invitation to teach
English during the summer. I think I
responded in the affirmative before
Sr. Barbara Jean Wojnicki finished her
question.
In Poland, the most pervasive and
exhilarating feeling was being
‘at home in Nazareth’ despite the
differences in language and culture. I
was as much a student as any of the
Sisters. I admit that at least a half-hour
of each class period was spent
laughing with my Sisters. My short stay
in Poland leaves me deeply grateful –
especially for our Foundress’ vision
of a Nazareth with no borders – for
thus we have become. I hope I have
left my Sisters with a sense of that
same gratitude.
LEFT: Sr. Angela with her Sister
students in Poland.
ABOVE: CSFNs in Poland sharing
language and laughter with
Sr. Angela.
ABOVE: Sr. Mary Ellen sharing a
love of learning with her Sister
students.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
13

In 2011, Holy Family University in
Philadelphia, with support from the
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth,
began a program to teach English
to seminarians in Vietnam. In 2015,
the Vietnamese government officially
gave permission to open the Catholic
University and the Holy See approved
the establishment of the Catholic
Theological Institute, the first universitylevel
Catholic theological institute in
Vietnam. The opening of the Institute
and University came after a nearly
40-year ban on Catholic schools by the
Vietnamese government. This year, our
Sisters returned to Vietnam to continue
their work helping future priests.
HELPING THOSE
WHO HELP
OTHERS
by Sr. Julianna Tran, CSFN, Director of
the English Program for Vietnam at Holy
Family University
At the beginning of our
Congregation’s mission in Vietnam
in 2010, I believe the intention
was to learn more about
Vietnamese culture and traditions
with the hope that, in the future,
we could extend our mission
efforts. In January 2010, I had the
privilege of accompanying
Sr. Janice Fulmer, then CSFN Superior
General, and Sr. Jana Zawieja, then
CSFN Secretary General, on a visit
to Vietnam. For political reasons, the
Congregation was unable to establish
a CSFN community in Vietnam at that
time. However, to honor the request
from Bishop Dominic Nguyen Chu
Trinh of the Xuân Loc Diocese,
Sr. Janice invited Sr. Francesca Onley,
then President of Holy Family
University, to provide English language
instruction at St. Joseph’s Seminary
in Vietnam. I was also invited to join
Holy Family University in carrying out
the Congregation’s mission. My dream
of becoming a nun to serve the poor
and vulnerable had been ingrained in
my mind since I was seven years old.
Although teaching English is not
directly aimed at serving the poor, my
hope is that, if the seminarians
become good priests, they will have a
great influence on thousands of souls
who may be living in material or
spiritual poverty.
The English language students we
work with have the utmost respect
and admiration for their teachers,
and they are always enthusiastic and
polite, allowing the teachers to create
a fun and exciting environment. It is
rewarding for us to observe
the impact of our efforts almost
immediately, as students improve
from the first week to the end of
the course. The students’ efforts
have been absolutely inspiring, and
they give us a sense of fulfillment and
accomplishment.
It is a privilege to take part in training
future priests for Vietnam and also for
the Church. The presence of the
Sisters has had an impact on the
seminarians not only helping them
learn the English language, but also
encouraging them to look forward to
serving the Mission of the Church.
Since 2011, the English Summer
program has served more than 600
seminarians. In July 2017, Srs. Michele
Collins, Madeleine Rybicki, Valerie
Powidzki (Holy Spirit Province in
Australia), myself and two lay
volunteer teachers were privileged to
attend the ordination ceremony of 18
seminarians at Cathedral of Xuan Loc.
Those candidates are the first group
among the 50 students who studied
English in summer 2011.
14

ONE IN THE
FAMILY OF GOD
by Sr. Michele Collins, CSFN
While serving the congregation as a
member of the general administration
in 2010, there was a strong desire to
open a mission in Vietnam in order to
extend our outreach to families in a
country where some of our sisters in
the U.S. already had cultural roots.
Although I was well aware of the
beginning dreams for such a mission,
I did not become acutely interested
in teaching English in Vietnam until
2014 when there was a call for Sister
volunteers to help teach English to
the seminarians at Xuan Loc. The
Holy Spirit planted a strong conviction
within me that I had to volunteer. I
thought if I was accepted, it was God’s
will; and, if not, then teaching English
to seminarians was not meant to be
the way I would do missionary work.
I remember how wonderful it was my
first year to be a part of the dedicated
volunteer staff of Holy Family
University and to enjoy the good will
and gratitude of the students. The
opportunity provided a unique way to
share values and beliefs inherent in
the Vietnamese and American
cultures, as well as build diverse
relationships within the Church and
the Holy Family University family.
Since 2014, I have returned each
summer to teach English at the
seminary. This past summer I was also
blessed to teach English to the first
class of priests and religious brothers
at the Catholic Institute in Ho Chi
Minh City. The experience not only
enriched my life, but most importantly
it also helped enable the students to
further enrich their study of theology
and sacred scripture.
I have had many rewarding moments
during the past four summers in
Vietnam. Each one is unique to that
particular year and class. Each summer
there is always a new class of
students, new volunteers and changes
within the seminary community.
Through the years, seminarians
become priests, some priests become
bishops or a bishop retires, and the
volunteers build new relationships
and find new native landscapes to
explore on our free weekends. All
these moments form the whole which
makes us one in the family of God.
THE GIFT OF
GENEROSITY
by Sr. Madeleine Rybicki, CSFN
My missionary call began in the
third grade. Sr. Virginia, CSFN, was
preparing us to receive our First Holy
Communion. She said that when we
make our First Holy Communion,
we fall in love with Jesus and we
help others by praying for them,
contributing to the pagan babies and
to the poor, and helping missionaries
by selling Christmas cards. By doing
what we could do and praying for
them, we were missionaries. In fourth
grade, I used my fifty-cent allowance
to buy books about the lives of saints.
That is when I fell in love with Father
Damien, whose missionary work led
him to work with lepers. As a young
Sister, I discovered that missionary
work does not necessarily mean
leaving the country.
My out-of-country missionary work
opportunity came when Sr. Janice
Fulmer was elected Superior General
of the Congregation. Sister asked me
to go to the Philippines to provide
training for the Sisters working with
young boys in the group home and
other places. Words are inadequate to
express my delight, joy and gratitude I
experienced in those three months. I
hoped that the time would never end.
Then, in 2015, Sr. Julianna Tran, CSFN,
asked me to join the others in
Vietnam teaching English to
seminarians. My heart skipped a beat
as I answered “yes” without
hesitation.
My first year in Vietnam was like being
at a thirty-day renewal program. At
Mass, hearing the seminarians singing
in their language as well as in English
was glorious.
The Vietnam experience is a chance
to give back the gift of generosity that
I received from my family and the
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
My mom and dad taught me to always
help wherever I can, just as they did.
In 1969, I fell down a cliff to railroad
tracks at Holy Family Institute while
trying to help a child who had fallen.
As I fell, I asked Jesus to help me as I
began my Act of Contrition. He heard
my prayer. I consider it a miracle that I
am alive and can do what I do. That
experience has allowed me to have
empathy, love and the willingness
to help others. God willing, I will
continue to share my talents, skills and
life experience with and for others for
several years to come.
Sr. Michele Collins working with
seminarian students in Vietnam.
Sr. Julianna Tran in Vietnam.
Sr. Madeleine Rybicki among her
students in Vietnam.
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
15

In Memoriam
Sr. M. Blanche
(Stephanie)
Zalewski
January 14, 1925 -
July 27, 2017
Stephanie Zalewski was born in
Chicago to Walter and Casmira
(Matyskiel) Zalewski, the seventh of
eight children. She attended Holy
Trinity Grade School and Holy
Family Academy in Chicago, both
administered by the Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN).
One day, 18-year-old Stephanie was
flipping through a Catholic Digest
when she saw an inch-square picture
of a sister with the caption, “Why
don’t you become a nun?” She
smiled and put the magazine away,
but continued to be bothered by the
question. She consulted her former
teacher, Sr. Canisia, who said she
thought Stephanie had a vocation.
Stephanie’s response was, “What do I
do with it?”
Stephanie entered the CSFNs on
February 2, 1943, became a novice
on August 18, 1943 and received
the name Sr. Blanche. She professed
first vows on August 2, 1945 and
perpetual vows on September 1, 1951.
For 43 years, Sr. Blanche taught not
only in the Chicago area, but also in
Marayong, Australia, Texas and North
Dakota. She received a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Education from
De Lourdes College in Des Plaines,
IL. She completed the Clinical
Pastoral Education Program at Loyola
University and earned a Master’s
degree in Spirituality at Mundelein
College, both in Chicago.
From 1988 until 2009, she ministered
in pastoral care at St. Mary of
Nazareth Hospital in Chicago, sharing
her gentle and loving presence with
many.
When Sr. Blanche was a patient at
Mayo Clinic, she heard a little boy
sobbing in the room next to her. His
giraffe was missing an eye. Sr. Blanche
cut two buttons from the bottom
of her habit and sewed them on the
stuffed animal for eyes, calming the
small boy. Later, when Sr. Blanche
inquired about the boy, she learned
that he had died on the operating
table. Her kind gesture may have been
one of the last he experienced.
Sr. Blanche once said, “If I had my life
to live over, I would have chosen to
discipline myself sooner, to hope for
the best, expect nothing and accept
whatever is. It seems to me that
would be a means of conforming my
will to the Will of God.”
She died peacefully on July 27, 2017. A
Mass of Resurrection was celebrated
July 29 at the Provincialate Chapel in
Des Plaines, IL. Interment was at All
Saints’ Cemetery.
Sr. M. Eileen
Drummy
August 8, 1948 -
August 11, 2017
Born in
Philadelphia,
Eileen was the third child of James
and Virginia Drummy. In December
1963, during her first year at Nazareth
Academy High School in Philadelphia,
the tragic death of her sister, Maureen,
had a traumatic impact on Eileen. The
love and concern of the Sisters of
16

the Holy Family of Nazareth became
a healing balm that she would later
share with others.
After graduating high school in 1966,
Eileen continued her studies at Holy
Family College (now Holy Family
University) in Philadelphia, where
Sr. Lillian Budny, CSFN, became a
defining influence on her life and
vocation. After completing a B.A. in
History in 1970, Eileen remained close
to the Sisters, taking a position in
medical records at Nazareth Hospital.
Responding to God’s call, she became
a postulant on September 7, 1975
and a novice on August 14, 1976. She
professed her first vows on August 12,
1978.
After her final vows on January
19, 1985, Sr. Eileen returned to
the medical records department
at Nazareth Hospital. She earned
an Associate Degree in Health
Records at Gwyndd-Mercy College
(now University) in 1985 and using
her gifted intelligence and savvy
technological skills, she ministered in
healthcare as a coder for more than
30 years.
Sr. Eileen was inspired by scientific and
medical discoveries, fascinated with
mechanical and technical systems, and
explored the cultural and historical
opportunities in the Philadelphia area.
An avid reader, she enjoyed crossword
puzzles, and the works of Thomas
Merton, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis,
Charles Schulz and others. She was
a fan of NPR, Public Television, the
Philadelphia Phillies, cooking shows,
the DIY Network and was a reliable
source for the horses in the running
to win the Triple Crown.
Through her struggles and ill health,
she remained a bona fide original who
understood that the value of wellness
lies in wholeness. Her sense of humor,
quick wit and unassuming nature
enriched her family and sustained lifelong
relationships with faithful friends
who were blessed to know her.
With this final illness, Sr. Eileen was
calm and peaceful, knowing she had
the companionship of her loved
ones on this final journey. She quietly
passed away on August 11, 2017.
The Mass of Resurrection was held
August 17, 2017 at Mount Nazareth
Chapel in Philadelphia. Interment was
at the community cemetery.
Sr. M. Marcella
(Eleonore) Falat
March 18, 1924 -
September 15,
2017
Eleonore was
born in Chicago on March 18, 1924
to Stanley and Catherine (Moskwa)
Falat. The youngest of seven children,
she attended St. Michael School and
transferred to Holy Family Academy
in Chicago for her junior and senior
years. Following graduation, she began
working at Catholic Charities of
Chicago with Bishop Wycislo.
During World War II, Eleonore’s
brother Walter was killed in Germany.
Although she had wanted to enter
the convent earlier, her mother would
not allow her until another brother,
Raymond, returned home from the
Army. With her mother’s permission,
the 22-year-old Eleonore entered the
Congregation on January 12, 1946. She
professed first vows on June 27, 1948
and perpetual vows on August 14,
1954.
Sr. Marcella received a Bachelor of
Science in Education from Loyola
University and later a Master’s in
Education and Supervision from
Sienna Heights College.
From 1948-2008, she served as
teacher and principal at schools in the
Chicago area, including Holy Trinity,
Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Patricia,
St. Ladislaus, St. Emily, St. John the
Baptist and Mary of Nazareth. She also
spent three years at St. Andrew the
Apostle School in Texas. Additionally,
she served as a Provincial Councilor
and Director of Ministry.
One of her former students, who
later became a Benedictine priest,
described Sr. Marcella’s serenity and
unobtrusive goodness when he wrote,
“I think often of your kindness and
encouragement to me as a young
boy. You are a wonderful example of
a religious – dedicated, supportive, a
great teacher and above all a leader...”
Sr. Marcella retired in 2008, serving
as a receptionist at the Provincialate.
She was eager to stay involved in the
rhythm of community life and was
a wonderful example of how to age
with grace and dignity.
She once wrote, “I hope and pray
that when my mission on earth is
complete, I can hear these words:
‘Well done, good and faithful servant,
enter into the joy of your Lord.’”
On the evening of September 15,
Sr. Marcella was called home to God.
Her funeral liturgy was celebrated
on September 19 at the Provincialate
Chapel in Des Plaines, IL. Interment
was at All Saints Cemetery.
IN MEMORIAM
CONTINUED ON
PAGE 18...
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
17

Sr. M. Monica
(Olimpia) Mikutel
August 8, 1915-
September 29,
2017
Olimpia Mikutel
was born to
Stanislaus and Maryann (Butrym)
Mikutlel on August 8, 1915 in
Norwich, Connecticut, joining siblings
Malvina, Monica and William.
In eighth grade, at St. Joseph School,
Olimpia felt strongly that God was
calling her. Her older sister Malvina
was then in a religious formation
program with the Sisters of the
Holy Family of Nazareth. Prayerfully
considering her own vocation,
Olimpia discussed her future with her
parents and the next phase of her
spiritual journey began to unfold.
After high school, Olimpia became
a postulant. On August 13, 1933, she
received the white veil of a novice and
the name Sr. Monica. On August 16,
1935, she made her first profession
of vows. Six years later, on August 12,
1941, Sr. Monica professed her final
vows.
Sr. Monica spent her 62 years in
ministry at Nazareth Hospital in
Philadelphia, except for one year in
1947, when a nurse was needed at
St. Christopher Home for Children at
Sea Cliff, Long Island, NY. She received
her nursing certification at St. Mary of
Nazareth Hospital in Chicago in 1938
and a Bachelor of Science degree in
nursing at Villanova University in 1958.
At Nazareth Hospital, Sr. Monica
served as supervisor of nursing
floors, director of nursing services,
assistant nursing supervisor and
patient representative. In September
2002, Sr. Monica began her retirement
at Mount Nazareth in Philadelphia.
With increasing age, health problems
necessitated that she move to
the infirmary floor, where she
experienced the loving care that she
had extended to others for so many
years.
During the Religious Jubilarian
Mass on September 24, 2017, at the
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and
Paul in Philadelphia, Sr. Monica was
honored for her 85 years of religious
life, topping the list of 283 other
sisters, brothers and priests who also
celebrated milestone anniversaries in
the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Five days later, in the early evening of
September 29, 2017, Sr. Monica was
welcomed to her heavenly home. Her
wake and Mass was held on Thursday,
October 5 at Mount Nazareth Chapel
in Philadelphia. Interment was at the
community cemetery.
Donations in memory of a
deceased sister may be mailed
to Development Office, Sisters
of the Holy Family of Nazareth,
310 N. River Rd., Des Plaines,
IL 60016. Please include a note
with the name of the Sister
you are giving in memory of.
Donations may also be made
online at nazarethcsfn.org/
support-us/donate-now/.
ORDER OPLATKI FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION
We are once again pleased to offer our friends and family oplatki for the
Christmas season. "For the uninitiated, oplatki ('oplatek' is the singular form)
are paper-thin wafers of unleavened bread, embossed with symbols from
the Christmas story," explained Sr. Carol Mockus, Philanthropic Gift Advisor,
Mid-Atlantic area. Our oplatki (2 x 4 inches) are baked by our Sisters in
Nowogrodek, Belarus.
Oplatki are shared on Christmas Eve with the head of the table saying a prayer,
thanking God for the family's blessings and asking forgiveness of anyone he or
she has injured. A piece of oplatek is broken off, shared; the oplatek is passed on
and the ritual repeats itself. This symbol of unity is made available to you with
the sincere prayer that you will be find peace of mind and heart as you recall
the sacred mystery of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
18
You can order these special wafers using the form on page 19 or at
nazarethcsfn.org/support-us/oplatki.

DEVELOPMENT
Funding the needs of our
sisters
by Kathi Barth, National Development
Director
Over the years of working in the
CSFN Development Office, I have
many times heard people say, “Why
should I give money to support
that? It just goes to Chicago.” That
is true, all donations do go to our
provincialate offices in Des Plaines,
IL, near Chicago. But I’d like to take
a minute to explain a bit of how
religious life and our province works.
Consider the Acts of the Apostles,
Ch. 2: 42-47 which is considered the
basis for religious community life:
“All who believed were together and
had all things in common; they would
sell their property and possessions
and divide them among all according
to each one’s need. Every day they
devoted themselves to meeting
together in the temple area and to
breaking bread in their homes.”
“Each one’s needs” – that’s the key
phrase here. Yes, all income goes
to our province office – donations,
Sisters’ salaries, Social Security. But
from this income, all the bills of the
Sisters are paid – their living expenses
and their medical expenses.
Even the cost for the Sisters who live
in nursing facilities are paid by the
province.
All the Sisters’ needs are met. You
never have to worry that one of the
Sisters you care about is not getting
what she needs.
The Sisters each took a vow of
poverty when they entered the
Congregation. They very consciously
make the effort to live simply and not
waste money. I’ve seen examples of
this over and over in the ten years I
have worked for the Sisters.
They trust that all of their needs will
be met. And I hope you can, too.
I would like to sponsor a Sister. My choice is Sister________________. (If you do not choose a Sister to sponsor,
we will choose a Sister for you.) Enclosed is my yearly gift of $_______. Minimum suggested gift is $120 per Sister
you would like to sponsor.
Please send me the Holy Family Novena booklet.
How many? ____English ____Polish ____Spanish
Please send me oplatki (size: 2” x 4”). Quantity: ____
Enclosed is my total gift of $_______________.
Please make checks payable to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Name: _________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
City:_________________ State: ____________________Zip:__________________
Phone: ____________________E-mail: _______________________________________
Please complete this form and return it to:
CSFN Development Office, 310 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016-1211
NAZARETH CONNECTIONS // WINTER 2017
19

310 N River Rd
Des Plaines, IL 60016
www.nazarethcsfn.org
Non-profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
Paid
Des Plaines, IL
Permit No. 340
One-to-one
WITH A NAZARETH NUN
Did you know we have a program
which allows you to become
personally involved with one of our
sisters? One-to-One with a Nazareth
Nun is primarily a prayer relationship,
yet once you are part of the program,
the extent of your interaction with
the Sister is up to you and the Sister
you sponsor.
Sister will remember you daily in
prayer and send cards for special
occasions, while sponsors are asked
to support their special Sister with
a suggested minimum gift of $120,
renewable annually.
If you have a particular Sister you
would like to sponsor, let us know. Or,
we can choose a Sister for you.
To sponsor a Sister, please complete
the form on page 19 and mail it to
our development office.
We, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, are called to extend the Kingdom of God’s love among ourselves and
others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary and Joseph whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another.
We witness to this love through dedicated service to the Church, especially in ministry to the family.